Afghan conflict

Quick Facts: Who was Afghan conflict?

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Afghan conflict

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A protracted, multi-phased series of armed conflicts defining modern Afghan history.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Afghan conflict (Pashto: دافغانستان جنګونه; Farsi/Dari: درگیری افغانستان) is the series of events that have kept Afghanistan in a near-continuous state of armed conflict since the 1970s. Early instability followed the collapse of the Kingdom of Afghanistan in the largely non-violent 1973 coup d'état, which deposed Afghan monarch Mohammad Zahir Shah in absentia, ending his 40-year-long reign. With the concurrent establishment of the Republic of Afghanistan, headed by Mohammad Daoud Khan, the country's relatively peaceful and stable period in modern history came to an end. However, all-out fighting did not erupt until after 1978, when the Saur Revolution violently overthrew Khan's government and established the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Subsequent unrest over the radical reforms that were being pushed by the then-ruling People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) led to unprecedented violence, prompting a large-scale pro-PDPA military intervention by the Soviet Union in 1979.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In the ensuing Soviet–Afghan War, the anti-Soviet Afghan mujahideen received extensive support from Pakistan, the United States, and Saudi Arabia in a joint covert effort that was dubbed Operation Cyclone. Although the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989, the various mujahideen factions continued to fight against the PDPA government, which collapsed in the face of the Peshawar Accord in 1992. However, the Peshawar Accord failed to remain intact in light of the mujahideen's representatives' inability to reach an agreement on a power-sharing coalition for the new government, triggering a multi-sided civil war between them. By 1996, the Taliban, supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, had seized the capital city of Kabul in addition to approximately 90% of the country, while northern Afghanistan remained under the authority of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance. During this time, the Northern Alliance's Islamic State of Afghanistan enjoyed widespread international recognition and was represented at the United Nations, as opposed to the Taliban's Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which only received diplomatic recognition from three nations.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Despite the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, the Northern Alliance continued to resist in another civil war for the next five years. After the September 11 attacks against the United States, which were carried out by the Afghanistan-based group al-Qaeda, the Taliban refused demands by the Bush administration to extradite al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. This prompted the American-led invasion of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, which bolstered the Northern Alliance by toppling the Islamic Emirate and installing the Afghan Transitional Authority in 2002. The invasion triggered the 20-year-long War in Afghanistan, in which NATO and NATO-allied countries fought alongside the nascent Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to combat the Taliban insurgency. During the Battle of Tora Bora, the American-led military coalition failed to capture bin Laden, who subsequently relocated to Pakistan and remained there until he was killed by U.S. SEAL Team Six in Abbottabad in 2011.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1973: 1973 Milestone — Early instability followed the collapse of the Kingdom of Afghanistan in the largely non-violent 1973 coup d'état, which deposed Afghan monarch Mohammad Zahir Shah in absentia, ending his 40-year-long reign.
2. 1978: 1978 Milestone — However, all-out fighting did not erupt until after 1978, when the Saur Revolution violently overthrew Khan's government and established the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.
3. 1979: 1979 Milestone — Subsequent unrest over the radical reforms that were being pushed by the then-ruling People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) led to unprecedented violence, prompting a large-scale pro-PDPA military intervention by the Soviet Union in 1979.
4. 1989: 1989 Milestone — Although the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989, the various mujahideen factions continued to fight against the PDPA government, which collapsed in the face of the Peshawar Accord in 1992.
5. 1996: 1996 Milestone — By 1996, the Taliban, supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, had seized the capital city of Kabul in addition to approximately 90% of the country, while northern Afghanistan remained under the authority of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance.
6. 2002: 2002 Milestone — This prompted the American-led invasion of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, which bolstered the Northern Alliance by toppling the Islamic Emirate and installing the Afghan Transitional Authority in 2002.
7. 2011: 2011 Milestone — SEAL Team Six in Abbottabad in 2011.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Afghan conflict

True or False: “The initial instability following the 1973 coup d'état was characterized by immediate, all-out fighting across the country.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Early instability after the 1973 coup was largely non-violent; all-out fighting did not erupt until after 1978.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. S. Neill — Historical peer (Died in 1973) (1973): Scottish progressive educator, founder of Summerhill, championing self-governance.
• Abebe Bikila — Historical peer (Died in 1973) (1973): Ethiopian Olympic marathon champion, known for his barefoot victories in Rome and Tokyo.
• Adolf Dassler — Historical peer (Died in 1978) (1978): Pioneering German cobbler and inventor who founded the sportswear giant Adidas.
• Aldo Moro — Historical peer (Died in 1978) (1978): Italian statesman who served as Prime Minister multiple times, championing the modern Italian centre-left.
• A. P. Elkin — Historical peer (Died in 1979) (1979): Influential Australian anthropologist and Anglican clergyman (1891–1979)
• A. Philip Randolph — Historical peer (Died in 1979) (1979): Pioneer labor unionist and civil rights activist who fought for racial equality.
• A. J. Ayer — Historical peer (Died in 1989) (1989): Influential English philosopher known for logical positivism and emotivism.
• Abbie Hoffman — Historical peer (Died in 1989) (1989): Iconic American activist, co-founder of the Yippies, and counterculture figure.
• 21 Savage — Historical peer (Born in 1992) (1992): Atlanta-based rapper known for his distinctive style and career evolution.
• 6lack — Historical peer (Born in 1992) (1992): American R&B singer, songwriter, and rapper known professionally as 6lack.

Frequently Asked Questions about Afghan conflict