The Afghanistan Quagmire: A Proxy War Revisited

The Afghanistan War was a proxy war between the United States and the Soviet Union. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Afghanistan became a proxy battleground for the Cold War between the two superpowers. The Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to support the country's communist government in its conflict with anti-communist Muslim guerrillas. The US, meanwhile, backed the mujahideen rebels, who would later form the Taliban. After the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, Pakistan continued to support the rebels, while India supported the forces that later became the Northern Alliance. Thus, the proxy war continued with a different cast of characters.

The Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989)

The invasion triggered a proxy war between the United States and the Soviet Union, with the US backing the mujahideen. The mujahideen, a diverse group of rebels, received support and supplies from Iran, Pakistan, China, and the US. The war resulted in massive casualties, with an estimated one million civilians killed, along with 90,000 mujahideen fighters, 18,000 Afghan troops, and 14,500 Soviet soldiers.

The mujahideen employed guerrilla tactics, attacking and then disappearing into the mountains. The tide of the war turned in 1987 with the introduction of US shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, allowing the mujahideen to regularly shoot down Soviet planes and helicopters. The war became a quagmire for the Soviet Union, and in 1988, they signed an accord with the US, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, agreeing to withdraw their troops. The Soviet withdrawal was completed on February 15, 1989.

The Soviet-Afghan War had far-reaching consequences. It contributed to the fall of the Soviet Union, with the financial and PR losses being significant factors in its dissolution in 1991. The war also created a breeding ground for terrorism and the rise of Osama bin Laden, with the devastation and radicalization of Afghan society leading to continued conflict and the rise of militant Islamic fundamentalism.

The US-Soviet proxy war

The Soviet-Afghan War, which lasted from 1978 to 1989, was a proxy war between the United States and the Soviet Union. It was fought between anticommunist Islamic guerrillas (known as the Mujahideen) and the Afghan communist government, which was aided by Soviet troops.

The war began in 1978 when Afghanistan's centrist government, led by President Mohammad Daud Khan, was overthrown by left-wing military officers under Nur Mohammad Taraki. Power was then shared by two Marxist-Leninist groups, the People's (Khalq) Party and the Banner (Parcham) Party, which had emerged from the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan. The new government had little popular support and launched extensive land and social reforms that were bitterly opposed by the country's devoutly Muslim and largely anti-communist population.

As insurgencies arose against the government, the Soviet Union intervened in December 1979, sending in around 30,000 troops to support the Afghan communist government. The Mujahideen rebellion grew, and the war settled into a stalemate, with Soviet troops controlling the cities and major towns, while the Mujahideen operated in the countryside. The Soviet Union attempted to crush the Mujahideen by bombing and depopulating rural areas, leading to a massive exodus of refugees to Pakistan and Iran.

The Mujahideen received support from the United States, which supplied them with shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles that neutralized Soviet air power. The war became a quagmire for the Soviet Union, resulting in significant casualties and contributing to its eventual disintegration. In 1988, the Soviet Union signed an accord with the United States, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, agreeing to withdraw its troops, and Afghanistan returned to a non-aligned status.

The Soviet-Afghan War had significant consequences, including the rise of the Taliban and the creation of a power vacuum in Afghanistan. The war also contributed to the deterioration of US-Soviet relations during the Cold War and highlighted the role of proxy wars in international conflicts.

The Taliban's rise to power

The Post-Soviet Power Vacuum

The Soviet Union's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989 left a power vacuum, with the Moscow-backed Marxist regime collapsing in 1992. This created an opportunity for various factions to vie for control, including the Taliban.

Ethnic Divisions and Resentment

Afghanistan is ethnically diverse, with Pashtuns being the largest ethnic group. The Taliban, being predominantly Pashtun, capitalized on Pashtun resentment towards the non-Pashtun-dominated governments that arose after the Soviet withdrawal. The Taliban framed their rise as a restoration of Pashtun power and glory.

External Support

The Taliban received significant external support, particularly from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), played a crucial role in fostering and supporting the Taliban. Pakistan saw the Taliban as a proxy to counter Indian influence in Afghanistan and advance its strategic interests. Saudi Arabia, sharing the Taliban's conservative Islamic ideology, provided financial and military assistance.

Law and Order

The post-Soviet period in Afghanistan was marked by chaos, warlordism, and factional fighting. The Taliban capitalized on the law and order crisis, especially in southern Afghanistan, by presenting themselves as a force for stability and Islamic values. They gained popularity by cracking down on crime, disarming the population, and imposing Sharia law.

Failure of Previous Governments

The governments that followed the Soviet withdrawal, including the mujahideen-led administrations, were plagued by infighting, corruption, and an inability to provide security and basic services. This created a vacuum that the Taliban exploited, positioning themselves as a more effective and righteous alternative.

Religious Rhetoric and Grassroots Support

The Taliban drew support from religious schools (madrasas) and conservative Islamic values. They mobilized young, religiously educated Afghans, often from refugee camps, who were disillusioned with the corruption and secular leanings of other factions. The Taliban's strict interpretation of Islam resonated with those seeking a return to traditional values and order.

Military Strategy and Guerrilla Warfare

The Taliban employed effective military strategies, including surprise attacks, and benefited from the support of experienced fighters like Jalaluddin Haqqani. They utilized guerrilla warfare tactics, taking advantage of their knowledge of the local terrain. This enabled them to rapidly capture territories and establish control.

International Neglect

The international community, including the United States, initially underestimated the Taliban's threat and potential for extremism. The focus on countering Iranian influence and securing pipeline routes led to a neglect of the growing extremist forces within Afghanistan.

Osama bin Laden's Influence

The presence of Osama bin Laden and his financial and military support further bolstered the Taliban. Bin Laden's extremist ideology and resources contributed to the radicalization of the Taliban and expanded their military capabilities.

The US invasion of Afghanistan

The mujahideen were fragmented into several independent groups, and their military efforts remained uncoordinated. However, with support from the US and other sympathetic Muslim countries, their arms and combat capabilities improved over time. The war in Afghanistan became a quagmire for the Soviet Union, contributing to its eventual disintegration.

In 1988, the United States, the Soviet Union, Pakistan, and Afghanistan signed an agreement for the withdrawal of Soviet troops, which was completed in February 1989. Despite the US victory in this proxy war, their actions inadvertently contributed to the rise of the Taliban.

Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the United States launched another invasion of Afghanistan, this time in response to the Taliban regime's refusal to extradite Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, who was accused of orchestrating the attacks. US forces, in alliance with the Northern Alliance, drove the Taliban from power by early December 2001.

The initial objective of the 2001 US invasion was to capture Bin Laden. However, the goals expanded to include establishing a stable democratic state and preventing the return of the Taliban and al-Qaeda to Afghanistan. Despite the deployment of additional foreign troops, security conditions deteriorated, and the conflict intensified. The war in Afghanistan continued for nearly two decades, with rising guerrilla-style attacks on US and NATO forces, resulting in mounting casualties and eroding support for the war in the US and other NATO countries.

The Haqqani Network's role

The Haqqani Network is a Pashtun Islamist militant group, founded by Jalaluddin Haqqani in 1970. It is considered a "semi-autonomous" offshoot of the Taliban, with which it shares an ideology. The group has been recognised as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations and the US.

The Haqqani Network has been active in Afghanistan since the 1970s, and has been responsible for some of the deadliest attacks during the War in Afghanistan. Jalaluddin Haqqani was a top Afghan warlord and insurgent commander during the anti-Soviet war, and the group was one of the Reagan administration's most CIA-funded anti-Soviet groups in the 1980s.

Jalaluddin's son, Sirajuddin Haqqani, now leads the group. He is also the deputy leader of the Taliban. The Haqqani Network is primarily based in North Waziristan, Pakistan, and conducts cross-border operations into eastern Afghanistan and Kabul. The group is primarily composed of members of the Zadran tribe.

The Haqqani Network has been described as a "loyal proxy" of Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI. It has been alleged that Pakistan uses the group to project influence in Afghanistan and to protect its interests there. Pakistan has denied these claims.

The Haqqani Network has been responsible for numerous high-profile attacks, including the June 2011 assault on the Kabul Intercontinental Hotel, and two major suicide bombings against the Indian Embassy in Kabul in 2008 and 2009. The group has also been involved in a number of criminal activities, including extortion, kidnapping, and smuggling.

The US government designated the Haqqani Network as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation in 2012. This was due to its involvement in the Afghan insurgency, attacks on US military and civilian personnel, and its ties to the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

The Haqqani Network's relationship with al-Qaeda dates back to the founding of al-Qaeda. Jalaluddin Haqqani was a known associate of Osama Bin Laden and was recognised as one of his closest mentors during the 1980s Afghan war. Al-Qaeda's first training camp was established in Haqqani territory.

The Haqqani Network has also been tied to operations with other militant groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. It is believed that the ISI utilises these groups to carry out terror operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Frequently asked questions