Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-11-cold-war-conflict-afghanistan [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [History](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history.md) › [OCR](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr.md) › Cold War Conflict - Afghanistan # Cold War Conflict - Afghanistan History: OCR A GCSE Cold War & International Relations, topic 1.2.11 ## The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan In 1979, when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, it's neighbour to the South, the USA responded aggressively. ### The Afghan Civil War ![The Afghan Civil War](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/2f743057-9c87-4357-a0b5-5ce272dafd2e/shutterstock_757509412.jpg) - Afghanistan sat on the Soviet Union's south border. - Nur Muhammad Taraki was the President of Afghanistan from 1978-1979. - In 1978, pro-Soviet soldiers led by Nur Mohammed Taraki overthrew the Afghani government and set up a communist state. The reforms were met with a violent reaction from local warlords. A civil war began. - Taraki signed a '20 Years of Friendship' treaty with the Soviet Union. - Then in October 1979, Taraki was killed as Afghan leaders battled for power. Hafizullah Amin became Afghan President, some think with Soviet blessing. ### Soviet involvement in Afghanistan. ![Soviet involvement in Afghanistan.](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/3bfa575b-bf86-40b3-9d65-61bf4a891a75/ussr-soviet-union.jpg) - According to the historian Braithwaite (2011), Amin was warned that the Soviets would try to topple him. As he died in the royal palace under Soviet attack in December 1979, he reportedly said "I guessed it. It's all true". - In December 1979, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. The assault on the royal palace killed Amin. - The Soviets chose Barbrak Karmal as the new President of Afghanistan. - Brezhnev chose to intervene with Soviet troops as he was worried that Afghanistan would become a US ally or an Islamist state (Ayatollah Khomeini had just taken over in Iran, which bordered Afghanistan). ### The Afghan War, 1979-1989 ![The Afghan War, 1979-1989](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/e3b660c9-2d5a-4512-a31a-09b4997375b3/shutterstock_686756764.jpg) - The Soviet troops killed Amin and then ended up fighting the Mujahidin, a group of Afghan rebels for the next 10 years. - In November 1979, the US Embassy in Iran was attacked during the Iranian Revolution. The Iranian shah fled to the USA. Iran borders Afghanistan and Jimmy Carter was scared that Soviet influence could spread from Afghanistan to Iran. - This could block off the USA's access to oil. Oil is vital to any manufacturing economy. ### The Carter Doctrine, January 1980 ![The Carter Doctrine, January 1980](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/b9f99608-af18-499d-a94a-af7732ffc4bf/shutterstock_115189144.jpg) - In January 1980, Carter, the US President, broke off all relations with the Soviet Union. - The trade agreements made at Helsinki between the US and USSR were stopped. - The USA supported economic sanctions against the USSR. - Carter committed to using force in Iran and Afghanistan if needed. ### A new era of confrontation and partners ![A new era of confrontation and partners](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/9f61c6cc-0344-4e9c-93ff-685b2db7758d/shutterstock_640597441.jpg) - In response to the invasion of Afghanistan, the USA formed new partnerships with Pakistan (next to Afghanistan) and Saudi Arabia (next to Iran). - The US gave the Afghan rebels, the Mujahideen money, and weapons. One of the Mujahidin to receive US support was Osama bin Laden, who was fighting against the Soviets in Afghanistan. - Arms were secretly funnelled to the mujahidin (Afghan warlords) through Pakistan. ## Problems Caused by the Afghan War ### The failure of SALT 2 ![The failure of SALT 2](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/a90e2526-ebbe-428e-a00c-fbb983939294/shutterstock_727790023.jpg) - The USSR invaded Afghanistan just after the Vienna Conference. Although SALT 2 was signed by Brezhnev and Jimmy Carter, it was never ratified by the Senate and never became American law because of the invasion. ### Nuclear tensions restart ![Nuclear tensions restart](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/2900a344-68e6-4ed4-b781-71b4df7b706a/shutterstock_406207777.jpg) - After the invasion, the USA restarted its nuclear program and the USSR restarted its nuclear program. The SS20 and Pershing missiles were developed in the USSR and the USA respectively. ### The Olympic boycotts ![The Olympic boycotts](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/1b6f42b6-f58d-4168-8d85-07d9854a7a8c/shutterstock_724384213.jpg) - Moscow hosted the 1980 Olympic games. The USA refused to attend (boycotted). - Los Angeles hosted the 1984 Olympics. The USSR refused to attend (boycotted). ### Long-term consequences ![Long-term consequences](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/01f99e6c-4f4e-485f-b5ca-5caec85a3623/shutterstock_469302179.jpg) - The USA was now funding the Mujahidin and its allies via Pakistan. Osama bin Laden was someone receiving American money to fight. He would orchestrate 9/11 20 years later. - The US population's distrust of the Soviet Union grew again. This helped Ronald Reagan, the actor, to win the Presidency in 1980. He was harsh towards communism and socialism. - The CIA estimate that the Afghan War cost the USSR 18bn Russian rubles between 1979 and 1986. The cost was a problem for the USSR which was struggling economically. ## Test yourself on Cold War Conflict - Afghanistan - When did the Soviet Union invade Afghanistan? - Which of the following about the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan is correct? - Complete the Timeline of the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan - When did the US refuse to ratify SALT 2, breaking down diplomatic relations? - The war in Afghanistan had disastrous consequences on the economy and society. What did this lead to? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/2536af80-4f7c-11e8-9781-7528a1e10f88/section/1e3ce01c-b1d7-43fe-a4aa-88cfc90e9e0c/session) - Previous topic: [1.2.10 Cold War Conflict - Vietnam](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-10-cold-war-conflict-vietnam.md) - Next topic: [1.2.12 End of Topic Test - The Cold War 1945-1989](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-12-end-of-topic-test-the-cold-war-1945-1989.md) ## History: OCR A GCSE Cold War & International Relations contents ### 1 Key Topics - 1.1 Conflict & Cooperation 1918-1939 - [1.1.1 The Treaty of Versailles](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-1-the-treaty-of-versailles.md) - [1.1.2 The Terms of Versailles 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-2-the-terms-of-versailles-1.md) - [1.1.3 The Terms of Versailles 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-3-the-terms-of-versailles-2.md) - [1.1.4 Versailles & the League of Nations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-4-versailles-and-the-league-of-nations.md) - [1.1.5 LoN Successes & Failures](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-5-lon-successes-and-failures.md) - [1.1.6 LoN Failure - Upper Silesia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-6-lon-failure-upper-silesia.md) - [1.1.7 LoN Failure - Corfu & Washington](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-7-lon-failure-corfu-and-washington.md) - [1.1.8 End of Topic Test - Treaties and Agreements](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-8-end-of-topic-test-treaties-and-agreements.md) - [1.1.9 The Great Depression](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-9-the-great-depression.md) - [1.1.10 Tension in Europe in the 1930s](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-10-tension-in-europe-in-the-1930s.md) - [1.1.11 WWII & Failure of the League of Nations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-11-wwii-and-failure-of-the-league-of-nations.md) - [1.1.12 End of Topic Test - Tension in the 1930s](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-12-end-of-topic-test-tension-in-the-1930s.md) - [1.1.13 Grade 9 - Conflict & Cooperation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-13-grade-9-conflict-and-cooperation.md) - 1.2 The Cold War 1945-c.1989 - [1.2.1 Emerging US-Soviet Rivalry](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-1-emerging-us-soviet-rivalry.md) - [1.2.2 Communism in the 20th Century](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-2-communism-in-the-20th-century.md) - [1.2.3 The Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-3-the-truman-doctrine-and-marshall-plan.md) - [1.2.4 East-West Alliances](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-4-east-west-alliances.md) - [1.2.5 Berlin Crises](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-5-berlin-crises.md) - [1.2.6 The End of the Berlin Wall](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-6-the-end-of-the-berlin-wall.md) - [1.2.7 End of Topic Test - East & West](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-7-end-of-topic-test-east-and-west.md) - [1.2.8 Build-up to the Cuban Missile Crisis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-8-build-up-to-the-cuban-missile-crisis.md) - [1.2.9 The Cuban Missile Crisis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-9-the-cuban-missile-crisis.md) - [1.2.10 Cold War Conflict - Vietnam](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-10-cold-war-conflict-vietnam.md) - [1.2.11 Cold War Conflict - Afghanistan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-11-cold-war-conflict-afghanistan.md) - [1.2.12 End of Topic Test - The Cold War 1945-1989](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-12-end-of-topic-test-the-cold-war-1945-1989.md) - [1.2.13 Grade 9 - The Cold War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-13-grade-9-the-cold-war.md) - [1.2.14 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Russia vs USSR](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-14-diagnostic-misconceptions-russia-vs-ussr.md) - [1.2.15 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Stalin & the Atom Bomb](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-15-diagnostic-misconceptions-stalin-and-the-atom-bomb.md) - [1.2.16 Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Iron Curtain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-16-diagnostic-misconceptions-the-iron-curtain.md) - [1.2.17 Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Truman Doctrine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-17-diagnostic-misconceptions-the-truman-doctrine.md) - [1.2.18 Diagnostic Misconceptions - USSR vs Eastern Europe](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-18-diagnostic-misconceptions-ussr-vs-eastern-europe.md) - [1.2.19 Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Berlin Airlift](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-19-diagnostic-misconceptions-the-berlin-airlift.md) - [1.2.20 Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Berlin Wall](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-20-diagnostic-misconceptions-the-berlin-wall.md) - [1.2.21 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Hungarian Uprising](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-21-diagnostic-misconceptions-hungarian-uprising.md) - [1.2.22 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Stalin's Death](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-22-diagnostic-misconceptions-stalins-death.md) - [1.2.23 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cuba](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-23-diagnostic-misconceptions-cuba.md) - [1.2.24 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Bay of Pigs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-24-diagnostic-misconceptions-bay-of-pigs.md) - 1.3 From the End of the Cold War to 9/11 - [1.3.1 Reagan & Gorbachev](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-3-1-reagan-and-gorbachev.md) - [1.3.2 Consequences of the Soviet War in Afghanistan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-3-2-consequences-of-the-soviet-war-in-afghanistan.md) - [1.3.3 End of Topic Test - End of the Cold War to 9/11](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-3-3-end-of-topic-test-end-of-the-cold-war-to-911.md) - [1.3.4 Grade 9 - The End of the Cold War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-3-4-grade-9-the-end-of-the-cold-war.md) - [1.3.5 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Fall of the Wall](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-3-5-diagnostic-misconceptions-fall-of-the-wall.md) ### 2 Changing Interpretations - 2.1 Changing Interpretations - [2.1.1 Appeasement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/2-1-1-appeasement.md) - [2.1.2 The Responsibility for Cold War Tensions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/2-1-2-the-responsibility-for-cold-war-tensions.md) - [2.1.3 End of Topic Test - Appeasement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/2-1-3-end-of-topic-test-appeasement.md) - [2.1.4 Grade 9 - Changing Interpretations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/2-1-4-grade-9-changing-interpretations.md)