Afghan Invasion Flashcards
when?
1979
parties involved?
- Brezhnev + (Later Andropox and Gorbachev)
- Carter + (later Reagan)
- Hazifullah Amin
- Babrak Kamal
- Muhajedin
- Nur Muhammad Taraki
- Daoud Khan
origins
Background;
1970’s; Afghanistan government seen as pro-US faux government
Mohammad Daoud receives US assistance + neutral policy
Soviet Military trains Afghan soldiers (makes them more sympathetic to Marxist cause)
Afghanistan seen in the Soviet sphere of influence due to shared borders
Afghan army seizes power + kills President Daoud and installs the Marxist People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA); NUR MUHAMMAD TARAKI takes power and creates the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
Ideology; marxist, land reform, gender equality and secular education
Issues: factionalism in new government, problems in poor, rural countries
long term causes
- April 1978- Afghan Army overthrows government + creates Marxist government
- December 1978 USSR and Afghanistan sign a bilateral agreement in which USSR agrees to provide assistance and advisors to modernize country; PDPA dependent on Russians now (weakened moral authority of government + anti government attacks increase)
- Reforms by government resisted (especially in rural areas); violence + civil strife + religious and political leaders persecuted (afghan elite go into exile)
- Mujahideen (rebel forces) oppose the Marxist PDPA;
- Rebel forces start attacking Soviet Leaders as well (1979; 100 soviet advisors killed);
- Marxists responded by attacking Herat (city were mutinied army was); instead of suppressing resistance a lot of the army leaves the PPDA and joins the resistance
PDP
- People’s Democratic Party; took power 1978
- pro Sovie Organization; recieves economic assistance from Moscow
- social and economic policies; land reform, womens richts, secular education; resisted by Muslim Groups + Factions
Hazifullah Amin
- leader of a faction that commited a coup 1979 to overthrow PDP
invasion?
- relations between Soviet-Amin are strained but Amin regime increasingly dependent on Soviet Aid
- Amin begins to intiate contact with CUA and US; triggers rumours that Amin recruited by CIA: Soviets intervene military and replace Amin with Pro SOviet Babrak Kamal
10000 paratroopers dropped into Afghanistan to take Kabul; Amin killed and replaced with Karmal
Soviets want to keep socialist government but don’t want to solve Afghan domestic problems
PDPA
- People’s Democratic Party; took power 1978; establish the marxist regime
- pro Soviet Organization; recieves economic assistance from Moscow
- social and economic policies; land reform, womens richts, secular education; resisted by Muslim Groups + Factions
Marxist People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA); NUR MUHAMMAD TARAKI takes power and creates the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
unoficial reasons for invasion
- moderate Western response to invasion of Czechlosovaikia
2. detente already in difficulties; impact of invasion on US invasions not a major concern
Mujahedin
- Declare Holy War against Amin Supporters
- anti-muslim policies; continued instability
- guerilla troop with religious fundamentalism; get support of war lords
Odd Arne Westad
The basic policy failure of the Soviet Afghan INvasion was the belief that foreign power could be used to secure he surivval and ultimate success of a regime that demonstrably couldn’t survive on its own
post-revisionist view
Soviet Union responded defensivley to genuine threat to its sceurty as its within their spehre of influence
post-revisionist view
Soviet Union responded defensivley to genuine threat to its sceurty as its within their spehre of influence
official and unofficial rationale of Sovie tInvasion
‘ Official rationale’ murky; Soviets try to justify invasion by making it seem like invitation.
Different reports stating reasoning for invasion
E.g. “rival PDPA leader, Babrak Karmal, asked for soviet assistance in broadcast (later revealed that the frequency originated from USSR)
E.g. Amin requested assistance from USSR (made less sense)
3 soviet concerns to Afghan exist from Soviet sphere
3 soviet concerns to Afghan exist from Soviet sphere
; 1. Lose power relative to US,
2. Brezhnev Doctrine would seem like a toothless document + eastern european countries may also detach,
3. Growth of religious fundamentalism (fear it will go into other central Asian republics such as Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan)
