The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which lasted from 1979 to 1989, was undoubtedly one of the most important and complex military conflicts of the 20th century. In the midst of this seemingly distant war, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan struggled to survive under the protection of the Soviet Union, while the rival Afghan Mujahideen sought support from Western powers, China, and the wider Islamic state.
The original intention of the Soviet Union was to gain strategic superiority in the region by supporting the Afghan People's Democratic Party regime. However, history often does not go according to the wishes of the strong. Despite the overwhelming superiority of the Soviet army in numbers and equipment, they were never able to completely suppress the stubborn resistance of the Afghan Mujahideen. The war gradually turned into a war of attrition, putting enormous pressure on the Soviet Union's economy and military.
By the end of the 80s of the 20th century, with the changes in the international situation and the growing dissatisfaction at home, the Soviet Union finally decided to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan. This decision marked the strategic defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and cast a heavy shadow over the future of Afghanistan.
The war in Afghanistan has had a profound impact on the political situation in Afghanistan. With the withdrawal of Soviet troops, the civil war between the various factions in Afghanistan intensified. The Afghan Mujahideen took power for a time, but their rule did not last long. Subsequently, the rise of the Taliban and the return of turmoil and chaos in Afghanistan were once again plunged into turmoil and chaos.
For the Soviet Union, the war in Afghanistan was also one of the important reasons for the deterioration of its political situation. The war not only consumed a lot of national strength, but also aroused dissatisfaction and antipathy among the people at home against the authorities. Public perception of the war was generally negative, and the huge losses of the Soviet army became a powerful source of public criticism of the authorities.
In addition, the war in Afghanistan has had a profound impact on international relations. The conflict became one of the important battlefields during the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the West. The Soviet Union's intervention in Afghanistan provoked strong discontent and intensified rhetoric in Western countries. At the same time, it also made the Afghan Mujahideen one of the main forces resisting the Soviet occupation, and to a certain extent, gave birth to later terrorist organizations.
The effects of the war in Afghanistan did not end with the withdrawal of Soviet troops. Rather, it has had a long-term impact on contemporary events in the region and on the global stage. The war was seen as an important stage in the development of international terrorism. It has played a key role in the formation and development of terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaida. Many of the organizations that fought against the Soviet army in Afghanistan later became active participants in the global struggle against Western countries.
To this day, Afghanistan remains one of the root causes of transnational crime, drug trafficking and the threat of terrorism to the international community as a whole. The question of control over the country is not only about the future of Afghanistan itself, but also about the nerves of States and terrorist groups. Therefore, a review of the history of the Soviet war in Afghanistan and the aftermath of the conflict is of great significance for our understanding of the complex situation in the world today. History