Weapons Cache: The Soviet Legacy In Afghanistan

The Soviet-Afghan War, fought between 1979 and 1989, was a major conflict of the Cold War. It saw extensive fighting between the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, the Soviet Union and their paramilitary allies against the Afghan Mujahideen and their foreign backers. The Soviets invaded Afghanistan to support the local pro-Soviet government and ended up occupying the country's major cities and communication arteries. The Mujahideen, on the other hand, waged guerrilla warfare in the countryside, which constituted 80% of the country.

The Soviets left behind a large number of weapons in Afghanistan, which were either captured by the Mujahideen or abandoned during their withdrawal. These weapons included semi-automatic pistols, semi-automatic rifles, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons, artillery, and armoured vehicles.

The Mujahideen also received weapons from foreign sources, such as the CIA, China, Egypt, Iran, Israel, and the United Kingdom. The United States, in particular, supplied the Mujahideen with shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, which played a crucial role in neutralising Soviet air power.

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

The Soviet Union had been a major power broker and influential mentor in Afghan politics since 1947, providing large amounts of aid, economic assistance, military equipment training, and military hardware. However, the invasion was prompted by the Soviets' fear of losing control over Afghanistan, as the country's regime was faltering and there was a threat of US intervention.

Within days of the invasion, Soviet troops had been air-dropped into Afghan cities, heavy artillery had breached the border, and the KGB had poisoned the Afghan president and his ministers. The Soviets took Kabul in a matter of days, but they faced fierce resistance from US-backed mujahideen rebels in the countryside. The mujahideen waged guerrilla warfare in small groups across the 80% of the country that was not under Soviet control. The Soviets responded by levelling villages, destroying vital irrigation ditches, and laying millions of landmines.

The conflict became a proxy war between the US and the Soviet Union, with the mujahideen receiving support from various countries, including Pakistan, the US, the UK, China, Iran, and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. The Soviets had initially planned to swiftly secure Afghanistan's towns and road networks, stabilise the government, and withdraw their forces within six months to a year. However, they were met with fierce resistance and experienced operational difficulties in the rugged mountainous terrain. By the mid-1980s, the Soviet military presence in Afghanistan had increased to approximately 115,000 troops, and the war effort was inflicting a high cost on the Soviet Union.

In 1987, the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev announced that Soviet forces would begin to withdraw from Afghanistan. The final withdrawal started on May 15, 1988, and ended on February 15, 1989. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan resulted in a colossal loss of life and contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union's support of the Afghan communist government

The new government was unpopular with the Afghan people, who were largely devout Muslims. The Taraki government launched ruthless purges of all domestic opposition and began extensive land and social reforms that were bitterly resented by the population. Insurgencies arose against the government, and all of these groups—known collectively as the mujahideen—were Islamic in orientation.

The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, sending in around 30,000 troops to prop up the new but faltering client state. The Soviets toppled the short-lived presidency of People’s leader Hafizullah Amin and installed Babrak Karmal, the leader of the Banner (Parcham) Party, as the new head of government.

The mujahideen rebellion, backed by the United States, grew and spread to all parts of the country. The Soviets initially left the suppression of the rebellion to the Afghan army, but the latter was beset by mass desertions and remained largely ineffective throughout the war. The war quickly settled into a stalemate, with more than 100,000 Soviet troops controlling the cities, larger towns, and major garrisons, while the mujahideen moved with relative freedom throughout the countryside.

The mujahideen were fragmented politically into a handful of independent groups, and their military efforts remained uncoordinated throughout the war. However, the quality of their arms and combat organisation gradually improved, owing to experience and to the large quantity of arms and other war matériel shipped to the rebels, via Pakistan, by the United States and other countries, and by sympathetic Muslims from around the world.

The war in Afghanistan became a quagmire for the Soviet Union, and by the late 1980s, the USSR was disintegrating. In 1988, the Soviet Union signed an accord with the United States, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and agreed to withdraw its troops. The Soviet withdrawal was completed on 15 February 1989, and Afghanistan returned to non-aligned status.

The Mujahideen's weaponry and tactics

The Mujahideen's tactics were largely based on guerrilla warfare, taking advantage of the rugged, mountainous terrain of Afghanistan. They operated in small groups, launching quick attacks or raids before disappearing into the mountains, causing significant damage without engaging in direct combat with the superior Soviet forces. They also employed classic search and destroy operations, using weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades, light machine guns, submachine guns, and mortars. Additionally, the Mujahideen used land mines extensively, often enlisting the help of local inhabitants, including children.

The Mujahideen's weaponry included semi-automatic pistols, assault rifles, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, and anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons. They also acquired armoured vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, and artillery from the DRA, although their use was limited due to a lack of trained personnel and spare parts.

The introduction of U.S. shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, known as Stingers, in 1987 was a significant turning point in the war. These missiles allowed the Mujahideen to effectively target Soviet planes and helicopters, further degrading Soviet air power.

The Mujahideen's tactics and weaponry, combined with the challenging terrain, proved highly effective against the Soviet forces. The war became a protracted conflict that lasted nearly a decade and resulted in significant casualties on both sides. The Mujahideen's ability to adapt and utilize their resources played a crucial role in their resistance against the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union's weaponry and tactics

The Soviet-Afghan War was a major conflict of the Cold War, fought between the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA), the Soviet Union, and their allies against the Afghan Mujahideen and their foreign supporters. The Soviet Union's weaponry and tactics were as follows:

Weaponry

The Soviet Union provided extensive military aid to the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA), including semi-automatic pistols, rifles, machine guns, anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons, rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, and armoured vehicles. They also supplied the DRA with aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-17 fighter-bomber and the Mi-24 attack helicopter.

Tactics

The Soviet Union's tactics were largely unsuccessful in combating the guerrilla warfare tactics of the Mujahideen. The Soviets occupied Afghanistan's major cities and communication arteries, while the Mujahideen waged guerrilla warfare in the countryside. The Soviets attempted to crush the Mujahideen insurgency with brute force, using airborne attacks and armoured ground assaults to destroy villages and crops. They also employed scorched-earth tactics, laying millions of landmines and using aerial power to destroy villages and deny safe havens to the Mujahideen.

The Soviets further attempted to eliminate the Mujahideen's civilian support by depopulating rural areas, causing a massive flight of refugees to Pakistan and Iran. They also tried to infiltrate the Mujahideen by sending spies to join resistance groups and bribing local tribes or guerrilla leaders.

Despite their superior weaponry and numerical strength, the Soviets were unable to defeat the Mujahideen due to the latter's effective guerrilla tactics and strong foreign support. The introduction of U.S. shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles in 1987 allowed the Mujahideen to neutralise Soviet air power, turning the tide of the war.

The Soviet-Afghan War's legacy

The Soviet-Afghan War, fought between 1979 and 1989, was a major conflict of the Cold War. It resulted in the deaths of approximately 3,000,000 Afghans, while millions more fled the country as refugees. The war also caused grave destruction throughout Afghanistan and has been cited as a significant factor that contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to support the local pro-Soviet government that had been installed during Operation Storm-333. The invasion was met with fierce resistance from Afghan guerrillas, and the Soviets experienced great operational difficulties in the rugged mountainous terrain. The Soviets dealt harshly with both Afghan resistance and civilians, levelling villages to deny safe haven to the Mujahideen, destroying vital irrigation ditches and employing other scorched-earth tactics.

The war had a profound impact on Afghanistan, introducing a culture of guns, drugs and terrorism in the country. It also altered the ethnic balance of power, as many of the well-organised pro-Mujahideen or pro-government groups consisted of Tajiks, Uzbeks and Hazaras. The traditional power structure was changed in favour of the powerful Mujahideen militias.

The Soviet-Afghan War also had significant consequences for the Soviet Union. The conflict strained international relations and led to numerous sanctions and embargoes being imposed on the Soviet Union by the international community. The war also created a cleavage between the party and the military in the Soviet Union, and it undermined the image of the Red Army as invincible.

Frequently asked questions