Soviet war in Afghanistan 1979 -1989 The

Soviet war in Afghanistan 1979 -1989

The reason of Afghan war ▪ Maintain socialism in Afghanistan. ▪ Keep Afghanistan under Soviet influence. ▪ Prevent the strengthening of Islamic fundamentalism in the region.

Saur (April) revolution ▪ The Saur Revolution is the name given to the communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) takeover of political power from the government of Afghanistan on 27 -28 April 1978. Mohammed Daud (previous president) were arrested and killed.

Civil war 1978 -1979 ▪ Islamical opposition was fighting against Taraki forces, and Hafezullah Amin took power in Afghanistan. Taraki was arrested and killed.

The beginning of the war ▪ Operation Storm-333 (Шторм-333, Shtorm-333) was the codename of an operation on 27 December 1979 in which Soviet Special Forces stormed the Tajbeg Palace in Afghanistan and killed Afghan President Hafizullah Amin and his 100– 150 personal guards. His 11 -year-old son died due to shrapnel wounds. The Soviets installed Babrak Karmal as Amins successor. Grigoriy Boyarinov (the commander of operation) was killed by afghans.

The groups of Mujahadeen Peshawar Seven (SUNNI) Tehran Eight (SHIA) ▪ IRM ▪ Harakat i-Islami ▪ Gulbuddin faction ▪ Khalis faction ▪ Ittehad i-Islami ▪ Jamiat-e Islami ▪ NLF ▪ NIFA ▪ Afghan Hezbollah ▪ Nasr Party (IVOA) ▪ COIRGA ▪ Shura Party ▪ IRM ▪ UOIF ▪ Raad Party

International positions UN resolution ▪ Foreign ministers from 34 Islamic nations adopted a resolution which condemned the Soviet intervention and demanded "the immediate, urgent and unconditional withdrawal of Soviet troops" from the Muslim nation of Afghanistan. The UN General Assembly passed a resolution protesting the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan by a vote of 104– 18

December 1979 – February 1980: Occupation A fighter in Kunar uses a communications receiver ▪ Soviet troops entered Afghanistan along two ground routes and one air corridor, quickly taking control of the major urban centers, military bases and strategic installations. However, the presence of Soviet troops did not have the desired effect of pacifying the country.

March 1980 – April 1985: Soviet offensives Strategic situation ▪ The war now developed into a new pattern: the Soviets occupied the cities and main axis of communication, while the mujahideen, (which the Soviet Army soldiers called 'Dushman, ' meaning 'enemy') divided into small groups, waged a guerrilla war. Almost 80 percent of the country escaped government control Mujahideen with two captured artillery field guns

1980 s: Insurrection In the mid-1980 s, the Afghan resistance movement, contributed to Moscow's high military costs and strained international relations. ▪ Afghanistan's resistance movement was born in chaos, spread and triumphed chaotically, and did not find a way to govern differently. Virtually all of its war was waged locally by regional warlords. As warfare became more sophisticated, outside support and regional coordination grew. Even so, the basic units of mujahideen organization and action continued to reflect the highly segmented nature of Afghan society A Soviet Spetsnaz (special operations) group prepares for a mission in Afghanistan

1986: Stinger Missile Air forces role ▪ Through most of the war, the Soviet air force was able to control the skies and fly sorties at will. With two recently introduced combat aircraft the Su-25 ground-attack jet and the Mi-24 attack helicopter the Soviets had aircraft that were impervious to Mujahideen attacks, as both aircraft were armored to withstand even large calibre machine gun fire. This meant that whenever the Soviet army would find itself in trouble, all it needed was to call air support and either the SU 25 or Mi 24 would arrive shortly to disperse any marauding Mujahideen units Afghans shot down helicopter

April 1985 – January 1987: Exit strategy Tactic ▪ Soviet Union's exit strategy was to transfer the burden of fighting the mujahideen to the Afghan armed forces, with the aim of preparing them to operate without Soviet help. During this phase, the Soviet contingent was restricted to supporting the DRA forces by providing artillery, air support and technical assistance, though some large-scale operations were still carried out by Soviet troops. Soviet soldier in Afghanistan

January 1987 – February 1989: Withdrawal Gorbachev role ▪ Gorbachev was trying to ease cold war tensions by signing the Intermediate. Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 1987 with the U. S. and withdrawing the troops from Afghanistan whose presence had garnered so much international condemnation. In addition, he called the Afghan war : «THE VIETNAM WAR OF USSR» Soviet troops withdrawing from Afghanistan in 1988

International reaction U. S. President Ronald Reagan, March 21, 1983 ▪ To watch the courageous Afghan freedom fighters battle modern arsenals with simple hand-held weapons is an inspiration to those who love freedom. Reagan with Mujaheeds leaders

Destruction in Afghanistan Estimates of civilian ▪ Estimates of Afghan civilian deaths vary from 850, 000 to 1, 500, 000. 5– 10 million Afghans fled to Pakistan and Iran, 1/3 of the prewar population of the country, and another 2 million were displaced within the country. In the 1980 s, half of all refugees in the world were Afghan Three mujahideen in Asmar, 1985.

Afghans commemorating Mujahideen Victory Day.