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Soviet-Afghan War

Soviet–Afghan War
Part of the Wars in Afghanistan and the Cold War
Mortar attack on Shigal Tarna garrison, Kunar Province, 87.jpg
Mujahideen fighters in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan in 1987
Date December 24, 1979 – February 15, 1989
(9 years, 1 month, 3 weeks and 1 day)
Location Afghanistan
Result
Belligerents

Sunni Mujahideen:


Shia Mujahedeen:

Supported by:


Maoist factions:

Commanders and leaders

Mulavi Dawood Executed (AMFFF)
Strength

Soviet forces:

  • 620,000 total
  • 115,000 at peak

Afghan forces:

  • 55,000

Mujahideen:

200,000–250,000
Casualties and losses
Soviet forces:
Afghan forces:
  • 18,000 killed
Mujahideen:
  • 75,000–90,000 killed
  • 75,000+ wounded (tentative estimate)
Pakistan:
  • 300+ killed
  • 1 F-16 fighter jet shot down
Iran:
  • 2 AH-1J helicopters shot down
  • Unknown number killed
Civilians (Afghan):

Sunni Mujahideen:

Shia Mujahedeen:

Supported by:

Maoist factions:

Soviet forces:

Afghan forces:

Mujahideen:

The Soviet–Afghan War lasted over nine years from December 1979 to February 1989. Insurgent groups known as the mujahideen fought against the Soviet Army and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Between 850,000–2 million civilians were killed and millions of Afghans fled the country as refugees, mostly to Pakistan and Iran. The war is considered part of the Cold War.

Prior to the arrival of Soviet troops, the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan took power after a 1978 coup, installing Nur Mohammad Taraki as president. The party initiated a series of radical modernization reforms throughout the country that were deeply unpopular, particularly among the more traditional rural population and the established traditional power structures. The government vigorously suppressed any opposition and arrested thousands, executing as many as 27,000 political prisoners. Anti-government armed groups were formed, and by April 1979 large parts of the country were in open rebellion. The government itself was highly unstable with in-party rivalry, and in September 1979 the president was deposed by followers of Hafizullah Amin, who then became president. Deteriorating relations and worsening rebellions led the Soviet government, under leader Leonid Brezhnev, to deploy the 40th Army on December 24, 1979. Arriving in the capital Kabul, they staged a coup, killing president Amin and installing Soviet loyalist Babrak Karmal from a rival faction.


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