Why did the Soviet Union invade Afghanistan in 1979?

The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to support the communist government against anti-communist guerillas during the Afghan Civil War.

The invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union in December 1979 marked a significant escalation in the Cold War. The Soviet Union's primary motivation was to prop up the communist government led by the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), which was under threat from anti-communist guerillas, collectively known as the Mujahideen. The PDPA had come to power in 1978 through a coup known as the Saur Revolution, but it was struggling to maintain control due to widespread opposition.

The Soviet Union had been closely allied with the PDPA and was concerned that if the PDPA government fell, it could lead to a domino effect, with other countries in the region turning against communism. This was a significant concern for the Soviet Union, given its strategic interests in the region. Afghanistan was seen as a buffer state against Western-aligned countries in the Middle East, and the Soviets were keen to maintain their influence there.

Moreover, the Soviet Union was also motivated by the desire to protect its own borders. Afghanistan shares a border with several Soviet republics, and the Soviets were worried about the potential for Islamic fundamentalism to spread into these areas if the Mujahideen were successful in Afghanistan. This was a particular concern given the large Muslim populations in these republics.

The invasion was a major military undertaking, involving over 100,000 Soviet troops. However, it quickly became a quagmire for the Soviets. The Mujahideen, supported by the United States and other Western countries, put up a fierce resistance, and the war dragged on for nearly a decade. The conflict resulted in a heavy toll on the Soviet Union, both in terms of casualties and economically, and is often cited as a contributing factor to the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

In conclusion, the Soviet Union's decision to invade Afghanistan was driven by a combination of geopolitical considerations and concerns about internal security. Despite the significant resources that the Soviet Union committed to the conflict, it was ultimately unable to achieve its objectives, and the invasion is widely regarded as a significant failure for the Soviets.