User:OnBeyondZebrax/sandbox/Soviet war in Afghanistan

In June 1975, militants from the Jamiat Islami party attempted to overthrow the government. In 1978, the Taraki government initiated a series of reforms, including a radical modernization of the traditional Islamic civil society. The UN General Assembly passed a resolution protesting the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan by a vote of 104–18.

The first phase began with the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and their first battles with various opposition groups. The war developed into a new pattern: the Soviets occupied the cities and main axis of communication, while the mujahideen, (which the Soviet Army soldiers called 'Dushman,' meaning 'enemy') divided into small groups, waged a guerrilla war. Almost 80 percent of the country escaped government control. In 1985, the size of the LCOSF (Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces) was increased to 108,800 and fighting increased throughout the country, making 1985 the bloodiest year of the war. In the mid-1980s, the Afghan resistance movement, assisted by the United States, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Egypt, the People's Republic of China and others, contributed to Moscow's high military costs and strained international relations. Contingents of so-called Afghan Arabs, foreign fighters who wished to wage jihad against the atheist communists. Notable among them was a young Saudi named Osama bin Laden, whose Arab group eventually evolved into al-Qaeda.

Through most of the war, the Soviet air force was able to control the skies and fly sorties at will. With the introduction of the Su-25 ground-attack jet and the Mi-24 attack helicopter, the Soviets had aircraft that were impervious to Mujahideen attacks, as both aircraft were armored to withstand even large calibre machine gun fire. After the Stinger was introduced to the war, the Mujahideen shot down on average more than one aircraft per day. By mid-1987 the Soviet Union announced it would start withdrawing its forces. The arrival of Mikhail Gorbachev on the scene in 1985 and his 'new thinking' on foreign and domestic policy was probably the most important factor in the Soviets' decision to leave.