SovietAfghan

SovietAfghan refers to the Soviet-Afghan War, a conflict that lasted from 1979 to 1989 between the Soviet Union and insurgent groups in Afghanistan, with the Afghan government backed by Moscow. The war followed the 1978 Saur Revolution and the rise of the Khalq faction of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), which implemented rapid modernization and land reforms that provoked widespread resistance among rural communities.

In December 1979 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to bolster the PDPA government after Hafizullah Amin’s crackdown. The invasion included the killing of Amin and the installation of Babrak Karmal as the new leader. The fighting evolved into a protracted guerrilla war, with Mujahideen groups receiving extensive support from the United States, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and others, including weapons such as Stinger missiles. The conflict confronted the Soviets with difficult terrain, strong local support networks for the insurgents, and significant civilian casualties and displacement.

By the mid-to-late 1980s, reform efforts within the Soviet Union and international diplomatic pressure led to negotiations, culminating in the 1988 Geneva Accords and a Soviet withdrawal completed by 1989. The Afghan communist government under Najibullah remained in power until 1992, when the regime collapsed and civil war resumed, ultimately contributing to the rise of the Taliban.

Legacy: The war was a major Cold War proxy conflict with enduring humanitarian and regional repercussions, reshaping Afghan society and contributing to the broader trajectory of Soviet decline. It also influenced global perceptions of jihadist movements and shaped subsequent interventions in the region.