Breaking Contact without Leaving Chaos: The Soviet Withdrawal from Afghanistan

Abstract

There is a literature and a common perception that the Soviets were defeated and driven from Afghanistan. This is not true. When the Soviets left Afghanistan in 1989, they did so in a coordinated, deliberate, professional manner, leaving behind a functioning government, an improved military and an advisory and economic effort insuring the continued viability of the government. The withdrawal was based on a coordinated diplomatic, economic and military plan permitting Soviet forces to withdraw in good order and the Afghan government to survive. The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA) managed to hold on despite the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Only then, with the loss of Soviet support and the increased efforts by the Mujahideen (holy warriors) and Pakistan, did the DRA slide toward defeat in April 1992. The Soviet effort to withdraw in good order was well executed and can serve as a model for other disengagements from similar nations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA470066

Entities

People

  • Lester W. Grau

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Afghanistan
  • Agreements
  • Air Defense
  • Ammunition
  • Armored Vehicles
  • Artillery
  • Combat Forces
  • Combat Support
  • Employment
  • Governments
  • Insurgency
  • Materials
  • Personnel Management
  • Rifles
  • Rocket Launchers
  • Ussr
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.
  • Strategic Security Studies