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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
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More on the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan On April 27,1977 the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was formed. It was formed after the Saur Revolution. The Soviets helped the DRA.
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Friendly treaty was signed with the USSR. This helped build Soviet economy support. It also helped build Soviet millitary support
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USSR begins massive military aid to the DRA, including hundreds of advisers, as the US scales down its presence after the murder of its kidnapped ambassador. Afghan soldiers mutiny in Herat, massacring Soviet citizens before their rebellion is crushed.
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By 1982, the Mujahdeen controlled 75% of Afghanistan despite fighting the might of the world's second most powerful military power. Young conscript Russian soldiers were no match against men fuelled by their religious belief. Though the Russian army had a reputation, the war in Afghanistan ha dtaken a toll on them.
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Hafizullah Amin emerges as DRA leader from a bout of bloodletting in the government during which President Nur Mohammed Taraki is killed. Requests for large numbers of Soviet forces to combat the growing insurgency continue under Amin's administration.
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Just like the United States do today, Back in the 70's the Soviets tried to bring peace too the middle east. When they saw the riots happening they decided too step in and help. This lead too Soviet Deployment three days later
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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.
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More on the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
1. Elements of the 40th Army cross the Amu Daria river at Termez, moving towards Kabul on Highway 1
2. 103 Guards Airborne Division establishes an air corridor into Kabul
3. More elements of the 40th Army cross the border at Kushka in modern Turkmenistan, travelling to Kandahar via Heart -
The Soviet defence ministry reveals orders to senior staff to send troops into Afghanistan. Commandos seize strategic installations in Kabul. Armoured columns cross the border at Termez and Kushka heading towards Kabul and Herat respectively.
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This was the codename for the Soviet operation which took place on December 27, 1979. Soviet forces stormed the Tajbeg Palace. In the end President Hafizullah Amin and his 200 personal guards were killed along with his 11 year old son.
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29 December: After a week of heavy fighting during which Soviet commandos kill Amin and tens of thousands of troops invade by ground and air, Babrak Kamal is installed as the DRA's new Soviet-backed leader.
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Thousands of Afghanistan Muslims joined the Mujahdeen - a guerilla force on a holy mission for Allah. They wanted the overthrow of the Amin government. The Mujahdeen declared a jihad - a holy war - on the supporters of Amin.
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More than five million Afghans are now estimated to be displaced by the war, with many fleeing to neighbouring Iran or Pakistan. New Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev says he wants to end the war in Afghanistan. In order to bring a quick victory, the resulting escalation of troops to pacify the region leads to the bloodiest year of the war.
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The United Nations had condemned the invasion as early as January 1980. But a Security Council motion calling for the withdrawal of Russian forces had been vetoed......By Russia.
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Resistance intensifies with various mujahideen groups fighting Soviet forces and their DRA allies. In the first six months of the campaign, the Soviets commit more than 80,000 personnel to occupy Afghanistan. The US, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia supply money and arms to the mujahideen. The US leads a boycott of the Moscow Olympics
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Mikhail Gorbachev took Russia out of the Afghanistan fiasco when he realised what many Russian leaders had been too scared to admit in public - that Russia could not win the war and the cost of maintaining such a vast force in Afghanistan was crippling Russia's already weak economy.
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By the end of the 1980's, the Mujahdeen was at war with itself in Afghanistan with hard line Taliban fighters taking a stronger grip over the whole nation and imposing very strict Muslim law on the Afghanistan population.
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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
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The US begins supplying mujahideen with Stinger missiles, enabling them to shoot down Soviet helicopter gunships. Karmal is replaced by Mohammed Najibullah.
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Taliban seize control of Kabul and introduce hard-line version of Islam, banning women from work, and introducing Islamic punishments, which include stoning to death and amputations. Rabbani flees to join anti-Taliban northern alliance.
