Soviet Afghan Insurgency. Humanitarian Issues Quelling the Insurgency. By: Ansh Patel, McKenna Gillard, and Amruta Ponugupati

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Soviet Afghan Insurgency. Humanitarian Issues Quelling the Insurgency. By: Ansh Patel, McKenna Gillard, and Amruta Ponugupati"

Percival Waters
5 years ago
Views:

1 Soviet Afghan Insurgency Humanitarian Issues Quelling the Insurgency By: Ansh Patel, McKenna Gillard, and

2 I. History of the Soviet-Afghan Insurgency The Soviet Afghan Insurgency was centralized in Afghanistan from 1979 through In a time of great unrest in Afghanistan, former prime minister Mohammad Daoud Khan staged a bloodless coup against Mohammed Zahir Shah in He established a republican government as president and founded the National Revolutionary Party. In Daoud s reign, lasting from 1973 to April 1978, Afghani relations with communist Soviet Union deteriorate and the government faces opposition from the People s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). The PDPA had experienced turmoil since its founding and split into two factions. The Khalq faction was led by Nur Mohammad Taraki and Hafizullah Amin, while the Parcham faction was led by Babrak Karmal. The two distinct factions unite to reclaim Afghanistan 2. On April 27 th, 1978 the Saur Revolution begins. In this, the People s Democratic Party assassinates Daoud and seizes power to establish new government (The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan) under communist rule of Nur Muhammad Taraki. Taraki signs a friendship treaty with the Soviet Union that promises economic and military assistance, in a sign of communist solidarity 3. He also implements a number of controversial land reform policies, a significant factor contributing to the outbreak of the Afghan Civil War. In February of 1979, the US ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, is kidnapped and killed by militants opposing the government. Later that same year, in September, Hafizullah Amin overthrows Nur Muhammad Taraki. The government remains still in the PDPA regime. In December of 1979, the Soviet Union invades Afghanistan with tens of thousands of troops, prompted by fears that Amin had been consorting with the United States of America, a noncommunist country. Amin is killed in the invasion and Babrak Karmal is installed as PDPA Soviet-backed leader of Afghanistan 4. The United States of America backs the insurgent group known as the Mujahideen rebels, who are fighting against the Soviet Union and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Tensions continue to build in countries relevant to the war at hand. In 1980, the United States boycotts the Moscow Olympic Games. The United States government also places a trade embargo to the Soviet Union. American congresses increased additional aid to Afghan Mujahideen groups in By 1985, as fighting continues, there are over five million Afghani citizens displaced, many into Iran and Pakistan or internally displaced. By November 1986, Gorbachev, leader of the Soviet Union at the time, declares intentions to begin pulling his troops out of Afghanistan, as no country had made substantial gains by that time. In September, 1987, Soviet-backed Mohammad Najibullah replaces Karmal in power of the communist party of Afghanistan. A new constitution is adopted and parliamentary elections are held 6. The Geneva Accords are signed by Afghanistan and Pakistan in April of 1988 that contained clauses of withdrawal of Soviet troops from 1 Timeline: Soviet War in Afghanistan. BBC News. February 17, Accessed October 02, People s Democratic Party of Afghanistan Encyclopedia.com Accessed October 02, "USSR and Afghanistan Sign friendship Treaty." History.com. Accessed October 02, The Cold War: Soviet Afghan War. Soviet Afghanistan War. Accessed October 02, The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and the U.S. Response, Office of the Historian. Accessed October 02, The World Factbook: Afghanistan. Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed October 02, 2016.

3 Afghanistan and policies of non-interference and non-intervention. It was witnessed by the United States and the Soviet Union. Being that the Mujahideen was not party to the agreement, the Afghan Civil War continued. The last Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan by February of In July of 1989 the Battle of Jalalabad occurs between the Afghan government and the Mujahideen. A Mujahideen coup fails in 1990, leading to more schisms in the PDPA and Mujahideen. In August of 1991, the Soviet Union collapse and communist aid to Najibullah ends. Burhanuddin Rabbani, Mujahideen leader, takes advantage of resulting chaos in Afghanistan and takes presidency. 7 Afghanistan becomes an Islamic State. SIMUNC Afghanistan Profile- Timeline. BBC News. Accessed October 02, 2016

4 III. Humanitarian Issues in Soviet-Afghan Conflict The Soviet-Afghan War brought many issues of humanitarian origin. By the end of the war 850,000 to 1.5 million Afghan civilians had been killed. Two million Afghans were internally displaced and six million were refugees outside the country lines. Between 80,000 and 90,000 Mujahideen fighters were killed and 75,000 were wounded in action 8. Three major trends seen in humanitarian issues during the conflict included violations of women s rights, violations of human rights, and massive amounts of displaced peoples. The United Nations works to resolve these issues and help the citizens of countries in need. Women s Rights: Women faced extreme oppression during the war. The use of rape as a war tactic was common place for Soviet troops invading Afghanistan. Women that survived the assault would return disgraced and dishonored. Soviet troops would rape whole villages of women to dishearten and ruin the Mujahideen fighters 9. Women and children were slaughtered without a second thought by Soviet forces. Many of the crimes go largely unaccounted for. Rapid changes in government and strict regimes left women and girls with harsh restrictions. Before the war, Afghan women had progressive rights and liberties. After the war, Taliban Islamic Law would be applied, as Afghanistan would become an Islamic state, and women saw a great majority of their rights banned 10. The Taliban Sharia law sought to ban women from attending school, working, showing skin in public, and being involved in politics 11. Human Rights: The Soviet-Afghan war was rife with human right s violations. Violence, destruction, and general unrest spread throughout Afghanistan and bordering countries. Invading troops would slaughter whole villages. It was a genocide against the Afghan people 12. Hundreds of thousands of people would die from war induced deprivation. There was a dire need for basic essentials (food, water, shelter, and medical care). The Soviet troops tried to defeat the Mujahideen forces by killing and dispersing their support in the citizens 13. The warfare was not limited to the troops, as the citizens suffered immensely and saw many of their basic rights violated in the rapidly changing regimes. Displaced Peoples: By the end of the war there were over seven million Afghan citizens internally and externally displaced. Internally displaced persons are those forced to flee their home but remain within the boundaries of their home country. Refugees, externally displaced persons, are those who were forced to flee their country out of fear of war or persecution. By 1989, there were over six million Afghan refugees split in 8 Afghanistan 10 Years after Soviet Pull-out. UNHCR. February 12, Accessed October 02, Casualties and War Crimes in Afghanistan. Media Monitors Network. August 11, Accessed October 02, Women in Afghanistan: The Back Story. Amnesty International UK. Accessed October 02, Life as an Afghan Woman Trust in Education. Accessed October 02, Kakar, M. Hassan. The Story of Genocide in Afghanistan. University of California Press Accessed October 02, The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. Accessed October 02, 2016.

5 Pakistan and Iran 14. These countries were willing to take in refugees but the large numbers began to put strain on and cause tensions within the countries. Many displaced peoples desired to return to their home country after the war but lacked money and a home to return to. Ten years after the conflict, over 2.6 million Afghans remain displaced 15. Questions to Consider: 1. What precedents could the United Nations set to deal with future large scale human rights violations in hostile countries? 2. What issues require intervention and which are a product of culture? Is it fair to base interventions on western perceptions of other cultures? 3. During a crisis, what can the United Nations do to keep peace and aid citizens, both externally and internally displaced, whilst maintaining sovereignty for all countries involved? 14 Ruiz, Hiram, and Margaret Emery. Afghanistan s Refugee Crisis. Middle East Research and Information Project. Accessed October 02, Afghanistan 10 Years after Soviet Pull-out. UNHCR. February 12, Accessed October 02, 2016

6 IV. Quelling the Insurgency and History of Soviet Afghan Insurgency Relations between Soviet Union and Afghanistan The Soviet Union was considered an influential powerhouse in the 1950 s, with their expansionist foreign policy affecting many of their neighboring countries. Afghanistan has always been a country that has enjoyed assistance from the Soviet Union. They were supported by the Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), founded in 1965 upon Marxist ideology, where they received active military training from the Soviet soldiers. 16 As a predominately religious country based on liberal ideas, Afghanistan faced peaceful times during the exposition of the 1970 s. However, the involvement with the USSR sparked a bloodless revolution in 1973, where Mohammed Daud, the former Prime Minister, seized power in a coup from the deposed King Zahir, and declared a new republic to be created. His new republic established a presidency that focused on reform. 17 By promoting equality of women and the idea of secularism in a permeated Afghan culture, he received hostile accusations from the Soviet Union. Leonid Brezhnev, the Soviet Union Prime Minister, criticized Daoud for having been influenced by Western countries. Brezhnev complained that the number of experts from NATO countries working in Afghanistan in bilateral ventures, as well as in the UN and other multilateral aid projects had considerably increased. 18 These ideals pressured the Soviet Union as it damaged the Brezhnev doctrine, the idea that the Soviet Union obtained the omnipotent right to interfere in the affairs of Communist countries as an effort to strengthen Communism. This geopolitical conflict created extreme tension in the region, and Afghanistan sought innovative ways to quell reliance from political and social relations from the Soviet Union. Conflict and Saur Revolution The Saur Revolution occurred as one of the bloodiest, darkest revolutions that underscored the disastrous effects of the Cold War. On April 28, 1978, rogue miltants assassinated Preisdennt Mohammed Daoud and his family, who were once strong supporters of the Soviet Government. 19 Echoed throughout the streets of Kabul and much of Afghanistan, the new regime would be one ruled by Communist terror. The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA), claimed to be the savior of the people, was a corrupt organization riddled with communist beliefs and conflicting factions. 20 Under the presidency of Nur Mohamed Taraki, they began to exhibit strong influence over the entirety of the country. The DRA affected social, cultural, and economical structures in Afghanistan, which caused overall dissent from the inhabitants of the country. They instituted a money lending system that created corrupt, financial instability. Moreover, they declared equality of the sexes, which 16 "Milestones: Office of the Historian." Office of the Historian. Accessed October 15, News, BBC. "Afghanistan Profile - Timeline." BBC News. September 22, Accessed October 15, Ghaus, Samad. "The Fall of Afghanistan." Daud Meeting with Brezhnev. Accessed October 15, m. 19 Ibid. 20 Ibid.

7 challenged traditional Islamic religious beliefs. 21 Recent Years and Mujhadeen USSR and Afghanistan officially entered a peace treaty in 1978, as an effort to increase Soviet popularity in the region. They created many new rules, the most prominent being a clause that allowed for the support of the policies instigated in the Saur Revolution. 22 They also would reinstitute providing economic and military assistance to the Afghani government. As peace was supposedly achieved, the treaty was met with unsatisfied opposition. The Heart Uprising, a series of demonstrators that led violent attacks, affected Afghan-Soviet relations significantly. In March 1979, a new revolution occurred under Hafizullah Amin. He was characterized a tyrannical communist, who committed numerous human right violations and purges. He called for Soviet aid, and although distrustful of his passionate views, they realized losing Afghanistan to Western countries was too crucial to overlook. Moreover, a prevalent situation arrived that posed many problems for the government: Mujhadeen. The Mujahedeen were a group of Muslim guerilla fighters, who fought against loosely aligned anti-soviet opposition troops. They were traditionally regional warlords who fought internally as disorganized people. As warfare became more sophisticated, outside support and regional coordination grew. Many Muslims from other countries assisted the various mujahideen groups in Afghanistan. They rebelled against the DRA and Soviet Union. The decentralized nature of the 21 The Intervention in Afghanistan and the Fall of Detente: A Chronology. George Washington University. National Security Archive. 22 "USSR and Afghanistan Sign friendship Treaty." History.com. Accessed October 15, Mujhadeen exemplified the problems in Afghanistan, showing a disarray of power and public policy. It is the job of the committee to decide how to act further with the Mujhadeen, and their growing influence creates an unclear future for the world as a whole. Current Status and Future Decisions With talk s of foreign involvement in Afghanistan, the Soviet Union was in calculated silence as they decided if they should make an influential move in the geopolitical world. The loss of Afghanistan to Western countries would hurt the honor of the USSR. Soviet Union was also confident that by taking action they would be able to stabilize the government of Afghanistan and establish a Communist regime there. 23 Invasion occurred in December 20, 1979, with the dispatching of the 40 th army of the Soviet Union invaded the country. They were unaware of the DRA s inability to handle guerilla warfare, an attribute known to the Mujhadeen. The current situation is the arrival of USSR troops in Kabul, which is riddled with resistance from the Mujhadeen. They are armored with outdated military weapons, but have the ability to obtain more sophisticated weapons. Many foreign countries have also questioned influence in the region, and may be looking to intervene as well. It is the job of the committee to calm tensions in Afghanistan and find a diplomatic approach to end the war in a peaceful matter. Questions to Consider: What are some short-term and longterm solutions that could be utilized to 23 Kalinovsky, Artemy. "Decision-Making and the Soviet War in Afghanistan: From Intervention to Withdrawal." Journal of Cold War Studies 11, no. 4 (2009): doi: /jcws

8 stabilized the rampant Afghani government from going into disarray? Using knowledge of previous history in the region, how can foreign intervention and new policies play an impact in the forthcoming conflicts in Afghanistan? Are there any actions that your delegate can do to influence political affairs in the region? What actions can be taken to prevent future conflicts from ever happening again?

9 IV. Extra Sources "USSR and Afghanistan Sign friendship Treaty." History.com. Accessed October 02, "The Cold War: Soviet Afghan War." Soviet Afghanistan War. Accessed October 02, "Timeline: Soviet War in Afghanistan." BBC News. February 17, Accessed October 02, "Afghanistan Profile - Timeline." BBC News. Accessed October 02, "People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan." Encyclopedia.com. Accessed October 02, "The World Factbook: Afghanistan." Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed October 02, "The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and the U.S. Response, " Office of the Historian. Accessed October 02, "Women in Afghanistan: The Back Story." Amnesty International UK. Accessed October 02, Shelton, Steven Malik. "Casualties and War Crimes in Afghanistan." Media Monitors Network. August 11, Accessed October 02, Kakar, M. Hassan. "The Story of Genocide in Afghanistan." University of California Press Accessed October 02, "The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan." The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. Accessed October 02, "Afghanistan 10 Years after Soviet Pull-out." UNHCR. February 12, Accessed October 02, to Afghanistan. Ruiz, Hiram, and Margaret Emery. "Afghanistan's Refugee Crisis." Middle East Research and Information Project. Accessed October 02,

10 "Life as an Afghan Woman." Trust in Education. Accessed October 02,

Letter from the Director. security council, 1979

Letter from the Director. security council, 1979 Letter from the Director acronym Soviet security council, 1979 II Position Paper Guidelines Position Paper Guidelines What s it all about? The purpose of a position paper is to display your understanding