Soviets in Afghanistan

1. Soviets in Afghanistan

2. Afghanistan Leaders

3. Afghanistan Leaders

4. Afghanistan Leaders

5. Storm 333 • December 27, 1979 – Soviet special forces storm the Presidential Palace in Afghanistan and assassinate President Amin • The Soviets install BabrakKarmal as President • 80,000 Soviet troops enter the country and occupy key points including the capital, Kabul, and important infrastructure

6. Why?

7. U.S. Reaction (Carter)

8. U.S. Reaction (Reagan) • Reagan Doctrine – oppose Soviet Union by providing overt and covert aid to rebel groups fighting communist governments • Most money and aid was sent to Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence

9. Mujahideen • The Mujahideen consisted of many groups of resistance fighters with different ideological backgrounds, there was no centralized command • The U.S., Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan supplied weapons • Pakistan allowed Mujahideen to establish training bases in Pakistan • The Mujahideen used classic guerilla warfare tactics

10. Mujahideen

11. Mujahideen

12. Soviet Government • Politburo (around 20 members) • Central Committee members elected at party congresses every 5 years (about 300 members) • 8 million party members out of population of 290 million

13. Soviet Leaders

14. Soviet Leaders

15. Soviet Problems • Mountainous terrain of Afghanistan • Conventional war vs. Guerilla war • Fractured nature of opposition • Conscripts only served two years • Lack of supplies and discipline and corruption in military • Failure to win support of local population by looting and stealing

16. Terrain

17. Soviet Weapons

18. Weapons Mujahideen with U.S. Stinger Mujahideen with Soviet SA-7

19. Casualties/Losses • 620,000 soldiers served • 14,453 dead • 53,753 wounded • 451 aircraft • 1,314 AFC/APCs • 433 artillery guns • Mujahideen 75,000 ? • 3 million soldiers served • 58,220 dead • 150,000 wounded • USAF 2,251 ? • Army helicopters 3,305 ? • NVA 1.1 million ?

20. 1988 Geneva Accords

21. Outcomes