NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||05-08-2026

 

AFGHANISTAN OCCUPATION

WHY RUSSIA LEFT

SARASIJ MAJUMDER

There are multiple reasons for why the Soviets lost in Afghanistan.

The Soviets mainly intervened in Afghanistan to support the communist government against insurgent groups (aka the Mujahideen), who were covertly backed by the US, UK, Pakistan, Iran, China and Saudi Arabia.

The main reasons for their defeat are the following:

·         Guerrilla Warfare: Fighting an insurgency that hides and operates in the countryside isn’t the same as fighting a conventional army in an open battlefield. Just like the Vietcong rebels who fought against the US in South East Asia, the Mujahideen used effective guerrilla tactics against Soviet forces. They used hit-and-run attacks, ambushes, and sabotage to wear down the Soviet military.

·         Covert Foreign Support: As mentioned earlier, the Mujahideen rebellion enjoyed support from external sources, with the majority of it coming from the world’s top superpower: United States, and its allies like the UK, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. All of these countries provided weapons, training, and funding, which bolstered the insurgency their struggle against the Soviet occupiers. It’s largely believed that the famous stinger missile being provided by the CIA to help shoot down Russian helicopters was what turned things around for the Afghans.

·         Terrain and Climate: Afghanistan's rugged terrain and harsh climate posed significant challenges for the Soviet military. The mountainous terrain provided natural cover for guerrilla fighters, making it difficult for the Soviets to maintain control over vast areas of the country.

·         Economic Burden: The war resulted in a heavy economic burden for the Soviet Union. The cost of maintaining a large military presence in Afghanistan, along with the expenses of supplying troops and equipment, strained the Soviet economy and contributed to domestic discontent.

·         Domestic Opposition: The war had an impact on the Soviet public similar to how Vietnam impacted the American public in the 1960s and 70s. As the war dragged on, the Soviet Union faced growing opposition from within its own borders. Public opinion turned against the conflict as Soviet casualties grew and reports of atrocities committed by the Red Army surfaced.

·         International Isolation: Just like the modern Russian invasion Ukraine, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was internationally condemned and made the USSR look like a pariah state. The Soviet Union faced increasing diplomatic isolation as the war in Afghanistan dragged on. Western/aligned countries and many non-aligned nations supported efforts to end the conflict through diplomatic means.

·         Military Stalemate: Despite being the world’s 2nd military power, the Soviet Union was unable to achieve a decisive victory in Afghanistan. The conflict became a protracted stalemate, draining Soviet resources and morale over time.

·         Eventually, these factors contributed to the Soviet Union's decision to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan in 1989, which then led to the fall of the communist regime in 1992.

·         The withdrawal marked a significant defeat for the Soviet Union. And till this day, the war’s consequences are still shaping Afghanistan and the region.

 References:-

1.0 https://history.state.gov/milestones/1977-1980/soviet-invasion-afghanistan

2.0 https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/08/the-soviet-war-in-afghanistan-1979-1989/100786/

3.0 https://www.history.com/news/1979-soviet-invasion-afghanistan

4.0 Image: GOOGLE.