USSR invasion of Afghanistan 1979 Ethnic groups in Afghanistan Basic Differences: Religion (Shia v Sunni v other) Land use Languages Nomadic Taxes to travel btwn areas USSR fearing Afghanistan would ally with the West Wanted to continue to spread communism Further caused weakening of USSR More tension with the West Will later examine US’s role in Afghanistan

USSR invades – takes Kabul in 1979 Exiled leader of Marxist People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) installed as new head of gov’t Mujahidin Resistance fighters Christian/atheist Soviets controlling Afghanistan as a defilement of Islam & culture Proclaimed jihad holy war gained the support of Islamic world guerrilla tactics weapons given by US & Saudi Arabia

By 1987 - 1/3 population fled to Pakistan and Iran U.S. introduced shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles Gorbachev wants out of Afghanistan – demoralized, no victory in sight, USSR can’t afford it Soviets out by 1989 Breeding ground for terrorism and the rise of Osama bin Laden Soviets left buried mines that still kill and maim Afghanistan faced with a civil war Taliban took over 90% of the country Group of students whose goal is to establish an Islamic state US aided Taliban until it learned of civil rights abuses