Global Issues Unit 8 - Ideological Conflict
December 1991
the Soviet Union collapses and Soviet aid to Najibullah ends
May 1997
the Taliban capture most of the north
1995
the Taliban take Herat, bu are twice driven back from Kabul
November 1994
the Taliban take Kandahar
April 27, 1978
-Afghanistan's communist People's Democratic Party seizes power in a coup but its split along ethnic lines and in-fighting begins -the country is renamed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA) -an Islamic and conservative insurgency soon begins in the provinces
September 1979
-Hafizullah Amin emerges as sole DRA leader from a bout of bloodletting in the government during which President Nur Mohammed Taraki is killed -requests for large numbers of Soviet forces to combat the growing insurgency continue under Amin's administration
Taliban
-Islamic fundamentalist political movement in Afghanistan -spread throughout Afghanistan and formed a government, ruling as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from September 1996 until December 2001 -enforced Sharia Law
2001
-Massoud is assassinated by al-Qaeda suicide bombers -Al-Qaeda attacks New York City and the Pentago, and bin Laden is names as the prime suspect -Operation Enduring Freedom begins in Afghanistan -Kabul is abandoned by the Taliban -Afghan opposition groups meet in Bonn to choose a provisional
1996
-Osama bin Laden returns to Afghanistan -the Taliban capture Kabul
Durand Line
-Put in place by the British after leaving the "empire"/colony -named for the Afghani Durani Empire (considered the birth of modern Afghanistan) -significant because it created the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan -split the largest ethnic group in the region, the Pushtuns
August 1998
-U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam are bombed -the U.S. attacks al-Qaeda bases in Afghanistan
1982
-United General Assembly calls for Soviet withdrawal -the IUAM breaks up
Coalition
-a combination or alliance -example: a temporary one between persons, factions, or states
Ideological Conflict
-a fight, battle, or struggle, especially a prolonged struggle -strife over ideological differences
Al Qaeda
-broad-based militant Islamist (terrorist) organization founded by Osama bin Laden in the late 1980s -began as a logistical network to support Muslims fighting against the Soviet Union during the Afghan War -members were recruited throughout the Islamic world
Mujahedin or Mujahideen
-coalition of Afghani (rebels) ethnic groups who opposed the (small) Afghani-Communist Party and the Soviet Invasion -backed by the United States -outside Islamic groups came from the region to join the Mujahedin
Soviet Union
-communist (socialist) Russia -backed the small Afghani-Communist Party -invaded Afghanistan in 1979
PDPA
-communist party who aligns with Soviet Russia (very small group of Afghanistans) -modernization
What was the relationship between the Taliban and Osama bin Laden before September 11, 2001
-fled to Sudan (Osama) -Afghanistan and Osama (ideals, Taliban, isolated region, welcomed Jihad (Al Qaeda), weak government)
Impact of the Resolution
-fueled existing tension between ethnic groups to become civil war -Soviets no longer have influence -Taliban takes over...Sharia Law
Why did Pakistan cooperate after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?
-ideological -religion -wants Afghanistan on their side (VS. INDIA)
Jihad
-in Islam, a holy war -a war ordained by God -taught that soldiers who die in jihad go to heaven immediately
1985
-more than five million Afghans are now estimated to be displaced by the war, with may fleeing to neighbouring Iran or Pakistan -new Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev says he wants to end the war in Afghanistan -in order to bring a quick victory, the resulting escalation of troops to pacify the region leads to the bloodiest year of the war
1980
-resistance intensifies with various mujahideen groups fighting Soviet forces and DRA allies -in the first six months of the campaign, the Soviets commit more than 80,000 personnel to occupy Afghanistan -the U.S., Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia supply money and arms to the mujahideen -the U.S. leads a boycott of the Moscow Olympics -many Afghans leave their country, becoming refugees
Geneva Peace Accord Soviet-Afghan Resolution 1988
-set Soviet withdraw for February 15, 1989 -guaranteed safe return of refugees back into Afghanistan -U.S. and Soviet Union noninterference in Afghanistan and Pakistan -parties present: Afghanistan (government), Pakistan (government), U.S. and Soviet Union as witnesses (only) -no Mujahedin representation present
Islamism
-state run by Islam -as government type
Why did the United States cooperate after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?
-sustain the oil stake (economic) -contain spread of communism/socialism
1988
-the DRA, USSR, US, and Pakistan sign peace accords and the Soviets begin pulling out troops (announced by Gorbachev) -Mujahedin groups form an Afghan Interim Government
December 12, 1979
-the Politbureau's inner circle, fearing the spectre of an Iranian-style Islamist revolution and wary of Amin's secret meetings with US diplomats in Afghanistan, decides to invade
December 24, 1979 - The Invasion Begins
-the Soviet defence ministry reveals order to senior staff to send troops into Afghanistan -commandos seize strategic installations in Kabul -armoured columns cross the border at Termez and Kushl heading towards Kabul and Herat respectively -elements of the 40th Army cross the Amu Daria river at Termez, moving towards Kabul on Highway 1 -103 Guards Airborne Division establishes an air corridor into Kabul -more elements of the 40th Army cross the border at Kushka in modern Turkmenistan, travelling to Kandahar via Heart
1986
-the U.S. begins supplying mujahideen with Stinger missiles, enabling them to shoot down Soviet helicopter gunships -Karmal is replaced by Mohammed Najibullah as Afghan government leader -the first withdrawals of Soviet troops are announced -Najibullah launches the "National Reconciliation" policy
February 15, 1989
-the USSR announces the departure of the last Soviet troops -more than one million Afghans and 13,000 Soviet troops have been killed -civil war continues as the mujahideen push to overthrow Najibullah, who is eventually toppled in 1992 -the Mujahedin fail in a bid to capture Jalalabad -major clashes occur between the forces of Hekmatyar and Massoud
March 1979
-the USSR begins massive military aid to the DRA, including hundreds of advisers, as the US scales down its presence after the murder of its kidnapped ambassador -Afghan soldiers mutiny in Herat, massacring Soviet citizens before their rebellion is crushed -uprising in Herat takes place
Sharia Law
-the body of Islmaic law -means "way" or "path" -the legal framework within which the public and some private aspects of life are regulated for those living in a legal system based on Islam -Muslims' aspired Sharia state is Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Muhammad that has no legal code other than the Sharia and enforces it without mercy
April 1992
-the communist government in Afghanistan collapses -serious fighting begins between various mujahedin groups
Islamic Fundamentalism
-the philosophical roots are largely the result of a conscious attempt to revive and restate the relevance of Islam in the modern world -contradiction between Western culture and the religion of Islam
Peace Accord
-the type of conflict resolution establishing normal, non-warring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world through a proper relationship -agreement that focuses entirely on healing and reconciliation of countries in conflict -goal: breaking the cycles of violence, trauma and despair experienced by many communities across the country and restoring functional and stable community life
Broad Timeline
Before-British Invasion Beginning-Soviet Invades Middle-Mujahideen Rises End-Geneva Accords Aftermath-Rise of the Taliban
November 1981
Mujahedin groups join together to form the "Islamic Unity of Afghan Mujahedin" (IUAM)
Explain why the people of Afghanistan's attitude toward the Taliban changed over time
Sharia Law: -Afghanistan's attitude toward the Taliban changed dramatically -Women Liberation -Human Right Violation
December 2000
United Nations Resolution 1333 repeats the demand that the Taliban give up Osama bin Laden
December 5, 1978
a friendship treaty is signed with the USSR, building on Soviet economic and military support given to Afghanistan since the early 1950s
1993-1994
a struggle for the control of Kabul takes place
December 29,1979
after a week of heavy fighting during which Soviet commandos kill Amin and tens of thousands of troops invade by ground and air, Babrak Kamal is installed as the DRA's new Soviet-backed leader
Summer 1978
resistance to communist government begins
February 1984
war intensifies