The Great Exodus: Afghanistan's Mass Migration By 1982

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 caused a mass exodus of Afghans seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. By the end of 1980, there were over four million Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and by 1982, this number had grown to 2.8 million. During this period, more than 20% of Afghanistan's population fled the country as refugees, with many seeking asylum in Pakistan and Iran. The conflict and violence in Afghanistan caused a humanitarian crisis, with Afghans fleeing their homes and seeking safety in other countries. The refugee crisis resulted in a significant displacement of the Afghan population, with millions of people leaving their homes and facing an uncertain future.

By 1982, 2.8 million Afghans had sought asylum in Pakistan

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 caused a mass exodus of Afghans fleeing the violence and seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. By the end of 1980, there were over four million Afghan refugees in Pakistan. This number continued to grow, and by 1982, 2.8 million Afghans had sought asylum in Pakistan, with a further 1.5 million fleeing to Iran.

The conflict between the Soviet Union and the Mujahideen rebels, who were supported by foreign backers, was brutal and resulted in the deaths of an estimated one million civilians. The Soviets dealt harshly with the Mujahideen and those who supported them, levelling entire villages to deny them safe havens. This caused a massive flight from the countryside, as civilians sought to escape the violence.

The Pakistani government responded generously to the influx of refugees, allowing them to move freely and providing them with refuge in "villages" that, while initially set up like camps, were not closed off from the outside world. The Afghan refugees were able to find work and set up businesses, avoiding the danger of permanent dependency. The Pakistani population, particularly in the North-West Frontier Province, where the majority of Afghans settled, also treated the refugees with tremendous generosity.

The Iranian government also kept an open-door policy, and by the end of 1979, 200,000 Afghans had fled to Iran. The vast majority were allowed to mix freely in Iranian society and benefited from state education, medical facilities, and access to employment. This had a positive impact on the status of Afghan women in Iran, improving their situation both in their own eyes and those of their male relatives.

A further 1.5 million fled to Iran

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 caused a mass exodus of Afghans fleeing the violence in their country. By the end of 1980, there were over four million Afghan refugees in Pakistan. The numbers continued to swell, and by 1982, 2.8 million Afghans had sought asylum in Pakistan, and a further 1.5 million fled to Iran.

The reasons for this mass displacement were twofold. Firstly, the Soviet Union's intervention in support of the Afghan communist government and its conflict with anti-communist Muslim guerrillas, known as the Mujahideen, caused widespread violence and instability. The Mujahideen enjoyed foreign support from Iran, Pakistan, China, and the United States, and the brutal conflict resulted in the deaths of an estimated one million civilians.

Secondly, the Afghan communist government's ruthless purges of all domestic opposition and its extensive land and social reforms bitterly alienated the devoutly Muslim and largely anti-communist population. This further fueled insurgencies and rebellions across the country, leading to a widespread exodus of Afghans seeking refuge in neighboring countries.

Iran, as a neighboring country with religious solidarity, initially responded to the influx of Afghan refugees with an open-door policy. Afghans in Iran enjoyed freedom of movement and access to employment, state education, and medical facilities. This had a positive impact on Afghan women, improving their status both in their own eyes and those of their male relatives. The integration of Afghans into Iranian society helped them avoid the dangers of permanent dependency on aid, and most became self-sufficient over time.

However, the strain on Iran's infrastructure and economy was significant. While Iran did receive some international assistance, the amount was much less compared to what Pakistan received. Despite this, Iran continued to welcome and support Afghan refugees, demonstrating a generosity of spirit that has been commended by organizations like UNHCR.

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 caused the first major wave of displacement

By the end of 1979, 400,000 Afghans had fled to Pakistan, and another 200,000 to Iran. The following year, the total number of Afghan refugees rose to 1.9 million, making them the biggest single group of refugees globally. The numbers continued to climb, and by 1982, approximately 2.8 million Afghans had sought asylum in Pakistan, with a further 1.5 million fleeing to Iran. The mass displacement resulted from the brutal conflict, with the Soviets employing scorched-earth tactics, bombing villages, and depopulating rural areas to deny safe havens to the Mujahideen.

The refugee crisis had a significant impact on the surrounding countries, with Pakistan and Iran bearing the brunt. Pakistan, in particular, faced a massive influx of refugees, straining its infrastructure and resources. The refugee crisis also had a profound impact on Afghanistan itself, as the country was plunged into a civil war that lasted until the Soviet withdrawal in 1989.

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan triggered a nine-year-long civil war and contributed to the eventual collapse of the USSR. The conflict resulted in immense loss of life, with an estimated one million civilians killed, along with 90,000 Mujahideen fighters, 18,000 Afghan troops, and 14,500 Soviet soldiers. The war wreaked havoc on Afghanistan, and its aftermath continued to shape the country's future, setting the stage for the Taliban's rise to power.

The Mujahideen rebels were supported by Iran, Pakistan, China, and the US

The Mujahideen rebels were supported by a diverse group of countries, including Iran, Pakistan, China, and the US. The US, in particular, viewed the conflict in Afghanistan as an integral Cold War struggle and provided assistance to the Mujahideen rebels through the Pakistani intelligence services in a program called Operation Cyclone.

Operation Cyclone was one of the longest and most expensive covert CIA operations ever undertaken. It was initiated by US President Jimmy Carter in July 1979, and it involved providing financial support to the Mujahideen rebels. After the Soviet invasion in December 1979, the CIA expanded the program and began providing weapons and money to the Mujahideen through the Pakistani intelligence services.

The US-built Stinger antiaircraft missile, supplied to the Mujahideen in very large numbers beginning in 1986, was a decisive factor in the conflict. It allowed the lightly armed Afghans to defend themselves effectively against Soviet helicopter landings in strategic areas. The Stinger missiles were so renowned and deadly that the US conducted a "buy-back" program in the 1990s to keep unused missiles from falling into the hands of anti-American terrorists.

The decision to route US aid through Pakistan led to massive fraud, as weapons sent to Karachi were frequently sold on the local market rather than delivered to the Afghan rebels. Pakistan also controlled which rebels received assistance, with the four "fundamentalist" factions receiving most of the funding.

In addition to the US, Saudi Arabia agreed to match dollar for dollar the money the CIA was sending to the Mujahideen. China was also a significant supporter of the Mujahideen, providing weapons and training to the rebels.

The Soviet-Afghan conflict ended in 1989 with the withdrawal of Soviet troops

The Soviet-Afghan conflict ended in February 1989 with the withdrawal of Soviet troops, marking a significant development in the Afghan conflict and serving as the precursor to the First Afghan Civil War. The Soviet retreat from Afghanistan was a well-executed and carefully planned operation that allowed the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA) to survive for another three years after the end of the Soviet occupation.

The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to support the newly established pro-Soviet regime in Kabul. Nearly 100,000 Soviet soldiers took control of major cities and highways, facing swift and broad rebellion from the Mujahideen rebels. The conflict resulted in significant casualties, with an estimated one million civilians killed, along with 90,000 Mujahideen fighters, 18,000 Afghan troops, and 14,500 Soviet soldiers.

In 1985, the Soviets attempted to force a military solution but failed to break the insurgency. As a result, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev decided to withdraw all Soviet combat troops by the end of 1988. The signing of the Geneva Accords in April 1988 paved the way for the Soviet withdrawal, with the Soviet Union and the United States acting as guarantors. The withdrawal was conducted in two phases, from May 1988 to August 1988 and from January 1989 to February 1989.

During the withdrawal, the Soviets deployed additional tank and artillery units and provided close-air support to protect their retreating troops. They also negotiated local ceasefires and paid off insurgents to avoid attacks. The last Soviet soldier crossed the Afghan-Soviet border on February 15, 1989, marking the end of the Soviet-Afghan conflict.

Despite the withdrawal, the Soviet Union continued to provide military and economic support to the Afghan government until its dissolution in December 1991. The collapse of the Soviet Union ended Moscow's assistance to the Afghan government, leading to the Second Afghan Civil War, in which the Pakistan-backed Taliban emerged victorious.

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