19) The Second Cold War Flashcards
When did the Soviets invade Afghanistan
December 1979
Situation in Afghanistan prior to Soviet invasion
Very complex political situation since before the 1960s
60s- become a constitutional monarchy
1973- coup to change the monarchy
April 1978- coup where the soviet-backed socialist party win power (Marxist-Leninist party)
Parties are very uncoordinated and it falls back into a civil war after the ‘78 coop, the socialist party faces opposition from US-backed mujahideen groups.
leader of Afghanistan prior to the 1978 coop
General Mohammed Daoud Khan, established Afghanistan as a republic
PDPA
People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (socialist party)
was founded in 1965 but by ‘67 they had split into factions
why did the PDPA overthrown Daoud
He failed to implement any of the socialist policies to which he had committed (in order for him to achieve victory in his 1963 coup against the monarchy, he needed the support from all the big political parties, thus he promised these reforms)
details of the 1978 coup
April
Soviet-trained Afghan soldiers
took place without direct Soviet participation
Why was Afghanistan a concern for the USSR (why did they invade)
-shared a 2,5000 metre border, the Soviets have ties with Afghanistan and would like it to be in their sphere
-PDPA regime begins to fragment due to conflict over policies
-Regional ally to the USSR, any alliance with the US would lead to a strengthened US geostrategic power
-Protection of the USSRs own security, needed the Afghanistan as the buffer
-the USSR believed their actions where inline with the Basic Principles of détente (they needed to preserver their power)
-Saw their military intervention as a defensive act to stop Afghanistan from descending into a chaos and being a victim to external forces (bit hypocritical)
Soviet vs US views of the invasion
USSR- it was necessary
US- it was expansionist
why was military intervention the chosen action in Afghanistan?
USSR believed immediate action was needed to preserve the status quo (restore a stable, popular, socialist government) and ensure the USSRs security
Why did the Soviets believe their actions in Afghanistan aligned with the basic principles
-defensive act
-preserve not destroy
-Afghanistan was never part of the US influence
what was the People’s republic of Chinas (PCR) view on the invasion?
-did not agree
-cancelled talks with the USSR and provided weaponry to the mujahideen
when do NATO put missiles in Europe and how does this effect the USSR
December 1978
creates paranoia, a motivator to invade Afghanistan
Coup to overthrow Dauod
April 1978
how many soviet troops were in the initial invasion
50,000 but double to 100,000 in a matter of months
Reasons for social unrest in Afghanistan
many Afghans believed the new Marxist reforms undermined Afghanistan’s traditional Islamic culture
President Amin
took power after coup in 1978 but Soviets did not trust him as he began try and improve relations with the USA and Pakistan
death of Amin
December 1979
soviets storm the presidential building where Amin is executed and Babrak Karmal is installed as leader
Was Babrak Karmal a popular leader
no, he did not have the support of the Afghans, they saw him a puppet to the Soviets (eg the Afghan army was dissolved so the Soviets could control military action)
the war by 1985
no victory, still vicious fighting between the Mujahideen and the Soviets
Soviets in 1985 (Afghanistan)
demoralised
big financial strain on USSR
Afghanistan was becoming ‘the Soviet’s Viet Nam’
Mujahideen by 1985
controlled 1/5th of the country
held inaccessible mountain bases
financed by the USA and PRC