Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan Flashcards
What was the situation in Afghanistan April 78’?
Coup (PDPA - People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan) overthrew Mohammed Khan as he did not implement socialist reforms
- Led to Soviet invasion
What happened in Iran Jan 79’?
Shah removed by Khomeini who was violently anti-US and threatened oil
What did the US fear would happen in Iran?
If it collapsed could have left Iran open to communist influence
What did the USSR fear would happen in Iran?
Spread of Muslim Fundamentalism was a danger to the stability of USSR
- Added to the importance of maintaining pro-Soviet government in Afghanistan
Why did the Soviets act in Afghanistan regarding leadership?
PDPA regime was an ally on USSR however unreliable
- Concerned regime may alienate Afghans = instability
- Feared Amin may realign Afghanistan with USA, Pakistan and China
- USSR were in danger of losing their strategic, ideological, political and economic influence in Afghanistan.
Why did the Soviets act in Afghanistan regarding location?
Shared a border of 2500 km
- Regional ally of USSR and if aligned with US would decrease their geostrategic power and increase the US’s
- Security of Afghanistan
When and why did the situation in Afghanistan become at danger of escalating?
Summer of 1979 when the CIA threatened to support an anti-Soviet faction
What was Carter’s position on Afghanistan in 1979?
Carter emphasised that the USA had not interfered in the internal affairs of Afghanistan and he did not expect the USSR to do so either.
What did Brezhnev decide 24th December 1979?
Send Soviet troops into Afghanistan to install a Pro - Soviet Government
- 100,000 troops
What was the USA’s reaction to Brezhnevs decision on 24th December 79’?
Carter called the intervention a flagrant breach of international protocol and a significant threat to international peace
Who were the Mujahadeen?
Group of Afghan fighters, organised in resistance to Amin’s government and the foreign presence of the Soviet Union
- Wanted to overthrow the Amin government
How did the USSR try to justify their invasion of Afghanistan?
Falsely claimed that they had been invited in by the Amin government and that they were not invading the country
- They claimed that their task was to support a legitimate government and that the Mujahedeen were no more than terrorists.
Who was Amin replaced with/when/why?
Babrak Kamal on 27th December 79’
- Shot by Russians and Kamal was a loyalist
- Kamal depended on need or Russian military and support
- Needed 85,000 troops
What was the UN response to Afghanistan invasion?
The United Nations had condemned the invasion as early as January 1980
- Security Council motion calling for the withdrawal of Russian forces had been vetoed……by Russia.
How were the Afghans and Mujahadeen supported?
Supported by a number of other countries, with the US and Saudi Arabia offering the greatest financial support.
- Also aided by others: the United Kingdom, Egypt, China, Iran, and Pakistan
- They were also given access to US surface to air missiles.
What was the US response to the invasion?
- US pulled out of SALT II
- Detente failed
- Carter Doctrine
- $30 million to Mujahideen annually
- Major restriction on Soviet fishing in US waters
- Embargo to USSR on grain
- Military and economic assistance to Pakistan to enhance that state’s security
When was the Carter Doctrine announced?
23rd Jan 1980
What was the main aim of the Carter Doctrine?
US committed to prevent any further Soviet advance into Persian Gulf area and SW Asia
- Threatened oil supply
Intentions of Carter Doctrine
- Build up of US strategic forces
- Strengthen China relations
- Increased defence budget for 1981
- Soviets would have to submit to US demands for their withdrawal
- End of detente
How did the Carter Doctrine pose an ultimatum to the USSR?
- Linked Detente to the USSR’s decision to maintain a military presence in Afghanistan.
- No Detente as long as Soviets in Afghanistan.
- Ultimatum. Shut down possibility of a diplomatic solution.
- Saw it as an overreaction
What was the overall impact of the Carter Doctrine?
- Ended detente
- Restarted arms race
- Shift in US policy back to containment
How many Russians died in Afghanistan?
15,000
How many Afgahns died in Afghanistan?
1 million
When was Presidential Directive 59?
July 1980
