After a decade of stalemate and heavy losses—often called "the Soviet Union's Vietnam"—the last Soviet troops withdrew in February 1989. Civil War and the Rise of the Taliban (1989–2001)
During the early Cold War, Afghanistan maintained a fragile neutrality while seeking aid from both the U.S. and USSR. However, internal instability eventually drew in the superpowers. Afghanistan from the Cold War through the War o...
The history of Afghanistan from the Cold War to the War on Terror is defined by its role as a strategic "crossroads," where global superpower interests often collided with local tribal and religious movements. This period saw the country transition from a focal point of Soviet-American proxy competition to the central theater for the United States-led global "War on Terror". The Cold War and Soviet Intervention (1979–1989) After a decade of stalemate and heavy losses—often
Local guerrilla fighters, known as Mujahideen , launched a "jihad" against the occupiers. They received significant covert support, including advanced weaponry like Stinger missiles, from the United States (via Operation Cyclone ), Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. The Cold War and Soviet Intervention (1979–1989) Local