Détente + Afghanistan

Name 3 Agreements

1. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty- Prevents other new countries from gaining nuclear technology in 1968

2. USA allows China into UN- 1971

3. Seabed Treaty- 1971 USA, USSR + 85 other countries agree not to use the seabed for testing weapons

Name 3 Diplomatic Visits

1. US table tennis team played in China

2. In May 1972 Nixon signed the SALT1 agreement in Moscow

3. Brezhnev visits Nixon in Washington June 1973

What caused the detente?

1. Vocal CND movement and the US wanted to be more isolationist following the Vietnam

2. Arms Race was expensive

3. The price of Oil rocketed in the 1970s and both superpowers experienced economic problems

Fundamentalist

A person who believes in the strict, literal interpretation of scripture in a religion

Mujahideen

Guerrilla fighters in Afghanistan

Jihadist

A person/group involved in the struggle/fight against the enemies of Islam

When did the Detente end?

Christmas Day 1979

What happened in September 1979?

• Anti-Soviet communist Hafizullah Amin seized power

• Mujahideen declared a jihad on Amin’s supporters

• The USSR declared Amin was a CIA agent

Why did the general population dislike Amin?

1. Many rejected it because his atheism was at odds with their Muslim faith

2. The government imprisoned, tortured, and killed Muslim religious leaders led to the formation of the Mujahideen

How did Soviet use intimidation?

• launch airborne and armored ground attacks to destroy villages, livestock, and crops in troublesome areas

• bomb villages nearby guerrilla attacks

• locals forced to flee to deprive guerrillas of resources

How did the Russians use subversion?

• Sending spies to join resistance groups and report information

• bribing local tribes/leaders into ceasing

How did the Russians use search and destroy?

• Implemented using helicopter gunships that would provide cover for ground forces

• When villages were occupied inhabitants were frequently interrogated/tortured

How did the Russians use intelligence?

• Soviets used KHAD (Afghan secret police) to gather intelligence/infiltrate the Mujahideen, Spread false information and brine tribal militias

How many troops did the USSR have?

125,000

What did the US do?

• USA condemned the invasion along with UN and China

What does Operation Cyclone do?

• 1981-1987

• The US supplied $3.2 billion of guns, missiles and money to the Mujahideen

What did the US national security advisor admit?

• The CIA provided covert aid to Afghan resistance 6 months before the invasion

• All resources would go through Pakistan so the CIA and the USA had plausible deniability

• “Draw Russians into Afghan Trap”

What happened on July 3rd 1979?

President Carter signed the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro soviet regime in Kabul

What did Carter do in January 1980?

Carter announced he was extending the policy of containment to the Middle East

What did the Carter Doctrine mean?

announced that the USA was prepared to use force to stop any country gaining control in Middle East

How much financial aid did the USA provide after 1987?

$4.2 billion after 1987

• Doesn’t include financial aid from China, SA and UK

Impact on Afghanistan

1. 1 million civilians dead

2. 90,000 Mujahideen and 18,000 Afghan troops dead

3. 3 million refugees flee to Pakistan

4. Civil War raged as warlords battled over control

5. Taliban takes control in 1996

Impact of USSR

1. 15,000 Soldiers dead

2. USSR bankruptcy led to collapse in 1989

3. Embarrassment war with a little chance of winning against guerilla fighters