VIDEO Soviet Afghan War Collapsed the USSR

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The Origins of the Soviet / Afghan War

The Soviet intervention in Afghanistan brought catastrophes to the Soviet Union and the Afghan nation. Less obvious at that time were the ultimate directions of the war--the emergence of the Taliban, creation of Al Qaeda, links to America's horrifying 9/11 catastrophe and the eventual United States war against Afghanistan. The Soviet leadership has described the origins of the Soviet/Afghan war. Minutes of four Soviet meetings from the Soviet archives reveal the mindset and confusion that brought the Soviets to their catastrophe.

Brief History of the Events that Preceded the Soviet/Afghan War Afghanistan made its start as a constitutional monarchy in1953 when King Zahir's cousin, Prince Mohammoud Daoud, became Prime Minister. Daoud's eagerness to modernize his army resulted in a request of military equipment from the U.S. The U.S. rejected Afghanistan's request and Daoud turned to the Soviet Union for military aid. Khrushchev agreed to assist and commenced close ties between Afghanistan and the USSR. Daoud's overly ambitious plans, controversial social policies, and the increase of tensions with Pakistan (due to his alleged support for the creation of a Pashtun state in the Pakistan-Afghan border area) caused King Zahir to demand Daoud's resignation. In March 1963, Dr. Mohammad Yusof became Prime Minister.

King Zahir initiated the 1964 liberal constitution that permitted multi-party elections. A group of intellectuals, that included Babrak Karmal, established The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) in January 1965. At the first nationwide elections under the new constitution, Babrak Karmal was elected to the Parliament. In the second national elections in 1969 Babrak Karmal and another PDPA member, Hafizullah Amin, both of whom would play important roles in the future Soviet intervention, were elected to the parliament.

Daoud waited patiently before returning to power in a military coup on July 17, 1973. He displaced the vacationing King Zahir, dissolved the monarchy, and established a Republic with himself as President and Prime Minister.