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 of the committee topics as well as your position s stances on different issues. Writing a position paper will assist you in your research and preparation for the conference. The position paper will be comprised of three to four sections, depending on the number of topics your committee covers. Section One: Background Information Introduce your country or position by providing basic information and background. This section should start out broad, followed by any general information that is relevant to the committee. This only needs to be done once not for every topic. Remaining Sections: Topics Write one section for each topic. The header of each section should be the topic name as it is titled in your Background Guide. These sections should be roughly half a page to one page (double spaced) in length and should include: 1. Background information on the topic 2. Your position/country s stance on the issue at hand 3. Statistics and other relevant information with respect to your position 4. Policies or actions your position/nation has supported 5. Proposed solutions to each of your topics 6. Responses to the Questions to Consider provided throughout the Background Guide
Position Paper Guidelines Formatting A position paper should be formatted like a formal essay: use 12 pt. Times New Roman font, black ink, and 1 margins. All information that is not common knowledge should be cited using your most comfortable format (ex. MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.). The header of your paper should include the following pieces of information: 1. Your Full Name 2. Full School Name 3. Committee (World Health Organization, United Nations Development Program, etc.) 4. Country/Position
Letter from the Director Hello Delegates! My name is Ansh Patel, and I cannot be more excited that I am chairing the Soviet Security Council, 1979 Committee for WMIDMUN! I am a freshman at the College, and I am planning to major in Finance and Public Policy. I have been doing Model United Nations for over seven years, and my first conference was at WMIDMUN XII. Even though that was a long time ago, WMIDMUN was such an amazing conference that pushed me to continue Model United Nations throughout high school. I have chaired a similar committee about the Soviet-Afghan War in the past, so I have accumulated a wide variety of information about Soviet politics and the Cold War as a whole. If you have any questions about the historical background or anything else about the committee, please feel free to contact me! Since this committee is a crisis committee, expect to be in a fast-paced debate that is impacted by the directives created by the delegates and the crisis update that is made by our wonderful crisis staff. Crisis committees are different from other traditional Model United Nations committees, but it is very easy to adapt and debate in this style of the committee. Please remember that position papers are still required for all delegates in committee. Your position paper should include a brief overview of your position and your personal solutions for both of the topics in the position paper. Make sure to have detailed and well-researched solutions that fit your character in the committee, and creativity is always encouraged! If you have any questions once again, feel free to contact me with any questions and I would be happy to answer them! I cannot wait for all you to come to WMIDMUN! Sincerely, Ansh Patel Soviet Security Council, 1979 Director apatel04@email.wm.edu
Letter from the Crisis Director Dear Delegates, My name is Nitya and I am a freshman majoring in International Relations and Economics at William and Mary. I am so excited to welcome you all to WMIDMUN this year and am especially excited for this committee! I ve loved Model UN since I joined in high school and still compete on the college circuit today. Outside of IRC, I am an executive member of William and Mary s Economics Club, a volunteer for the Aim4 Program, and a member of the Health Outreach Peer Education (HOPE) program. I also write for the undergraduate International Journal and have been a delegate to the United Nations Economic and Social Councils in the past. My hobbies include studio art and anything outdoors honestly! With all of those things going on I think it's fun to combine things that often don t seem MUN related into MUN, especially in a crisis. So feel free to put a bit of who you are into your characters and arcs too! One of my favorite parts about historic committees is that the power to rewrite history is in the hands of the delegates in the room. That being said, have fun and be creative! I look forward to meeting you all and can t wait to see what you bring to the table! As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have! Best, Nitya Labh Soviet Security Council, 1979 Crisis Director nlabh@email.wm.edu
Background With growing tensions rising around the world coupled with damaging instability in Afghanistan, it is up to the Soviet Security Council to take control and ensure the peace and stability of the USSR. In terms of how the committee will be structured, it will be a combination of various ministers and other key figures of the Soviet Union that are pertinent to the ensuing Soviet- Afghan conflict at hand. Because of this, make sure to have a strong understanding of the structure of the Soviet Union government as well as the history of Afghanistan. Given that the committee is a Security Council, you will have the power to deal with state security affairs alongside the overall national defense. As military leaders in the Soviet Security Council, it is your responsibility to use military might of the Soviet Union in order to create a successful political hegemony in Afghanistan. The committee will start on September 14, 1979 - with the overthrow of Nur Mohammad Taraki and the installation of Hafizullah Amin as the leader of the People s Democratic Party of Afghanistan. With this radical change, many Soviet leaders are currently questioning the legitimacy of having Amin be the leader of the Afghan government. With resistance groups like the Mujahideen starting to gain power, the committee must decide whether Soviet intervention is necessary in these troubling times. In order to maintain the legitimacy of the Brezhnev Doctrine, it is crucial for the Soviet Army to stabilize and control Afghanistan as a whole. Government collapse may be a reality in near future, and the Soviet leaders must enact plans to ensure their position in Afghanistan. With the looming threat of the United States on the horizon, a serious challenge has arisen about what benefits will come out of Soviet intervention into Afghanistan. There are important international developments that need to be taken in consideration for it, such as the recent installation of Ayatollah Khomeini as the Supreme Leader of Iran and the United States dollar exchange rate falling to an all-time low. With this important meeting of the Soviet Security Council, full power has been given to these key figures about what action can be taken regarding the crisis in Afghanistan. There is a wide range of solutions that you may decide to pursue in order to solve the crisis. Whether it be full military intervention or diplomatic negotiations with Afghan leaders, the members of the committee must decide what action to take. As a member of the committee, moreover, it is crucial for you to use your position and perspective to help ensure peace in Afghanistan.
Topic I: Current Status of Afghanistan Government As key leaders responsible for maintaining the political stability of the Soviet Union, it is important to have a comprehensive overview of the history of Afghanistan and what is happening currently. The following subtopics below will provide you with a strong background about the situation, which will be very critical in deciding whether Soviet intervention is necessary. Your task is to outline which positions and goals you think will ensure successful Soviet control in Afghanistan. Relations between Soviet Union and Afghanistan Afghanistan has always been a country that has received assistance from the Soviet Union - both politically and economically. Through this mutual relationship, the Soviet Union has been able to exert serious influence in the Middle East as a political power. The relationship between the two countries extended beyond political ties, as the Afghan soldiers received active military training from the Soviet Union. 1 As both countries were deeply intertwined with one another in terms of political and military alliances, the relationship was tested when a bloodless revolution occurred in July 1973. The 1973 Afghan coup d etat sparked a massive political change in Afghanistan, as King Mohammad Zahir Shah was ousted by then Prime Minister Mohammad Daoud Khan. 2 He declared Afghanistan a new republic and introduced widespread reforms aimed at turning Afghanistan into a progressive nation. With new ideas of secularism in Afghan culture and the removal of Pashtunistan-era policies, Daoud Khan was seen to be a strong leader and supporter of the Soviet Union. 2 Following the rise of Khan as the leader of Afghan politics, many Soviet leaders wanted to continue their alliance with Afghanistan - still seeing massive potential in the region. With the rise of Prime Minister Leonid Brezhnev, however, the relationship between the countries quickly turned hostile as he criticized Daoud Kahn for being influenced by Western countries. 3 With the number of NATO experts working in Afghanistan for bilateral ventures, Brezhnev complained that Afghanistan was relying heavily on Western countries for assistance. Soviet-Afghan Conflict and Saur Revolution Following increasing involvement between Daoud Khan and other Western countries, primarily Saudi Arabia and Egypt, many key leaders in the Soviet Union were unsatisfied with Daoud s national policies. The growing discontent and political instability in Afghanistan as a result of
Daoud s policies led to the Saur Revolution, one of the darkest and bloodiest revolutions that occurred in Afghanistan. With the overthrow and assassination of Daoud, Nur Mohammad Taraki became the new leader of Afghanistan and began to exert a strong influence over the country. Alongside Taraki, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was established even though it was supported by many Afghan communists. The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was completely unstable, as conflicting factions and communist beliefs caused overall dissent with many of the citizens in Afghanistan. 4 With the nationalization of industries and marriage reforms in the country, these policies were considered very radical as they challenged the political structure of Afghanistan and traditional Islamic beliefs. 4 Current Status and Future Decisions As growing instability was on the rise in Afghanistan, Taraki was characterized as an ineffective leader and attempted to request aid from the Soviets in order to deal with conflicts like the Herat Uprising. Taraki s lack of control over the political party in Afghanistan eventually led him to be ousted out of power and replaced by Hafizullah Amin. 5 Characterized as a tyrannical Communist who has committed numerous human right violations, Soviet leaders realized that the situation in Afghanistan was too crucial to overlook. Amin s rise to power has not been favored upon by many Afghan citizens as many people who lived on the countryside opposed the Communist government. 6 The Afghan military, moreover, suffered massive desertion with a major loss in personnel before and after Amin came to power. 6 Another major issue that is growing in Afghanistan is the rise of the Mujahideen, a group of Muslim guerrilla fighters that have assisted the citizens in Afghanistan. The term Mujahideen refers to any Islamic individual who is willing to commit jihad, or holy war, which means that the guerilla group has strong religious ties to the people of Afghanistan. They arose out of regional warlords who independently took up arms to fight the Soviet invasion. 7 With insufficient coordination and traditional rivalries between ethnic groups, they are unable to have effective control as an armed militia. 7 If the Soviet leaders decided to intervene in Afghanistan, however, prolonged conflict with the Mujahideen might become a serious threat. Given the mountainous region of Afghanistan, guerilla groups like the Mujahideen pose a significant advantage when considering military operations in the region. 8 These forces, moreover, have no affiliations with
other countries given their regional status - which makes them a potential asset for many Western countries opposed to the Soviet Union. With the growing concern of Mujahideen fighters alongside a newly placed leader in Afghanistan, there are many issues that need to be addressed by the Soviet leaders. Questions to Consider 1. Given the change in leadership, should Hafizullah Amin stay in power? 2. What decision should key Soviet leaders: military intervention in Afghanistan, diplomatic negotiations, or something completely different? 3. What actions can be taken to address the growing threat of the Mujahideen? The timeline below has been provided so that you are able to get a more concise overview of Soviet-Afghan relations and other important events: August 31, 1926 - The USSR and Afghanistan sign a Treaty of Neutrality and Mutual Non-Intervention. May 1955-56 - Soviet military equipment, armaments and specialists begin to appear in Afghanistan. July 1963 - Nur Mohammad Taraki, Babrak Karmal, and others organize the United National Front of Afghanistan. July 17, 1973 - King Zahir Shah of Afhganistan is overthrown by his cousin, Mohammad Daoud. January 1974 - Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of lran alongside Richard Nixon of the United States launches a determined effort to draw Afghanistan into a Western economic and security sphere alongside India, Pakistan, and the Persian Gulf states. February 1977 - Daoud announces a new Afghani constitution which provides for only one political party and purges members of the PDPA. March 1977 - Daoud receives and accepts an invitation from the Soviet government to visit Moscow in April. May 1, 1978 - The Afghan PDPA Revolutionary Council announces the formation of the first PDPA cabinet following the coup against Mohammad Daoud. Nur Mohammad Taraki is named
president of the Council and prime minister; Babrak Karmal becomes vice chairman and deputy prime minister; Hafizullah Amin takes over as deputy prime minister and minister offoreign affairs. December 19, 1978 - Amin sends a letter to the Soviet leadership requesting 20 million rubles of assistance to expand state security and create a military intelligence network. March 1979 Many key Soviet leaders acknowledge that in the succeeding months Moscow should send troops, either openly or covertly, to guard the Bagram air base and Kabul in Afghanistan. March 17-19, 1979 - The Herat Uprising occurs, where numbers of Afghan soldiers to the rebels (Mujihadeen), and in the fighting several Soviet military advisers and their families are killed. The uprising shows the extent of unrest in the country and convinces Moscow of the need to increase the Soviet presence. March 23, 1979 - The United States warns the Soviet Union against interfering in the fighting in Afghanistan between rebel and government forces. March 27, 1979 - Hafizullah Amin is appointed Afghanistan's prime minister while retaining his position as foreign minister. May 1979 - The Soviet Politburo in Moscow establishes a commission on Afghanistan in order to determine what action should be taken. June 15-18, 1979 - Carter meets with Brezhnev at Vienna, where they sign the SALT II Agreement. June 28, 1979 - The Politburo approves the recommendation of the commission on Afghanistan to send a battalion of airborne troops to protect Soviet technicians at the Bagram air base. July 27, 1979 - Aware that the Soviets are growing more displeased with him, Amin moves to strengthen his position in the regime. He removes key positions such as Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior. September 14, 1979 - Amin has been named General Secretary of the PDPA and President of the Revolutionary Council, and has successfully overthrown Nur Mohamed Taraki. Members of the Soviet Security Council arrive in Moscow to decide whether preparations for intervention should occur.
Topic II: Military Capabilities and Alliances With one of the strongest militaries in the entire world, the Soviet Union has expansive military capabilities that can be used to deter and control the situation in Afghanistan. The following subtopics below outline the current capabilities of the Soviet Union and the alliance system between the Soviet Union and other important power. When regarding military capabilities, it is important to consider what level of military intervention should be used, if any, in the potential conflict with Afghanistan. You will also need to take alliances into considerations as the geopolitical world is founded in political and economic ties between countries. As key leaders of the Soviet Union, it is ultimately your job to consider how the military be used and what alliances are necessary for ensuring successful control in Afghanistan. Soviet Union Military Capabilities With the establishment of the Soviet Union in the 1920s, the Soviet military-industrial complex was an important cornerstone of the national policy. From purchasing arms through the Warsaw Pact to medium engineering after World War I, the country has been heavily invested in producing a strong and effective military. Over the past couple of decades, the Soviet Union has steadily expanded with increased weapon systems and updated ground force divisions. 10 Due to the modernization of Soviet forces, the country has expanded its ground forces to over 181 divisions - which include motorized rifle, tank, and airborne divisions. The Soviet Union has continued to devote an extremely high priority to its military space program from new heavy-lift launch vehicles to the world s only anti satellite weapons system that can attack other satellites in Earth s orbit. 11 In the world of nuclear weapons, the Soviet Union has been actively increasing its nuclear capabilities in order to maintain equal footing on the international scale. With the power of mass destruction, many Soviet leaders have recognized the potential dangers that widespread growth of nuclear weapons can have on geopolitical relations - especially with the United States. Seen as a growing rival for the past couple of decades, the United States has continued to expand its nuclear capabilities as well but has started to improve relations with the Soviet Union. Since 1970, both the United States and the Soviet Union have entered into a state of detenté - or formal relaxation of tensions. 12 With the rise of Brezhnev into power, his policy argued that having achieving nuclear parity, the Soviet Union does not need to be superior to United States in terms of military capabilities. The detenté has
culminated in SALT II Treaty, or Strategic Arms Limitations Talks, has resulted in establishing an equal number of nuclear weapon delivery systems between the two countries. 11 The treaty will also reduce the number of MIRV missiles, which are crucial in the nuclear arms capabilities of both countries. 12 Because of this treaty, the Soviet Union has not been able to use these nuclear weapons in open combat - which includes Afghanistan as well. If Soviet intervention into Afghanistan occurs, however, there is a possibility that the United States will not ratify its treaty. Because of this, the United States is still an important consideration that Soviet leaders must take into account when deciding the future of Afghanistan. Alliances in the Cold War Due to international politics being heavily influenced by ties between countries, the alliance system has become an important factor in determining the stability of any country. The Soviet Union, in particular, has attempted to establish a strong alliance system through the Warsaw Pact. Created in 1965, the Warsaw Pact was a mutual defense alliance between the Soviet Union and other Eastern European nations that pledged to defend each other if one of them were attacked. 12 Beyond the Warsaw Pact, the Soviet Union in the past decade has attempted to have strong relations with many countries in the Third World. 12 Given that the world was mostly divided into countries that aligned with either NATO and capitalism or the Warsaw Pact and Communism, there were many countries in the Third World that were open to influence from either side. With strong military alliances and economic aid, the Soviet Union has attempted to have a strong foothold in the Third World and other countries in the Middle East. In Afghanistan, the Communist government of Hafizullah Amin was initially seen to be a strong asset for Soviet leaders in order to maintain political hegemony in the region. With growing instability and rejection of foreign influence, however, it is evident that Amin is unable to keep control of his country. The influence of Pakistan and the United States, moreover, may become increasingly important as reports have shown increased ties between the two countries. Jimmy Carter, alongside many other United States military officials, have engaged in a renewed alliance in order to maintain influence in the Middle East. If both countries continue to be involved in Afghanistan, there is a strong possibility that they will potentially support the Mujahideen. With the introduction of sophisticated warfare, the Mujahideen may become a serious threat. Given the troubling situation in Afghanistan, it is
important for the Soviet leaders in the Security Council to consider how military capabilities should be used and what alliances should be kept if the Soviet Union decides to invade Afghanistan. Questions to Consider: 1. Given the recent signing of the SALT II Treaty, should the Soviet leaders continue with detenté or pursue a more aggressive military policy? 2. How much military intervention should there be in Afghanistan? If not, what should Soviet leaders do to prevent a government collapse? 3. How should the Soviet Union deal with potential aid to the Mujahadeen from the United States and Pakistan? What should happen to the relations between both countries and the Soviet Union?
References References 1. The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and the U.S. Response, 1978 1980. U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, history.state.gov/milestones/1977-1980/soviet-invasionafghanistan. 2. Synovitz, Ron. Afghanistan: History Of 1973 Coup Sheds Light On Relations With Pakistan. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, 9 Apr. 2008, www.rferl.org/a/1103837.html. 3. Ghaus, Abdul Samad. The Fall of Afghanistan: An Insiders Account. 1987. 4. Khan, Adnan. Afghan Saur Revolution 1978: What It Achieved, How It Was Crushed. In Defence of Marxism, In Defence of Marxism, 27 Apr. 2018, www.marxist.com/afghan-saurrevolution-1978-what-it-achieved-how-it-was-crushed.htm. 5. Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. Hafizullah Amin. Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 23 Dec. 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/hafizullah- Amin. 6. Kabul: City Number One - Part 4. BBC, BBC, 6 Feb. 2009, www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/entries/. 7. Szczepanski, Kallie. Who Were the Afghan Mujahideen? Thoughtco., Dotdash, www.thoughtco.com/the-mujahideen-of-afghanistan-195373. 8. Afghan Mujahideen: From Holy Warriors to Political Chiefs. Nst.com.my, New Straits Times, 5 Sept. 2018, www.nst.com.my/world/2018/09/408617/afghan-mujahideen-holywarriors-political-chiefs. 9. Pike, John. Soviet Military Industry. Texas Revolution, Global Security, www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/cccp-industry.htm. 10. Soviet Military Power. CIA, CIA, www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/cia- RDP88B00745R000100140025-7.pdf. 11. Détente and Arms Control, 1969 1979. U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/detente. 12. The Warsaw Treaty Organization, 1955. U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, history.state.gov/milestones/1953-1960/warsaw-treaty.