Wars in modern history: Afghanistan

Afghanistan

► Afghanistan, the official name is the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, in the Middle East has no outlet to the sea. It is one of the poorest countries in the world. Over the past 35 years (since 1978) the country is at civil war. ► Afghanistan is a multinational country. In the north Tajiks, Uzbeks, Turkmen, Hazaras live. In the south and south-east the ethnic majority is Pushtuns. They are about 50% of the total population.

Location

► ► It borders Iran in the west, Pakistan - in the south and east, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan - in the north, and China - in the eastern part of the country.

Afghanistan is at the crossroads between East and West, and is an ancient center of trade and migration. Its geopolitical location is between South and Central Asia and the Near East allowing it to play an important role in the economic, political and cultural relations between the countries of the region.

Russian-Afghan War 1979-1989

Participation of the Soviet troops in the fighting in Afghanistan with use of weapons, even in self defense, was not meant. In fact, there was an order on December 27 issued by Ustinov to crackdown the rebels in case of attack. It was assumed that the Soviet troops would be garrisoned, and would protect important industrial and other facilities, thereby freeing up the Afghan army for actions against the opposition groups. It was ordered to cross the border at 15:00 Moscow time (17.00 Kabul) on December 27, 1979. But in the morning of December 25 the 4th Battalion of the 56th Guards Airborne Brigade crossed the river border with Afghanistan to capture the high-Salang road Termez - Kabul to ensure safe passage of Soviet troops.

US-Map of Soviet Invasion in Afghanistan

Main Events

► ► ► ► ► From December 1979 to February 1980 - the Soviet invasion to Afghanistan, placing soldiers in the garrisons; from March 1980 to April 1985 - maintenance of active hostilities, including large-scale to reorganize and strengthen the armed forces of the DRA; from April 1985 to January 1987 - active actions mainly in supporting Afghan forces by the Soviet air force, artillery and engineering units so that special forces units could prevent delivery of weapons and ammunition from abroad. In this period a partial withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan was made.

from January 1987 to February 1989 - participation of the Soviet troops in the policy of national reconciliation with the continued support of the Afghan military forces. The war lasted 9 years, 1 month and 19 days .

1982, Puli Khumri My father, Rinat Vildanovich Bashirov, was involved in this war. He was called up on April 2, 1982. He traveled a long way from Saratov to Samara, from Samara to Termez on the border with Afghanistan.

Salang Pass, 3500 m over the sea level «We were 18-19 years old when we got involved in that war, having no experience of overcoming adversity and challenges of life, and even blows of fate», said my father.

DRA, Puli-Khumri, May 1984 The participants of that war had differences from others not only in mysterious tan but mainly in that early grey hair. On returning home, they brought with them a powerful charge of the best human qualities, obtained by them in the trials: camaraderie, soldier brotherhood , a keen sense of social justice.

Termez Dad took the oath of May 1, 1982, and served in automobile forces in the 2nd Battalion.

Salang Pass, the entry to the tunnel, the height of 3500m International warriors ​​went to the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan on the fourth of May .

January 1983, Puli-Khumri My dad drove KAMAZ 54 10 number IP 26-12. On it he carried medicine, food, firewood, but mostly ammunition and weapons.

The soldiers built a freeway through the Salang mountain pass. The Soviet territory paved the way to Kabul. Along this route shopping, food supplies for the army and the Afghan people were fulfilled. During the movement of convoys bloody skirmishes broke out. Soviet forces were gradually drawn into offensive combat operations.

Kabul, 1983, at the post guarding the convoy The tasks of Soviet troops were protecting governmental objects, the most important strategic areas and accompanying convoys.

Bagram 1983. Hooray! Snow!

Thrown into the war, young Soviet soldiers found the strength to be people in the face of death, be true friends under the fire , carry wounded comrades kilometers on hands, share a drink of water…

The first half of Soviet armed forces returning home in 1988

► The complete withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan on February 15, 1989

Our soldiers not only heroically died during fighting with dushmans in Afghanistan, they had serious psychological problems, trying to find answers to key questions: «Why am I here?» , «For what I've been fighting?» Some Russian guys did not answers to those questions.

Amin's palace after the storming of the Soviet GRU ► Many years of military intervention in Afghanistan did not bring peace to this country, but undermined the international prestige of the Soviet Union greatly. Only with the change of the Soviet leadership people in Afghanistan were given an opportunity to decide their problems themselves.

► After the war the Soviet Union published the figures of dead Soviet soldiers: 1979 – 86 people 1980 - 1484 1981 - 1298 1982 - 1948 1983 - 1446 1984 - 2343 1985 - 1868 1986 - 1333 1987 - 1215 1988 - 759 1989 - 53

 After Afghanistan my father returned to the town of Engels to complete his education. During his service he wrote letters to the relatives, because the father has a large family: four elder sisters and one elder brother . My dad is the youngest child in the Bashirov family. His parents also took part in the hostilities: my grandfather fought in World War II, my grandmother dug trenches. I am very proud of my grandparents and my dad. They are real patriots.