On Christmas Eve 1979, a combined air and land invasion of Afghanistan commenced. The Red Army quickly seized many urban areas, roads and communication lines. Afghan president (during the cold war) Hafizullah Amin, was himself captured and executed to be replaced by the more moderate Babrak Karmal by the Soviets. Disputes swiftly erupted internationally on whether this was an intervention or an invasion. The West and many Muslim countries decided on the latter. The tribal warlords were repulsed to the mountains by the invasion which was only a new stage in their struggle. The foreign orthodox invader gave credence to this being a Jihad or Holy War. The warlords were soon united as the Mujahedeen, committed to combating the Soviets. The US began
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Under the guidance of the military commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, the Mujahedeen indulged in guerrilla warfare. Initiating a repeated and gruelling effort for the Soviets to drive away the fighters, and for them to boomerang right back. It seemed as it for every fighter they’d killed, his death aided in the recruitment of five more, eager to become a martyr. The Red Army’s constant successful search and destroy missions were also in vain. As no matter how many battles they won, they continued to lose the war. In 1985, this routine had finally worn on the patience of Soviet politics and people. The illusion of the grand communist power beginning to disintegrate before them. Mikhail Gorbachev took over as general secretary the same year, his unique foreign policy and anti-war sentiment rapidly shifting opinion in the Union. The next year the war effort was only further degraded as Stinger missiles began to be supplied to the Mujahedeen. Accurately downing Soviet helicopters and crippling the army’s ability to scale the high mountains. An exit strategy would be put in place. It switched out Karmal for Mohammad Najibullah, and saw new attempts to transfer the burden of fighting on the Afghan army
Under the guidance of the military commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, the Mujahedeen indulged in guerrilla warfare. Initiating a repeated and gruelling effort for the Soviets to drive away the fighters, and for them to boomerang right back. It seemed as it for every fighter they’d killed, his death aided in the recruitment of five more, eager to become a martyr. The Red Army’s constant successful search and destroy missions were also in vain. As no matter how many battles they won, they continued to lose the war. In 1985, this routine had finally worn on the patience of Soviet politics and people. The illusion of the grand communist power beginning to disintegrate before them. Mikhail Gorbachev took over as general secretary the same year, his unique foreign policy and anti-war sentiment rapidly shifting opinion in the Union. The next year the war effort was only further degraded as Stinger missiles began to be supplied to the Mujahedeen. Accurately downing Soviet helicopters and crippling the army’s ability to scale the high mountains. An exit strategy would be put in place. It switched out Karmal for Mohammad Najibullah, and saw new attempts to transfer the burden of fighting on the Afghan army