What caused the Soviet Union to enter Afghanistan?
Q: What caused the Soviet Union to enter Afghanistan?
A: The Afghanistan government was unable to resist the opposition, called the Mujahideen, so they sought aid from the Soviet Union.
Q: Who were the main opponents of the Soviet Union in this war?
A: The main opponents of the Soviet Union were Afghan assistance fighters, also known as Mujahideen.
Q: How did local populations respond to foreign involvement?
A: Local populations sided with the Mujahideen due to extensive destruction of infrastructure and death caused by massive military campaigns against them. This caused a loss of support for the Soviet military presence and nationwide resistance.
Q: When did fighting begin in Afghanistan?
A: Fighting began in December 1979.
Q: How long did it last?
A: It lasted until February 1989, about ten years total.
Q: What countries supported anti-government forces during this war? A: Anti-government forces had support from many countries, mainly the United States and Pakistan.
Q: When did troops start leaving Afghanistan? A: Troops started leaving Afghanistan on 15 May 1988 and all troops had left by 2 February 1989.
