The Soviet-Afghan War

The Soviet-Afghan War

1SynopsisThe Soviet-Afghan was a nine year long conflict which involved the Soviets supporting The PDPA held communist ideals and therefore there was resistance by the mujahideen as well as the USLater on the resistance received aid in war from the US and some Muslim nationsThe Soviet deployment began on August 7, 1978 and withdrawal took place on May 15, 1988

2Mujahideen

3Synopsis ContdThe Soviet invasion sparked a massive reaction domestically and internationallySoviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan under an agreement known as the Geneva Accords, which was mediated by the UNThe war was a big issue because of it being a proxy war led by the Soviets as well the US both looking to spread their own ideals of governmentThe US also needed to form allies with Afghanistan as they had recently lost an important ally in neighboring Iran, and required power in that area of the world

4Soviet Invasion, 1979

5Proxy WarDef. a war where two powers use third parties as a supplement or a substitute for fighting each other directlyThe soviet-afghan war is a proxy war because the USA and Soviet Union were the two major powers and they used third parties in Afghanistan like People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan and Democratic Republic of Afghanistan to fight for themThe Soviet Union was on the Democratic Party of Afghanistans side in the war and the US was on Mujahideen of Afghanistans side as well as Foreign Mujahideen6Americas InvolvementAmerica was on the side of the mujahideen resistance as they were against the communist government of People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), which were supported by the SovietsThis made it a proxy war and America supported the resistance by funding and providing weapons against the Soviets without being directly involvedThe US supported the resistance as it was a huge advantage for them, and it would give them power in the middle east, which they desperately needThe invasion caused panic internationally and the United States president Jimmy Carter approved a new program of military assistance to Afghanistans Islamic resistanceThe United States spent an estimated total of nearly $10 billion on weapons and other aid from the time of the Soviet invasion to the fall of the USSR at the end of 1991

78The ResultSoviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan13 836 Soviet soldiers died in the conflict (many of whom died from illness)Afghan cities numbers fell dramaticallyLeft the Afghan government in ruinsIt failed to accomplish Afghan stability & resistance from the tribal religious groups such as the mujahideen & Taliban9ReflectionThis war was very important in reflecting the Cold war era as it further fueled the tension between the Soviet Union and the USSoviet Unions plans of taking over Afghanistan were unsuccessful as the US fully supported Afghanistan in its defense against the SovietsIn the end the Soviets were forced to withdraw from Afghanistan leading to their loss in the Cold War10

Reflection Tree

-Loss of Iran as a U.S. Ally-Weak Afghan government

-mujahideens guerrilla warfare-US & Soviet support of respective similar world governments-Geneva Accords -mediationCaused thousands of deathsRuined Afghan stabilityLed to the climax of Cold WarSoured Soviet & many Muslim nations relationsUS support of mujahideenLack of communicationConflicts between tribal religious groups & set up Afghan governmentLack of communicationUS as a close ally with Egypt while fighting proxy wars in Yemen, etc.Afghan government pleading for Soviet military supportTrade embargo placed on Soviets by US11

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