Afghanistan Soviet War

Year 1972 of Afghanistan Soviet War

Period: Jan 1, 1972 to Dec 31, 1972

Mohammad Moussa becomes Prime Minister.

Year 1973 of Afghanistan Soviet War

Period: Jan 1, 1973 to Dec 31, 1973

July 17 Zahir Shah is deposed in a military coup by former Prime Minister Mohammed Daoud Khan and the Marxist People's Democratic Party. Mohammed Daoud Khan abolishes the monarchy, and declares himself President of the Republic of Afghanistan.

Year 1974 of Afghanistan Soviet War

Period: Jan 1, 1974 to Dec 31, 1974

Herat appointed as UNESCO world cultural heritage site.

Years 1975-1977 of Afghanistan Soviet War

Period: Jan 1, 1975 to Dec 31, 1977

Mohammed Daoud Khan presents a new constitution, cracks down on political opponents, grants women rights and reforms the country.

Afghanistan Soviet War

Apr 27, 1978

Afghanistan’s Communist Party seizes power in a coup, but power is split. Country is renamed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA). Islamic and conservative insurgencies began

Afghanistan Soviet War

Dec 5, 1978

Friendly treaty signed with USSR. Building Soviet-economic and military support

Month of March of Afghanistan Soviet War

Mar 1, 1979

USSR begins massive military aid and US scales down presence after murder of kidnapped ambassador. Afghan soldiers mutiny in Harat. Massacre soviet citizens

September of Afghanistan Soviet War

Sep 1, 1979

Hafizullah Amin emerges as DRA leader. President Nur Mohammed Taraki is killed. Requests for large numbers of Soviet forces to combat the growing insurgency continue under Amin's administration.

Afghanistan Soviet War

Dec 12, 1979

The Politbureau's inner circle, fearing the spectre of an Iranian-style Islamist revolution and wary of Amin's secret meetings with US diplomats in Afghanistan, decides to invade.

Afghanistan Soviet War

Dec 24, 1979

Soviet defense ministry reveals orders to send troops to Afghanistan. Commandos seize strategic installations in Kabul. The invasion begins.

Afghanistan Soviet War

Dec 29, 1979

Soviet commandos kill Ahmin and tens of thousands of troops invade by ground and air. Babrak Kamal is installed as DRA’s new soviet back leader.

Year 1980 of Afghanistan Soviet War

Jan 1, 1980

Resistance intensifies with Mujahideen groups fighting soviet and DRA forces. Soviets commit more than 80k personnel to occupy

Year 1982 of Afghanistan Soviet War

Jan 1, 1982

United nations call for Soviet withdrawal.

Year 1985 of Afghanistan Soviet War

Jan 1, 1985

Five million afghans are estimated to be displaced by war. Many flee to Iran or Pakistan. Gorbachev wants to end war. In order to bring a quick victory the resulting escalation of troops to pacify the region leads to bloody years of war.

Year 1986 of Afghanistan Soviet War

Jan 1, 1986

US supplies Mujahideen with stinger missles so they can shoot down soviet helicopter gunships. Kamal is replaced by Muhammed Najibullah.

Year 1988 of Afghanistan Soviet War

Jan 1, 1988

DRA, USSR, US, and Pakistan sign peace accords.

Afghanistan Soviet War

Feb 15, 1989

Last soviet troops is departed.