Week 7: Military Action II: The Bad and Ugly Afghanistan Afghanistan was a feudal/pastoral monarchy before 1973 Mohammed Zahir Shah, last king of Afghanistan King Zahir overthrown by Daoud in 1973 Daoud overthrown and killed by communist PDPA in 1978 New President: Nur Muhammad Taraki of PDPA Khalq faction ...Taraki overthrown and killed by Hafizullah Amin in 1979. Radical reforms lead to insurgency Soviets invade, assassinate Amin, install Babrak Karmal (Parcham) Why did the Soviets invade? Why did the Soviets invade? ● Oil? ● Domino Theory? ● Bureaucratic Isolation ● Iron Curtain intervention? Insurgency intensifies, Soviets employ brutal tactics US funds and arms Afghan mujahedin Mujahedin were representative of Afghan society Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Ahmed Shah Massoud Peace Talks between Pakistan, Soviets and Afghans stall ● Soviets incur heavy casualties. ● Refugee crisis in Pakistan and Iran. ● Soviet leader turnover 1983-85. Gorbachev Takes Power in USSR ● Nationalist Muhammad Najibullah becomes Afghan President. ● Anti-insurgent operations shift to Afghan Army. Soviets withdrew in 1988 Why did the Soviets get involved in a quagmire? Why did the Soviets get involved in a quagmire? ● Continued Bureaucratic Isolation ● Factionalism in Soviet regime ● Misinformation from the ground ● Fear of rapid withdrawal Afghan Civil War continues after Soviets leave Najibullah overthrow in 1992; mujahedin fragment Taliban forms in 1994; captures most of the country Did US support for the mujahedin create the Taliban and bin Laden? Discussion Was the invasion strategically justified? What were the positive/negative effects? Alternative strategies? Next Week... Intervention and the End of the Cold War + Comprehensive Exam.