Afghanistan Flashcards
What did SR Ashton argue about Afghanistan?
S R Ashton : ‘ if a date has to be fixed for the onset of a New Cold War, it would be late 1979.’
What coup was there in 1978, Afghanistan?
April 1978: a coup mounted independently of the USSR by a Afghan communist party which overthrew the monarchy. The new regime wanted to radically reform the program but received backlash from conservative Islamic forces in rural areas and a new civil war started.
The Soviet government was concerned about Islam fundamentalism on its own Muslim population in southern Russia.
An Islamic fundamental state in Afghanistan would encircle the USSR while China was enhancing relations with the USA.
What reforms would be introduced following the coup in Afghanistan?
University students who learned about Marxism wanted to overthrow the Afghan monarchy, and radical reforms were introduced: women didn’t have to wear the veil and could attend school; roads would be built; more equality in employment and distribution of goods.
Elders of the tribes did not appreciate this.
Describe the April 1978 coup in Afghanistan?
In April 1978, the People’s Democratic Party seized power, aided by Moscow. They reformed social and economic policies, women’s rights, and secular education, but were opposed by the mujahedin who wanted a jihad, holy war, alongside factions including one led by Hafizullah Amin who came into power in September 1979.
Why did the USSR become suspicious of Amin? What did they do?
Amin’s regime was dependent on the USSR and when relations became strained, he initiated contact through the CIA with the US government, creating fears he worked for the CIA. Soviets replaced him with Babrak Kamal, invading Afghanistan on 25 December 1979 as they didn’t want a Shah Iran, they wanted to prevent bloodbath by religious zealots, they saw a threat to their border with US counter revolution victory.
What opposition did the USSR face? What did the US fear would happen, and what was their response?
The USSR had to face up to 200,000 guerillas, and only controlled 1/5 of the country. As the guerrillas controlled mountainous areas, by 1985 the USSR, with financial strain, had to admit the war couldn’t be won.
The US feared expansion to the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, threatening the world’s oil supply, and Carter banned oil exports alongside the Senate refusing to ratify SALT II and boycotting the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.
In 1979, what did the USSR do to stop opposition in Afghanistan? What problems did they have?
The US supplied weapons from Pakistan agencies to the Mujahedin.
Between 24-27 December 50,000 Soviet troops were deployed in Afghanistan at Kabul, and within months 100,000 were stationed. On 27 December, the Soviet soldiers executed Amin and replaced him with Babrak Kamal, hoping to crush opposition and withdraw troops in a few weeks but they faced problems:
The Afghan army disintegrated.
Kamal was unpopular as a Soviet puppet and Islamic fundamentalists motivated the public to support them.
What doctrine did Carter introduce?
The West saw this as evidence of expansionism and Carter’s administration took measures with the Carter Doctrine to defend the Persian Gulf if threatened, alongside the National Security Team’s resisting of the invasion by proxy.
When did the grain embargo by Carter start, and who did the US support?
In February 1980, he started a grain embargo and sent arms and military aid to the Mujahideen, and Soviet troops did not withdraw despite his demands. He hoped to make the campaign as costly for the USSR as possible.
What was the result of the Afghanistan invasion in America?
The US public felt it the US’ duty to prevent further expansionist attempts by the USSR.
The faction around Brzezinski gained faction, wanting to break with detente.
Sakharov, an academic, publicly denounced Soviet army atrocities in Afghanistan.
Congress refused to ratify SALT II.
Presidential directives to start and win nuclear war were leaked.
What was the overall impact of the crisis in Afghanistan?
Up to 1.5 million Afghans died and millions were displaced.
The US led a boycott with 65 countries of the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Opposition grew in the USSR as troops returned with alcoholism and drug problems, alongside PTSD.
Protests grew with the issues of returning the bodies of soldiers, alongside a lack of wheelchairs for those who returned.
In 1980 the US senate withdrew SALT II.
The USSR had to pay $8.2b a year.
