The Soviet-Afghan War

( 1979-1989)

Intro: The WarIntro: The War

How did it start:How did it start: The soviet attacks Afghanistan on December 27, 1979 after the death of The soviet attacks Afghanistan on December 27, 1979 after the death of

afghan’s PM/minister of defense.afghan’s PM/minister of defense.

Why did it start:Why did it start: Before the war, afghan government had turned to the soviets in order to Before the war, afghan government had turned to the soviets in order to

stabilize their economy. However, due to the soviet’s determination to stabilize their economy. However, due to the soviet’s determination to spread communism. spread communism.

What was the issue:What was the issue: A group called Guerrillas (mujahidin) a.k.a was formed in order to fight A group called Guerrillas (mujahidin) a.k.a was formed in order to fight

communism. They've received helps from USA, Saudi Arabia, and communism. They've received helps from USA, Saudi Arabia, and PakistanPakistan

Grace

Shalomi

The Soviet- Afghan war started because of the greediness of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was a Communist party and wanted to spread the dictatorship and communism all over the world. Therefore the Soviets invaded Afghanistan and tried to impose communism. The Afghans did not like communism so a rivalling group rose against the Soviet Union that group is called the Afghan guerrillas (mujahidin). (Which is known as the Taliban today.) The Afghan guerrillas were an anti communist group and they got help from USA, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The war was a bloody and lasted nearly 10 years (1979- 1989). No one factor was the deciding factor in the war against the Soviets. The structure of Afghan society as a whole, with its mistrust of the Communist system, and its strong faith in Islam provided the Afghan mujahidin with the will to fight, and the proper morale when it was required. The Soviets lack of experience in the type of war that was being fought, and their inability to adapt also was a strike against them. The foreign aid provided by many countries gave the rebels both the equipment and the knowledge necessary to fight and win. All of these factors played a part in the Soviet’s loss in the war.

Synopsis of the Soviet- Afghan War

Proxy War

The Soviet-Afghan war was a example of proxy war. The two great powers were the Soviet Union and the United States of America. The US played an indirect (third party) part of the war effort supporting the Afghan Mujahidin. By supplying them with artillery and other weapons of destructions. The US and the Soviet Union were two rivalling powers who believed into two different types of Power. Democracy Vs. Communism. Therefore the reason the US got involved in the war was to help Afghanistan fight and win the battle between the Soviet Union.

Former president Jimmy Carter believed the Soviets were creating a huge threat to the peace achieved at the end of Second World War because it was the battle of gaining a lot of fossil fuel. Jimmy Carter also places an embargo (a ban) US on shipment of commodities, like grains and high technology to the Soviet Union.Also Jimmy Carter sees this as a threat to the Persian Gulf region of invasion. With other country giving financial help to General Zia, the Afghan ruler who took the financial aids to build their army well trained and well funded. When there was a President in power for the United State in 1981, Ronald Reagan give even more aids to the Afghan. As of this United States, Pakistan Iran, China, Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom created or forum as the Afghan Mujahideen.

Jeff

The end result was accomplish because it had push the Soviet and stop their invasion and able to damage their economic resources, losing support of their country by their citizens and their death in the battle. While the Afghan Mujahideen was a group of country, who donate a lot of financial support from the six country and military training for mostly United State and Pakistan.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_war_in_Afghanistan#Pakistani_involvement_and_aid_to_the_Afghan_resistance

Mike

The events leading to this foremost war were concerning to the Saur Revolution and Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. During the Saur revolution, Mohammad Zahir Shah succeeded to the throne and control from 1933 to 1973. His cousin, Mohammad Daoud Khan, served as Prime Minister (1853 to 1963). The Marxist PDPA (People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan) party was credited for significant growth during these years. In 1967, the PDPA split into two rival faction groups, the khalq (Masses) faction headed by Nur Muhammad Taraki and Hafizullah Amin against the Parcham (Banner) faction led by Babrak Karmal. Through charges of corruption and poor economic conditions, the former Prime Minister Daoud took power in a practically violent-less military coup in 1973. Daoud ended the monarchy but wasn’t successful in the economic and social reforms to benefit the country. Daoud’s regime caused serious opposition from the factions because of the authoritarianism brought on them. The PDPA joined together again to end Daoud’s rule over them.In 1978, the PDPA overthrew and executed Daoud along with the members of his family. Nur Muhammad Taraki, Secretary General of the PDPA, became both the president of the Revolutionary Council and Prime Minister of the newly formed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. During the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan’s power, the government was practically divided along follower lines, with President Taraki and Deputy Prime Minister Hafizullah Amin of the Khalq faction against Parcham leaders such as Babrak Karmal and Mohammad Najibullah. Conflicts resulted in things like exiles, purges, and executions within the PDPA. Also, the PDPA applied a Marxist-style program of reforms. It settled forth changes in marriage customs and land reforms that weren’t supported by an exceedingly population believing in Islam.Mid 1978, a rebellion began in the Nuristan region of eastern Afghanistan and civil war spread throughout the country. In 1979, Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan Hafizullah Amin seized power after a palace shootout that ended in the death of President Taraki. Unsteadiness overwhelmed Amin’s regime as he moved against his opponents in the PDPA and the growing rebellion.

Storms = bad/negative instances that influences the problem

•The Soviet-Afghan Friendship treaty: in 1978, Moscow and Kabul signed a mutual treaty of friendship and cooperation that allowed Soviet deployment in case of an Afghan calls for the need of it. The Soviet military assistance increased and the PDPA regime became more dependent on Soviet military equipment and advisers. The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan became more dependants on the Soviet Union because of the worsening rebellion.

Energy = possible solutions to help solve the problem

•Since the PDPA applied a Marxist-style program of reforms it caused the population really immersed in the strong tradition and Islam to start the civil was that spread through the whole country. This negative effect on the Country caused the death of President Taraki, and required the Soviet deployment to aid PDPA contain the situation. It caused the Country to split into 2 main opposing groups in a civil war.

Fruit = consequences of the problem

•Following the Soviet deployment of military, the Soviet troops were unsuccessful of establishing authority outside Kabul. As much as 80% of the countryside still escaped effective government control. The initial mission, to guard cities and installations, was expanded to combat the anti-communist Mujahideen forces, primarily using Soviet reservists.

Pests = things stopping possible solutions to

the problem

Roots: how the problem grew/manifested

The war involved casualties of innocent civilians due to the rebel attacks between the Soviets, and becoming more complex for the Soviet Union in the fighting areas such as in mountainous terrain. They were repeated many of the American Vietnam mistakes, winning almost all of the conventional battles, but failing to control the countryside. Heavy artillery was extensively used when fighting the rebel forces and cost the Soviet Union a lot. All the interventions had a play in the problem becoming hectic.

Beliefs = how the problem escalated

The Afghanistan government didn’t seem to be prepared for doing what was necessary for the benefit of the country; instead the Soviets invaded and took control of the situation after getting rid of Amin.

The Afghan resistance movement during the mid 1980s was assisted by the U.S., U.K., China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and others, that contributed to the Moscow’s high military costs and stressed international relations. In result, Afghan guerrillas were armed, funded, and trained mostly by the U.S. and Pakistan. Plus, the donation of American-created FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems increased the losses of the Soviet Air Force.

Other trees = other things influencing the problem

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Special Service Group (SSG) were actively involved in the conflict, and in cooperation with the CIA and the U.S. Army Special Forces all supported the armed rebellion against the Soviet threats.

After the Soviet invasion, Pakistan’s military ruler General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq accepted financial aid from the Western powers to help the Muhajideen rebellion. The United States, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia became major financial contributors to General Zia who was the ruler of a neighbour country and helped by ensuring the Afghan resistance was well-trained and well-funded.

In the 19780s, Pakistan received aid from the U.S. and took in millions of Afghan (mostly Pashtun) refugees fleeing the Soviet occupation.

•The Soviet Union withdraws from Afghanistan. This is because of the toll in casualties, economic resources, and loss of support at home increasingly felt in the Soviet Union was causing criticism of the occupation policy. Leonid Brezhnev died in 1982. Mikhail Gorbachev took leadership in March 1985 and opened up the country’s system, it became clearer that the U.S.S.R. wanted to find a face-saving way to withdraw from Afghan. Informal negotiations for a Soviet withdrawal from Afghan had been in progress since 1982. In 1988, the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the U.S. and S.U. serving as guarantors, signed and agreement settling the major differences between them known as the Geneva accords. The United Nations settled up a special Mission to supervise the process. In this way, Najibullah and Moscow headed toward withdrawal. On July 20 1987, the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the country was finally announced. Their exit didn’t bring lasting peace or resettlement due in part to U.S. and Pakistan’s violations of Geneva accords.

Cactus = an indirect cause of the problem but a correlation could be

drawn

The FishboneThe Fishbone

The Fishbone

1. 1979: The Beginning of 1. 1979: The Beginning of The WarThe War

Soviet forces gradually began to land in Soviet forces gradually began to land in Kabul, Afghanistan. December 25, 1979Kabul, Afghanistan. December 25, 1979

On December 27, after crossing the On December 27, after crossing the border, the soviet army overthrows the border, the soviet army overthrows the afghan government and kills the afghan government and kills the presidentpresident HafizullahHafizullah AminAmin , and the , and the PM/Minister of defense Hafizullah Main PM/Minister of defense Hafizullah Main

As part of Truman doctrine, As part of Truman doctrine, President President Carter Approves Carter Approves militarymilitary Aid to Anti- Aid to Anti-Soviet Forces in Afghanistan Soviet Forces in Afghanistan

2.2.

On February of 1980, many afghans had On February of 1980, many afghans had protested against the soviet’s protested against the soviet’s occupation in Kabul. However, occupation in Kabul. However, hundreds have ended up being killed or hundreds have ended up being killed or arrested. The anti-soviet riot in arrested. The anti-soviet riot in Shindadnd was turned down due to the Shindadnd was turned down due to the soviet forcessoviet forces

Osama bin LadenOsama bin Laden begbegan toan to provid providee financial, organizational, and financial, organizational, and engineering aid for the mujahedeen in engineering aid for the mujahedeen in Afghanistan Afghanistan

3. 1985: 3. 1985: rebel organizations rebel organizations formed formed

Seven party mujahideen alliance is Seven party mujahideen alliance is formed in order to fight aginst the formed in order to fight aginst the sovietsoviet

4. 1988: Yhe birth of 4. 1988: Yhe birth of al-al-Qaeda Qaeda

August 11, 1988, bin laden stated in August 11, 1988, bin laden stated in his meeting that the purpose of the his meeting that the purpose of the meeting was to,meeting was to, “the establishment “the establishment of a new military group,”of a new military group,”

5. The end5. The end

On February 15, 1989 the soviet’s On February 15, 1989 the soviet’s withdrew its army after withdrew its army after 115,000 115,000 Soviet soldiers begin to Soviet soldiers begin to move out move out after losing an estimated 15,000 after losing an estimated 15,000 troops in ten yearstroops in ten years as the result of as the result of their fight with the anti-communist their fight with the anti-communist groupgroup.. mujahideen alliance mujahideen alliance

The end: The WarThe end: The War

What was the end result of the war?:to What was the end result of the war?:to be explainedbe explained

What did it accomplish what did it fail What did it accomplish what did it fail to accomplish?: to be explainedto accomplish?: to be explained

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