The Soviets in Afghanistan 1979-1989

Some Background Prior to 1978, Afghanistan was part of the Non-Aligned Movement The People’s Democratic Party, a communist group, assassinated the Afghan President in 1978 The Soviets sent advisors to help the new communist government There were internal divisions within the PDP, as well as external opposition from those who resisted the types of reforms the PDP was trying to enact

Chain of Events: Origins April 1978:Afghan army seizes control of government and places the PDP in power under Taraki Attempt social and economic reforms Dec 1978: USSR promises to assist the Afghan gov. if they request it Ruling PDP is very dependent upon Soviet aid PDP policies increase hostility from many groups, including peasants and religious leaders (mullahs) Land reform and women’s rights were especially unpopular and, in the case of the former, brutally enforced

Chain of Events (con) The Mujahideen begin to actively oppose the PDP Also target Soviet advisors in Herat in March 1979 “Soviet advisors were hunted down by specially assigned insurgent assassination squads. . . . Westerners reportedly saw Russian women and children running for their lives… Those Russians that were caught were killed: some were flayed alive, others were beheaded and cut into pieces.” PDP responds with the massacre of thousands in Herat, which fuels greater resistance The Soviets are reluctant to send troops, but did provide military advisors and equipment

Chain of Events (con.) July 1979: US begins helping mujahideen by supplying communications equipment September 1979: Amin, leader of a PDP faction, stages a coup, Taraki executed Unrest grows stronger Moscow is not happy with Amin about the coup Amin begins to make overtures to the US for support

The War Begins Dec 1979: USSR invades, invoking the Brezhnev Doctrine 1st time they invade a non-Warsaw Pact nation US condemnation ensues Amin is killed Replaced by Babrak Karmal

Reading Questions So, why did the Soviets intervene in Afghanistan? Fear of losing control there Fear of Afghanistan becoming an Islamic state, like Iran, which had just undergone a revolution This would threaten the stability of Soviet republics with Muslim majorities Desire to contain Islamic fundamentalism Fear of a bloodbath if the PDP lost control Desire to support a communist nation Confidence that the US would not intervene there Fear of US military presence due to the crisis in Iran

Reading Questions What was the global response to the Soviet’s invasion? The UN’s General Assemble condemned it The US President Carter called it “the greatest threat to world peace since the Second World War” Fear of Soviet control over land so close to the Persian Gulf (OIL!) resulted in the Carter Doctrine Stated that any outside attempt to impose control over the Persian Gulf would be considered a threat to ‘vital interests’ of the US Boycotted Moscow Olympics, instituted sanctions Funded the mujahideen via Pakistan

Soviet Strategy During the War The deck was stacked against the Soviet military effort: As an avowedly atheist foreign power, it had allied itself with a hated regime completely out of step with the Afghan people. The government had little legitimacy. The military tasks were daunting and the Karmal government had little international support outside the Soviet Union. It had too few soldiers to control the countryside, so they limited themselves to sweeps or clearing operations. The enemy had a secure sanctuary and great amounts of international support. A contemporary account noted that: “To date, Soviet strategy appears to have been to hold the major centers of communications, limit infiltration, and destroy local strongholds at minimum costs to their own forces. In essence, the Soviet strategy [was] one wherein high technology, superior tactical mobility, and firepower are used to make up for an insufficient number of troops and to hold Soviet casualties to a minimum.” http://www.ndu.edu/press/understanding-ch3.html

The Course of the War 1981: US aid to the Mujahideen increases under Reagan Moved money and arms through Pakistan 1982: Death of Brezhnev 1985: Gorbachev comes to power as the war reaches its deadliest point, criticism of the war is expressed in USSR 1986:US begins to supply Mujahideen with Stingers, encourages escalation of fighting 1988:In Geneva Accords (some parts ignored by both sides) Gorbachev promises to withdraw troops 1989: Last Soviet troops are withdrawn

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Key Terms People’s Democratic Party (PDP)- Nur Mohammed Taraki- Hafizullah Amin- Mujahideen- Babrak Kamal- Carter- Reagan- Stingers- Gorbachev- Pro-Soviet Marxist party Socialist leader; ousted and executed, 1979 Overthrew Taraki Alliance of Afghanis fighting the Soviets; Muslim Soviets replaced Amin with him Began supplying aid to Mujahideen; Carter Doctrine Increased aid after 1981 Anti-aircraft missiles, turned the tide against the Soviets Pulled Soviet troops out in 1989

Video Discussion Responses to the video… Why did Afghanistan become a focal point for the superpowers during the Cold War? What reforms did Taraki attempt? Results? How did the Soviets justify their involvement? What were the advantages and disadvantages of both sides? How did Soviet tactics evolve? What effects did this conflict have on the Soviet soldiers? What was the role of the Soviet media? Why might the US government under George W. Bush have made this video classified?

Discussion Questions How did the invasion affect the Soviet Union? The US? Afghanistan? Pakistan? How did the invasion of Afghanistan impact the Cold War? Compare and contrast the part played by Vietnam and Afghanistan in the Cold War. To what extent to you agree that Afghanistan was the Soviet Vietnam?

Links: Soviets in Afghanistan Charlie Did It: video http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4556228n%3fsource=search_video Tips for Soviet Soldiers in Afghanistan http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7885644.stm BBC clip about Afghan war: not totally related http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/7934858.stm BBC Timeline of the War http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7883532.stm Video clip of Soviet leader defending Afghan invasion http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/3/newsid_2492000/2492329.stm Short Excerpts and Memories of the War http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7883804.stm Parallels to Today? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7888566.stm National Geo photo and story http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2002/04/afghan-girl/original-story-text