1. 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

2. USSR invades – takes Kabul in 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

3. 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