The Soviet War in Afghanistan refers to the conflict that took place between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989. Following a coup in April 1978, the communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan seized power, leading to political instability and opposition from various factions. In December 1979, the USSR, driven by geopolitical interests and a desire to maintain control over Afghanistan, invaded the country to support the communist regime.
The war was primarily fought between the Soviet-backed Afghan government forces, known as the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, and various mujahideen groups, which were comprised of local Afghan resistance fighters opposed to the communist regime. The mujahideen were supported by external powers, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and other countries, who provided them with arms, training, and financial assistance.
The conflict became a brutal and protracted war, with the mujahideen utilizing guerrilla warfare tactics against the conventional Soviet forces. The war resulted in significant casualties, displacement of Afghan civilians, and economic devastation. While the Soviet Union initially aimed to consolidate communist rule in Afghanistan, it soon found itself embroiled in a costly and unpopular conflict.
The Afghan-Soviet war ended with the withdrawal of Soviet forces in February 1989, marking a significant military defeat for the USSR. However, the subsequent power vacuum in Afghanistan led to continued instability, civil war, and eventually the rise of the Taliban regime in the 1990s. The war had broader international implications, shaping regional dynamics and influencing the subsequent global political landscape, particularly during the final years of the Cold War.
