I’m in between two internships and have some time to do other stuff, so I was listening to a podcast about the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. To be able to remember this better i started writing things down and ended up with an summary of events.
I might as well post it on my blog, maybe there are people out there who want to read it or who can even add or correct the information I collected.
Soviet interference in Afghanistan
1979 christmas day –>
Soviet “red army” invaded Afghanistan; this marks the onset of a decade of occupation. This followed a power struggle within Afghanistan between leftist leaders Hafizullah Amin and Nur Mohammed Taraki in Kabul; won by Amin. Revolts in countryside continue and Afghan army faces collapse. Soviet Union, afraid to lose a communistic ally finally sends in troops to help remove Amin, who was then executed.
Communist, with help of the Soviet union, have send teachers in remote country side and enabled woman to participate in social live. However, at the same time they controlled every one and were broadcasting only propaganda. They raved about giving freedom, yet the contrary happened, people were oppressed. There was a strong hold of the KGB in Kabul at this time, people lived in fear. Afraid they would be talking to,- or overheard by, a KGB spy.
1980 –>
Babrak Karmal, leader of the People’s Democratic Party Parcham faction, is installed as ruler, backed by Soviet troops.
But anti-regime resistance intensifies with various Mujahideen groups fighting Soviet forces; declaring the holy war, jihad, against soviet unbelievers. The resistance started in the country side. Russian army was bad equipped and not trained for a guerilla war. The mountains, like the Hindu Kush, offered a perfect set for the mujahideen.
US, Pakistan, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia started to supply money and arms.
1985 –>
Approximately half of the Afghan population is now estimated to be displaced by the war, part of them fleeing from political oppression and violence to Iran and Pakistan.
The new Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev says he will withdraw troops from Afghanistan.
Meanwhile the Mujahideen unite and keep giving resistance.
1986 –>
The Russians “planted” a great amount of landmines. Also they started to search people’s houses looking for mujahideen members. Ca 1 million Afghani have died by now. Villages were destroyed and monstrosities were reported.
Babrak Kar mal replaced by Najibullah as head of Soviet-backed Afghan regime.
Afganistan has become the biggest front of the cold war at this stage, and America’s post Vietnam political leaders regarded it as a good opportunity to “kill” Russians. US conyinues to supply the mujahideen through the Pakistani army with among others Stinger missiles, enabling them to shoot down Soviet helicopter gunships. The guerilla aspect of the war results in chaos on the Russian side.
Milton Bearden was the Texan representative of the CIA in Islamabad the last years of the war. He helped arming the Mujahideen on behave of America.
1988 —>
Approximately 15.000 Russian soldiers had died by now. Afghanistan, USSR, the US and Pakistan sign peace accords and Soviet Union begins pulling out troops.
1989 –>
At the end of 1989 the last Russian troops have left. However the civil war continues mujahideen push to overthrow Najibullah.
The defeat of the Soviet union in Afghanistan, by one of the poorest population in the world (with help from the USA) speeded up the downfall of the soviet union, annd ending the cold war.
Most members of the CIA were over the top about their achievements by this stage, others though had their considerations about what has unfolded in the Hindu Kush. This war had inspired and activated militants from across the Muslim world, among them Mular Omar and Osama Bin Laden. “if they could concur one super power why not another?”
In addition, the trouble for the Afghan people was far from over.
I wrote more about the faith of the Mujahideen and the rise of the Taleban. I’ll publish this some other time.
