The Soviet-Afghan War began when Soviet forces intervened in Afghanistan to support the communist government of the People's Democratic Party, which faced a growing rebellion. The Soviets killed the Afghan leader Hafizullah Amin and installed Babrak Karmal. They struggled against mujahideen guerrillas who were supported by the United States, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other countries, and the war caused huge civilian casualties and millions of refugees. Under Mikhail Gorbachev, the USSR agreed to withdraw under the 1988 Geneva Accords, and the last troops left in early 1989. The conflict damaged the Soviet Union and was followed by a civil war in Afghanistan, which led to the Taliban's rise.
Before and after
- 27 August 1979Warrenpoint ambush
- from 15 October 1979 to 16 January 1992Salvadoran Civil War
- 4 November 1979Iran hostage crisis
- 18 December 1979Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
- from 25 December 1979 to 15 February 1989Soviet-Afghan War
- 1980Establishment of Lake Malawi National Park
- c. 1980sDigital Revolution
- 1980Creation of Ada
- 1980Publication of The Name of the Rose
More in Wars, politics & history
- 6 August 1945Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- from January 1978 to February 1979Iranian Revolution
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- 7 October 2023Gaza genocide
- 28 February 20262026 Iran War
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.