The Soviets in Afghanistan

• Why? Typical Russian foreign policy of southern expansion
• Political problems in Afghanistan created power vacuums, so in Sept 1979 the Russians invaded and installed Babrak Karmal as President, a puppet government
• The West, China and India were all concerned, the Soviets were getting closer to the Persian Gulf
• The USA and other western countries then boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow
• This invasion helped to end Detente
• In 1980 the Soviets increased involvement, 2,000 tanks and squadrons of airplanes
• The rebels called Mujaheddin, still controlled the countryside, this would be the Soviets Vietnam!
• From 1980-1988 a vicious war ensued, creating much east-west tension and huge refugee problems at home
• Like Vietnam for the USA, Soviet troops began to resent being there and many brutal acts were perpetuated by the Soviets on the Afghan’s
• Like Vietnam, the Native population was against the Soviets, they faced guerilla forces hard to find and even harder to fight, the Soviets had to deal with disillusioned troops, the Soviets had to withdraw after being discredited and embarrassed.

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