The reason for renewed hostilities in the Cold War: Afghanistan

who was Khan

President of Afghanistan. In office 17th July 1973 - 28th April 1978

who was Taraki

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the People’s Democratic Party. In office 1st January 1965 - 14th September 1979

who was Amin

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the People’s Democratic Party. In office 14th September - 27 December 1979

why was Afghanistan of strategic importance to the USSR

• Their shared border (2500 km) made Afghanistan an important buffer state highlighting its geostrategic importance

• Afghanistan was a socialist state led by the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA)

• Afghanistan could be used by the US, China or Pakistan as an ally against the USSR highlighting its geopolitical importance

how did Afghanistan become a socialist state

Khan led a coup in 1973 to overthrow the monarchy in Afghanistan; he established himself as President. He worked with Taraki, who was a founding member and the General Secretary of the (socialist) People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), to rule Afghanistan.

what was the leading party in Afghanistan

People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA)

did Afghanistan initially align with the USSR?

Khan wanted Afghanistan to remain out of CW politics and did not fully align himself with either superpower.

By 1977 Khan …

began to create his own party & move away from the socialist ideas of the PDPA; he created a new constitution which gave the President more powers and began to improve relations with other countries in the region

what happened in April 1977?

Khan met with Brezhnev to state that Afghanistan would not be controlled with the USSR

why did a coup take place in Afghanistan?

PDPA had supported Khan since 1973 but now felt he had failed to introduce the socialist reforms he had promised

when was the coup in Afghanistan?

In April 1978 a coup took place by the PDPA & Taraki to remove Khan - he was assassinated

who took control of Afghanistan after the coup?

Taraki & Amin

what did Taraki sign in December 1978

the ‘Twenty-Year Treaty of Friendship’

when was the ‘Twenty-Year Treaty of Friendship’ signed?

5 December 1978

did the Soviets trust Amin

no - he was seen as a brutal leader who executed opposition

what happened September 1979

Amin & Taraki fought for power & Taraki was assassinated under the orders of Amin (with Soviet support)

Why did the USSR invade?

The USSR was concerned that Amin was destabilising the country & that he might realign with the USA, Pakistan & China. Brezhnev saw Amin as an unreliable ally & felt that through military intervention they could reinstate what had been a stable & popular socialist state that was a firm ally to the USSR. Brezhnev saw the invasion as a security necessity to stop Afghanistan from falling into chaos, they hoped to reinstate the status quo & continue detente.

how many troops invaded Afghanistan

85,000+

when did the Soviets invade Afghanistan?

25th December 1979

By the end of 1981 there were … Soviet troops in Afghanistan

100,000+

the Soviet military invasion was the…

the largest military intervention outside of Europe since WW2

what did the US do in response to the invasion?

the CIA began to conduct covert operations in Afghanistan

April 1978

Communist led gov seizes control in Afghanistan - they reject communist gov & Mujahadeeen emerges.

September 1979

Afghan politician Amin arranges for the murder of Taraki. Amin seizes control & enters discussions with the USA but is distrusted by them.

December 1979

USSR invades Afghanistan. Amin assassinated by Soviet troops. USSR installs Barak Kamal as leader.

when did events in Afghanistan assumed greater significance to the US?

when the Shah of Iran (a pro-American regime) was overthrown by anti-American Islamic fundamentalists led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in February 1979; the Americans feared that Khomeini’s regime would collapse & leave Iran vulnerable to communist influences which would further reinforce the Soviet Union’s regional influence

when was the Shah of Iran overthrown

Feb 1979

how did Carter referred to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?

as a breach of international protocol & a significant threat to international peace

what did Carter do in response to the invasion?

he indefinitely postponed discussions in Congress about SALT 2

when did Carter indefinitely postponed discussions in Congress about SALT 2

3rd Jan 1980

what happened 4th Jan 1980

Cater addressed the nation & set out a series of measures aimed at the USSR

what were the measures aimed at the USSR

• A deferral of action on cultural & economic exchanges

• Major restrictions on Soviet fishing privileges in American waters

• A ban on the sale of high technology & strategic items to the Soviets

• An embargo on sales of gain to the USSR

• US military & economic assistance to Pakistan to enhance the state’s security