America's Shadow War In Afghanistan: Uncovering The Hidden Truth

In February 1989, the CIA chief in Islamabad sent a simple message to headquarters: We won. This marked the end of America's secret war in Afghanistan, which lasted from 1979 to 1989. The conflict was the final and decisive battle of the Cold War and the most successful covert intelligence operation in American history. The war was fought between complex personalities, including the Afghan communists, the Russians, the Afghan mujahedin, the Saudis, the Pakistanis, and the Americans. Notably, no Americans fought on the battlefield. Instead, the CIA provided strategic support, marking a brilliant success for the United States.

The Afghan Communists

In April 1978, the Afghan Army, sympathetic to the PDPA, overthrew and executed the country's leader, Daoud Khan, in what became known as the Saur Revolution. Nur Muhammad Taraki, General Secretary of the PDPA, became Chairman of the Revolutionary Council and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the newly established Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA).

However, the new regime's attempts to modernize the country according to Soviet-style reforms were met with resistance from the conservative and religious population. The Khalqists' persecution of the Parcham faction, along with their violent response to unrest, further alienated them from the Afghan people. The country soon descended into civil war, with rebels attacking military garrisons and government targets.

The Soviet Union, which had been a major influence in Afghan politics and provided significant aid to the country, was initially reluctant to intervene. However, as the situation deteriorated, Moscow changed its mind and decided to deploy troops to Afghanistan. On December 25, 1979, the Soviet 40th Army crossed into Afghanistan, marking the beginning of the Soviet-Afghan War. The Soviets aimed to stabilize the PDPA government and oust the mujahideen rebels, who were receiving support from various countries, including the United States, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.

The Soviet invasion exacerbated nationalist sentiment and caused the rebellion to spread further. The Soviets found themselves drawn into fighting against urban uprisings, tribal armies, and even mutinying Afghan Army units. Despite their superior firepower and armoured ground attacks, the Soviets struggled to defeat the mujahideen, who waged a guerrilla war from the mountainous regions of the country.

The Soviet occupation provoked fear and unrest among the Afghan populace, and the PDPA government failed to gain popular support. Babrak Karmal, who became the new leader after Taraki's ouster and assassination, attempted to implement reforms and win over the population. However, he was still seen as a Soviet puppet by many Afghans.

As the war progressed, the mujahideen received increased military support from the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and other countries. The conflict strained international relations and garnered widespread condemnation, with the United Nations passing a resolution demanding the immediate withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan.

The Soviet Union eventually decided to withdraw its troops, and in 1988, the Geneva Accords were signed between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with the superpowers agreeing to refrain from interfering in each other's territory. The last Soviet troops left Afghanistan on February 15, 1989, marking the end of their involvement in the country.

The Soviets

The Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 was the first Soviet military expedition beyond the Eastern Bloc since World War II. It was also the only time the Soviet Union invaded a country outside the Eastern Bloc.

The invasion began on the night of December 24, 1979, when the Soviets sent in around 30,000 troops and toppled the short-lived presidency of Hafizullah Amin. The Soviets aimed to prop up their new but faltering client state, now headed by Babrak Karmal, who had been exiled in Czechoslovakia in fear of his life.

The invasion was met with fierce resistance from the mujahideen, Islamic guerrillas who saw the atheist Soviets as a defilement of Islam and their traditional culture. The mujahideen employed guerrilla tactics, attacking and then disappearing into the mountains. The tide of the war turned in 1987 with the introduction of U.S. shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, which allowed the mujahideen to regularly shoot down Soviet planes and helicopters.

The long-term impact of the invasion was profound. The Soviets never recovered from the public relations and financial losses, which significantly contributed to the fall of the Soviet empire in 1991. The war also created a breeding ground for terrorism and the rise of Osama bin Laden.

The Afghan Mujahidin

The Afghan Mujahideen were Islamist resistance militias that fought against the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and the Soviet Union during the Soviet-Afghan War and the First Afghan Civil War. The term "Mujahideen" is used in a religious context by Muslims to refer to those engaged in a struggle for Islam, commonly known as "jihad".

The Mujahideen were formed immediately after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. They were recruited from the regular Afghan population and defectors from the Afghan military, united by their anti-communist and pro-Islamic goals. The Mujahideen consisted of numerous groups that differed ethnically and ideologically but were united in their opposition to the Soviet-backed communist government.

The Mujahideen received significant support from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, China, and other countries. The CIA's Operation Cyclone was one of the longest and most expensive covert operations in its history, providing over $20 billion to train and arm the Mujahideen. The U.S.-provided Stinger antiaircraft missiles played a decisive role in challenging Soviet air control.

The Mujahideen were successful in forcing the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, but they remained politically fragmented. After the Soviet withdrawal, the Mujahideen continued their fight against the Afghan communist government, which fell in 1992. However, infighting among rival Mujahideen factions led to the rise of the Taliban and the Northern Alliance.

The Taliban, formed in 1994, was comprised of former Mujahideen fighters and Islamic students from Pakistani madrasas. They imposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law and established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in 1996.

In summary, the Afghan Mujahideen played a crucial role in resisting the Soviet occupation and toppling the Afghan communist government. However, their lack of unity and coordination ultimately led to the rise of the Taliban and the country's descent into civil war.

The Pakistanis

In the context of America's Secret War in Afghanistan, "The Pakistanis" refers to the role played by Pakistan in the conflict. Pakistan was a key player in the war, serving as a base for the American-Saudi alliance and providing support to the mujahideen. The country also played a significant role in the defeat of the Soviet 40th Red Army.

During the war, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) worked closely with the CIA to hunt down al-Qaeda leaders in Pakistani cities. However, at the same time, the ISI was also arming and financing the Taliban and other Afghan militant groups sympathetic to Pakistan, rather than India. This covert support for the insurgency was a way for Pakistan to maintain influence in Afghanistan and counter Indian influence. Pakistan's passive support for the Taliban served as a hedge against the day when NATO decided to withdraw from Afghanistan, ensuring that Pakistan would have a relationship with the future Pashtun-dominated government in the country.

Additionally, Pakistan was a critical logistical supply line for NATO forces in Afghanistan. Over 80% of the supplies relied on by coalition forces came through Pakistan, giving Pakistan significant leverage over the war effort.

The role of Pakistan in America's Secret War in Afghanistan was complex and shaped by its own strategic interests in the region, particularly its rivalry with India.

The Saudis

Riedel had a unique vantage point: he was ensconced in the CIA's Operations Center when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan on Christmas Eve 1979. The invasion took the intelligence community by surprise, but the response, initiated by Jimmy Carter and accelerated by Ronald Reagan, was a masterful intelligence enterprise.

Riedel's book highlights the complexities of a war influenced by the weaknesses and mistakes of America's enemies, as well as the good judgment and strengths of the United States. He introduces and explores the complex personalities pitted in the war, including the Saudis. In this war, no Americans fought on the battlefield. The CIA did not send officers to Afghanistan to fight or even to train.

The defeat of the Soviet 40th Red Army in Afghanistan proved to be the final battle of the Cold War and the start of the global jihad.

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