20 - Soldiers of God [1977-1988] - Guide on the Soviet-Afghan War (1978-1989)

Overview of the Soviet-Afghan War

Human Cost and Comparison: The war in Afghanistan resulted in the deaths of nearly $15,000$ young Soviet conscripts and an estimated $1,000,000$ Afghans.
The "Vietnam Syndrome": The conflict is described as the Soviet Union's version of the Vietnam syndrome—an exhausting, unwinnable war for a superpower against a guerrilla resistance.
External Support: The United States supplied billions of dollars in weaponry to Islamic fundamentalists.
Guiding Philosophy of Intervention: Participant accounts summarize the US involvement as a war fought with "our gold, but with their blood."

Geographical and Strategic Context

The Landscape: The Panshir Valley in the Hindu Kush Mountains characterizes much of the rural terrain. Afghanistan's population at the time was approximately $15,000,000$ .
Historical Context: Foreign nations had attempted to conquer the region for centuries, notably failing to achieve lasting control.
Strategic Neighbors:
- West: Bordered Iran.
- South and East: Bordered Pakistan.
- North: Bordered the Muslim populations of the Soviet Union’s Central Asian Republics.
Geopolitical Stakes: Proximity to the Persian Gulf’s oil and Indian Ocean ports made it a critical focus for Cold War superpower rivalry.

The 1978 Military Coup and Radical Reforms

The Saur Revolution: In April $1978$ , a military coup in Kabul brought a left-wing regime to power, led by Nur Muhammad Taraki.
Initial Soviet Involvement: Moscow sent hundreds of Soviet advisers to assist in the advancement of socialism.
Land Reform: The regime attempted to introduce land reforms, taking land from large owners and redistributing it to landless peasants.
Social Transformations:
- Women were encouraged to stop wearing veils.
- Literacy classes were established where men and women studied together.
Religious and Cultural Backlash: The mullahs (Islamic priests) and traditionalists viewed these decrees as a violation of the "law of God."
- Opponents argued that God decided wealth and poverty and that communists were trying to destroy Islamic traditions.
- Resistance included the burning of schools and universities and the fleeing of thousands of Afghans to Pakistan.

Soviet Concerns Regarding the Left-Wing Regime

Naivety of the PDPA: Soviet leaders, including Brezhnev and the Politburo, criticized the Afghan leadership’s attempt to build socialism in just five years, noting the USSR had been attempting it for $60$ years and was still not finished.
The Call for Jihad: In neighboring Iran and other Islamic nations, crowds rallied behind the call for "jihad" (holy war) against the "godless communists."

The US Perception and the "Arc of Crisis"

Zbigniew Brzezinski's View: President Carter’s National Security Adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski, viewed the left-wing regime as a major threat.
Strategic Fears: Concerns were raised that Moscow might use the Afghan crisis as a stepping stone to move south and seize the oil of the Persian Gulf.
Impact of the Iranian Revolution: The fall of the Shah of Iran deprived the US of its primary regional ally, leaving a vacuum the Soviets might fill.
Initial US Covert Aid: The first instance of US covert aid to Islamic groups occurred in July $1979$ , initially consisting of communications equipment.

Internal Turmoil and the Rise of Hafizullah Amin

Hafizullah Amin: The regime’s strongman and Prime Minister, known for harsh policies and a campaign of terror. When faced with criticism that his policies were turning the population against him, he reportedly asked, "Did Stalin make the revolution in white gloves?"
The Death of Taraki: After a meeting with Brezhnev in Moscow to discuss curbing Amin, Taraki returned to Kabul only to be seized and executed by Amin.
Soviet Distrust of Amin: The KGB (headed by Andropov) grew suspicious of Amin's "flirting" with the Americans, fearing he might be a CIA agent who would allow US troops on the Soviet border.

The Soviet Decision to Invade

Motivations:
- Securing the southern borders of the USSR.
- Preventing the spread of Islamic fundamentalism from Iran into Afghanistan.
- Countering NATO's deployment of cruise missiles in Europe (announced $12/12/1979$ ).
The Invasion (December 1979): On $12/25/1979$ , tens of thousands of Soviet troops crossed the border.
Replacing Amin: KGB special forces stormed the royal palace in Kabul and killed Amin. He was replaced by Barbrak Kamal.

Global Response and the End of Detente

Condemnation: The invasion was widely condemned at the United Nations.
Carter's Retaliation:
- Blocked grain deliveries to the Soviet Union.
- Boycotted the $1980$ Moscow Olympic Games.
- Increased US defense spending.
Nuclear Warning: President Carter stated that a Soviet move into Pakistan or Iran would be considered a personal threat to US security and could elicit a nuclear response.

The Proxy War and the Mujahideen

Role of Pakistan: General Zia al-Haq’s military government facilitated the flow of aid. The US temporarily ignored Pakistan's drug trade and nuclear developments to ensure support for the resistance.
Mujahideen Composition: These "soldiers of God" were mostly peasants organized by village mullahs and landowners. They were often split along tribal and ethnic lines.
Pakistani Agenda: Pakistan favored extremist groups, particularly Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, over more moderate factions to ensure a puppet regime post-war.
Weaponry Sources: Arms were sourced from Egypt, China, and even the Czechoslovak communist government. Eventually, the Mujahideen even bought arms directly from corrupt Soviet soldiers in Afghanistan.

Military Reality and Soviet Tactics

Troop Levels: By $1980$ , nearly $100,000$ Soviet troops were deployed.
Failed Strategies: The Red Army initially used textbook armored sweep tactics designed for European plains, which were disastrous in mountainous terrain against guerrillas.
Casualty Rates: Soviet deaths rose to approximately $2,000$ per year.
Shift in Tactics: They moved from armored sweeps to air-based operations, using helicopters to drop commandos and cut escape routes.
Stinger Missles: The US eventually provided shoulder-fired Stinger missiles, marking direct involvement and neutralizing Soviet air supremacy.

The Atrocities and Moral Decline

Indiscriminate Bombing: Soviet aircraft destroyed entire villages, such as Kutz and Minjrawar ( $04/08/1985$ ).
Atrocities: Accounts include the mass execution of civilians, line-ups for machine-gunning, and extreme cases where soldiers poured kerosene on women and children.
Psychological Impact on Troops: Many Soviet conscripts (often arriving with only $3$ months of training) turned to opium and alcohol to cope. One soldier described the feeling as being "drunk on blood."
Mujahideen War Crimes: The resistance also committed frequent war crimes, including the cold-blooded execution of prisoners.

The Gorbachev Era and Withdrawal

Mikhail Gorbachev (1985): Recognized the need to end the war, noting the internal pressure from thousands of protest letters and the grief of Russian mothers.
"Internationalist Duty": The state attempted to hide the true nature of the war, even forbidding mothers from writing that their sons died in Afghanistan on their gravestones (they could only write the phrase "died fulfilling his internationalist duty").
The Geneva Accords (1988): Negotiated by UN Undersecretary Diego Cordovese. The agreement barred further military aid, though both superpowers continued to supply their respective sides.
Withdrawal: Soviet troops began pulling out in $1988$ .

Final Consequences

Displaced Persons: Since $1979$ , $5,000,000$ Afghans were wounded or forced to flee as refugees.
Continued Conflict: The withdrawal did not bring peace; rival Islamic factions continued to fight for power using leftover American and Soviet weapons.
The Legacy: The conflict is viewed as a significant contributor to the collapse of the Soviet Union and a primary cause of the long-term destabilization of Afghanistan.