A Brief History of Recent
conflicts in Afghanistan

The following is a brief look at Afghanistan’s most recent past. For this historical perspective, I rely on two sources: The Soviet Afghan War: How a Super Power Fought and Lost, by Lester W. Grau and Michael A. Gress, and The Taliban, by Ahmed Rashid, in addition to my personal experiences. —Brianne Leary

The Soviets officially occupied Afghanistan in 1979, but in reality they had been actively involved in Afghanistan since the early 1900s. From 1919 to 1978, Afghanistan’s foreign policy balanced the demands of her immediate neighbors and those of external powers such as the United States, Germany, and Great Britain. Normal relations with the Soviet Union led to an increased Soviet investment and presence in the country. In 1978, a small leftist band of Soviet-trained Afghan officers seized control of the government and declared the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA). A sweeping program of land redistribution changed the status of women and the destruction the old social structure of Afghanistan. This government had little popular support, as it ran counter to the national social and cultural structure of Afghanistan. Consequently, a resistance grew and civil war broke out. Religious leaders issued statements proclaiming jihad against the communist regime and bands of mujahedeen (holy warriors) formed to defend the Islamic faith.

Many of those who have escaped death are refugees continually displaced by conflict.

By 1978, it was painfully apparent that the mujahedeen were not to be quelled. The Soviets controlled the cities, but the tribal elders and war lords controlled the countryside. Establishing socialism in Afghanistan had become a bloody nightmare for the Soviets. On Christmas Eve of 1979, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, killed President Nur M. Taraki, and installed their own leader. This was to be a three-year plan meant to stabilize the situation by strengthening the army and withdrawing. Like in Vietnam, the Soviets found themselves using conventional war tactics against a guerrilla force.

Enter the United States and President Ronald Reagan. His “Peace Through Strength” campaign challenged Soviet expansionism, thus offering support to these “freedom fighters” struggling against the “Evil Empire.”

The undeclared war in Afghanistan from 1979 through 1990 was a bloody debacle for all involved. Four million Afghans fled their homeland and became desperate refugees in squalid tent cities in Pakistan (some fled to Iran, but the majority of Afghan refugees sought refuge in Pakistan where, in Peshawar, the seven major mujahedeen factions were headquartered).

It wasn’t until the United States armed the mujahedeen with “Stinger” missiles in 1985 that the war turned the corner, finally giving the mujahedeen a fighting chance against the Soviets. This time is a very vivid memory for me. In May of 1985, my guide, commander Hakim Aryubi, as well as just about every other mujahedeen commander that I met inside Afghanistan, implored me to tell my government how much the Stinger was needed. After my return, I met with Senator Chris Dodd (Connecticut) and told him of my experiences. Stingers were issued not long after. Obviously, this had nothing to do with my meeting with the people in D.C. In fact, it was always intended that the mujahedeen would be provided with Stingers but, it is my belief that, in order to break the Soviet Union both financially and morally, the war had to become a painful, protracted situation. Once again, it was very much like our Vietnam. The body count, both Soviet and Afghan, had to rise sufficiently as a means to a horrific end. The Soviet/Afghan conflict would claim 1.5 million Afghan lives. It is estimated that more than 50,000 Soviets lost their lives. The Soviets withdrew in 1989, and hastily put in a puppet president, Najibullah. The mujahedeen publicly hung Najibullah in Kabul in 1992. For the first time in 300 years, Kabul, the Afghan capital, was not controlled by the Pashtun (the majority ethnic group) but rather by Tajik (Masud) and Uzbek forces. A civil war, stemming from Kabul, ensued until 1996.

In my opinion, there were no victors in the Afghan/Soviet conflict, except perhaps the United States. The Evil Empire collapsed, the Soviet Union was emotionally and financially bankrupt, and the “Cold War” was over. The U.S. embraced Glasnost and Gorbachev. A new era in East West relations had begun. True, technically, the mujahedeen had won but at what cost? And what future did this decimated, fractionalized country have? Once the Soviets withdrew, most U.S. and other international interests followed. There was no political or financial infrastructure. Millions were left homeless or as refugees in Pakistan. Warlords reigned supreme. Lawlessness was the rule of the land, and many Afghans felt deserted by the Americans. All of this created the perfect environment in which anti- U.S./Western sentiment could grow and thrive.

At first, when the Taliban began to rear its fanatically religious head, it was reluctantly welcomed. After years of war and countless dead, the Afghans were exhausted and desperate. The Taliban promised to bring law and order back, all in the name of Allah. With the help of Pakistan’s Interservice Intelligence (ISI),

the Taliban movement began to gain momentum and control, beginning in Kandahar and then spreading out.

Enter Saudi Arabia’s Osama bin Laden. During the occupation, bin Laden worked alongside the CIA as a mujahedeen. He claimed to have taken part in Soviet ambushes, but there was some doubt about his fighting prowess, and his insipient leadership in Afghanistan relied heavily on his wealth, rather than his questionable and undocumented combat abilities. He used his money to build mujahedeen projects, supply weapons, and spread his radical view of Islam and his desire to wipe out America, the great infidel.

At war’s end, embittered and angry with the U.S. after the bombing of Iraq, Osama bin Laden turned to Afghanistan, making it the home base of al-Qaeda. He already had training camps in place, and had developed a friendship with Mullah Omar; bin Laden needed a base of operations, and the Taliban needed weapons and money. It was a simple marriage.

The only mujahedeen group that actively fought al-Qaeda and the Taliban (once it controlled most of Afghanistan) was the Northern Alliance. The Northern Alliance leader Masud was assassinated by al-Qaeda just days before the World Trade Center was attacked. This was an attempt to squash any kind of Afghan unity against the Taliban. Weeks into the war, Abdul Haq, a Pashtun mujahedeen leader, was also assassinated.

Editor’s note: If you would like to learn more about the challenges facing the people of Afghanistan and how you can support their attempts to rebuild their county, Brianne recommends the Afghanistan Women Council, whom you can reach at awc2@psh.paknet.com.pk.