Notes for World History
THE WAR lN AFGHANISTAN
- The situation in Afghanistan had been extremely violent until 1978 when a left-wing govt seized power and began a modernization program.
- However, in a country where Islamic authority was strong, modernization was seen as an affront to Islam.
- Opposition was fierce and civil war soon broke out.
- In 1979, Soviet troops entered the country to support the govt.
- The USA treated Soviet entry as part of the Cold War and sent extensive aid to the Muslim opposition in Afghanistan.
- There were several rival Muslim groups, but they all worked together to drive out the Russians.
- Eventually, Russia realized that the war in Afghanistan could not be won and in 1989, all Soviet troops had been withdrawn.
- The left govt in Afghanistan was finally overthrown and the rival Muslim opposition formed a coalition govt. But the country soon fell into total chaos as the rival factions fought for power. During the late 1990s, the faction known as ‘the Taliban’ gradually took control of the country.
- The Taliban regime aroused international disapproval because of its extreme policies.
- Very few states recognized the Taliban regime, and its unpopularity provided a boost to the American plan to use force against it.
- A joint US and UK operation against Afghanistan was launched in 2001 and the Taliban regime was gone.
