The taliban subsequently won control of kandahar, and by 1996 they had gained control over much of afghanistan, including kabul, either by force or through forming alliances with other mujahidin. The border between afghanistan and the ussr, in some places uncertain, had long been a source of friction and dispute and for a time the soviets stationed. The land that is now afghanistan has a long history of domination by foreign conquerors and strife among internally warring factions. The secret history of the cia, afghanistan, and bin laden, from the soviet invasion to september 10, 2001 offers revealing details of the. A brief foray into democracy ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 communist countercoup. Within a few days, the soviets had secured kabul, deploying a special assault unit against tajberg palace. Trump as he negotiates an end to the united states own war in afghanistan, now 17 years old.
The soviet war in afghanistan feifer, gregory on amazon. Mar 27, 20 william dalrymples top 10 books on afghanistan from 16thcentury mughal rulers, to daring victorian spies and todays taliban, the travel writer and historian picks his favourites from a rich. The soviet war in afghanistan, 1979 1989 the atlantic. Through the investigation of a complex and highly politicized war, the. Rashid is also the author of the authoritative taliban. The history of the soviet experience in afghanistan. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read ghost wars. Steve coll is a writer for the new yorker and author of the pulitzer prize winning ghost wars. Celeste ng, ann patchett, min jin lee and others on the books that. Sep 03, 2019 the civil war continued in afghanistan after the soviet withdrawal.
Apr 03, 20 just as historys lessons were dismissed as advisers begat brigades in the jungles of southeast asia, the soviet experience in afghanistan has been discarded as irrelevant to our own war by. The subject headings listed in this section can be used to find books related to this topic in any library catalog which uses library of congress subject headings, including csus library catalog it is not an exhaustive list. The soviet union intervened in support of the afghan communist government in its conflict with anticommunist muslim guerrillas during the afghan war 197892 and remained in. Elements of the afghan army loyal to hafizullah amin.
Soviet invasion of afghanistan, military action carried out in late december 1979 by soviet troops. The secret history of the cia, afghanistan, and bin laden. Best books about the soviet invasion of afghanistan history. Originating in afghanistan during the mid1970s, it was nurtured by the u. Russias veterans take pride in soviet afghan war thirty years ago, the soviet union withdrew from a disastrous nineyear war in afghanistan. Central intelligence agency cia and pakistans interservices intelligence isi during the 1980s soviet war in afghanistan. Turns to soviet union for economic and military assistance. Afghanistan history soviet occupation, 19791989 foreign public opinion comment on soviet intervention in afghanistan baghdad. The secret history of the cia, afghanistan and bin laden, from the soviet invasion to 10 september 2001 by steve coll. A history of the soviet unionafghan war, 19791989 brewminate.
The soviet war in afghanistan was a nineyear period involving the soviet forces and the mujahideen insurgents that were fighting to overthrow afghanistans marxist peoples democratic party of afghanistan pdpa government. Afghanistan 1979 the war that changed the world youtube. Robert young peltons, the worlds most dangerous places. Does anyone know of any books written about the soviet war in afghanistan in the 1980s. The war in afghanistan 19791989 has been called the soviet unions. It was a neutral, developing state on the periphery of the ussr, beholden to moscow for economic and military aid which was generously applied, especially in the early 1970s. The baddest conquerers in ancient history from alexander the great to ghengis khan all crashed on the rocky island of afghanistan.
Many historians believe that in the end, the soviet war in afghanistan was key in destroying one of the cold war worlds two superpowers. This shift to nearconventional warfare, as opposed to the smallscale guerilla attacks and urban terrorism in. The soviet union intervened in support of the afghan communist government in its conflict with anticommunist muslim guerrillas during the afghan war 197892 and remained in afghanistan until midfebruary 1989. Failed attempts at reform, a standstill economy, and the success of the united states against the soviet unions forces in the war. The secret history of the cia, afghanistan, and bin laden, from the soviet invasion to september 10, 2001, he is president of the new america foundation, a public policy institute in washington, d. The origins of the soviet invasion offer lessons for a historychallenged mr. Books are a key resource for information about the soviet union from 19171985. The soviet war in afghanistan lasted nine years from december 1979 to february 1989. Maulvi jalaluddin haqqani and his son sirajuddin haqqani lead the group. I would prefer books that arent too dry but are still fairly informative. The russians in afghanistan 19791989, london, profile books, 2011.
The soviet union left afghanistan deep in winter with intimations of panic among kabul officials. From the persians and greeks of antiquity to the british, soviet, and american powers in modern times, outsiders have led military conquests into the mountains and plains of afghanistan, leaving their indelible marks on this ancient land at the juncture of europe, asia, and the middle east. The idea that history offers lessons for the present is uncontroversial and. Some users may encounter difficulties opening these files from the server. From the 1930s to the 1970s, afghanistan had the essence of a national government and kabul was known as the paris of central asia. A complete analysis of the soviet intervention in afghanistan in late 1979 must wait until enough time passes for that event to be evaluated in terms of longrange soviet military and political objectives. The history of afghanistan is largely military history. The extraordinary story of the largest covert operation in history by crile, george. The soviet union invaded in 1979 to support the frail afghan communist regime, sparking a long and destructive war. The written recor ded hist ory of the land presently constit uting afghan istan can be traced back to around 500 bce when the area was unde r the acha emenid. The afghan resistance was poised to attack provincial towns and cities and eventually kabul, if necessary. A new account of the soviet unions long, hard battle in afghanistan. The sovietafghan war was a conflict wherein insurgent groups known collectively as the mujahideen, as well as smaller maoist groups, fought a guerrilla war against the soviet army and the democratic republic of afghanistan government for over nine years, throughout the 1980s, mostly in the afghan countryside.
The soviet war in afghanistan in pictures, 19791989. Based on scrupulous research and firsthand accounts by key government, intelligence, and military personnel both foreign and american, ghost wars details the secret history of the cias role in afghanistan including its covert operations against soviet troops from 1979 to 1989, the rise of the taliban, the emergence of bin laden, and the failed efforts by u. Explore free books, like the victory garden, and more browse now. Just as historys lessons were dismissed as advisers begat brigades in the jungles of southeast asia, the soviet experience in afghanistan has been discarded as. This shift to nearconventional warfare, as opposed to the smallscale guerilla attacks and urban terrorism in kandahar, caught everybody by surprise and forced a. Russiansoviet unconventional wars in the caucasus, central asia, and afghanistan. Afghanistan history soviet occupation, 19791989 foreign public opinion. The secret history of the cia, afghanistan, and bin laden, from the soviet invas ion to september 10, 2001 ebook written by steve coll.
For many years, western scholarship on the sovietafghan war was limited to a small. Discover the best afghan war military history in best sellers. Id highly recommend the following books descent into chaos ahmed rashid if you only read one thing about american policy in afghanistan and pakistan, let it be this book. The soviet invasion of its neighbour afghanistan in december 1979 sparked a bloody nineyear conflict in that country until soviet forces withdrew in 198889, dooming the communist afghanistan government to defeat at the hands of the mujahideen, the afghan popular resistance backed by the usa and other powers. List of books and articles about soviet invasion of afghanistan. Do a subject search using the terms below to identify books in the library catalog and. The main body of the book is about soviet army and air force tactics, operations, and armaments. Previously he served, for more than twenty years, as a reporter, foreign correspondent, and.
Im interested in history especiall military history and am looking to expand my library. At the gateway between asia and europe, this land was. Jan 29, 2019 the origins of the soviet invasion offer lessons for a historychallenged mr. The secret history of the cia, afghanistan, and bin laden, from the soviet invasion to september 10, 2001 by steve coll. If the entire document will not open, select save instead of open. The history of the soviet union from 1982 through 1991 spans the period from leonid brezhnevs death and funeral until the dissolution of the soviet union. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Dec 20, 2019 on december 24, 1979, the soviet union invades afghanistan, under the pretext of upholding the soviet afghan friendship treaty of 1978. Excavations of prehistoric sites by louis dupree and others at darrae kur in 1966 where 800 stone implements were recovered along with a fragment of neanderthal right temporal bone, suggest that early humans were living in what is now afghanistan at least 52,000 years ago. William dalrymples top 10 books on afghanistan books the. A chronology of key events in the history of afghanistan, from the mid1800s to the present day. Specifically books that arent too dry and also focus on the american supported afghani mujahedeen that fought against the soviets.
Soviet combat tactics in afghanistan had help deciphering the russian general staff papers from gress, a soviet migr who served in the soviet army. Afghanistan was much more important for the soviet union. The taliban emerged as a significant force in afghanistan in 1994 when they were assigned by pakistan to protect a convoy in afghanistan, which marked the. William dalrymples top 10 books on afghanistan books. The translatoreditor established his credentials with his first two books on this. The history of the soviet experience in afghanistan ive read many books on the experiences of the american military fighting in vietnam. Best books about the soviet invasion of afghanistan. On december 24, 1979, the soviet union invades afghanistan, under the pretext of upholding the sovietafghan friendship treaty of 1978.
The soviet intervention in afghanistan by alfred l. Apr 09, 2020 kabul, afghanistan the scars from four decades of war are etched into the boxy apartment towers known as macroyan kohna, a dreary neighborhood built by the soviets in central kabul a half. The secret history of the cia, afghanistan, and bin laden, from the soviet invasion to september 10, 2001. Soviet war in afghanistan simple english wikipedia, the. Best iraq and afghanistan war books some of the best books out there about the wars in iraq and afghanistan. The soviet withdrawal from afghanistan 1989 national.
What are the best books about the soviet war in afghanistan from 1979 to 89. Not only does it give them a summary of afghanistans colorful geography and history, but it also presents an uptodate picture of where the war is heading and an informed discussion of the range of choice for afghanistan and its allies. List of books and articles about taliban online research. The soviet union, china and angloamerican intelligence in the afghan war library of middle east history. Kabul, afghanistan the scars from four decades of war are etched into the boxy apartment towers known as macroyan kohna, a dreary neighborhood built by the soviets in central kabul a. The entry of the soviet union into the country caused an. Much as the british government declined to fully arm afghanistan, so too the british proved unwilling to provide guarantees against kabuls greatest fear, an invasion by the soviet union. Fighting for afghanistan is the third book in the rogue historian trilogy, taking maloneys story into the conflict in 2006, when the talibanled insurgency threatened to overwhelm the u. The translatoreditor established his credentials with his first two books on this subject. This revived tensions between the united states and the soviet union and helped usher in what many dubbed the second cold war. In kabuls heart, soviet towers harbor decades of tales. Since december 1979, when soviet troops first entered afghanistan, the country has remained a focal point in regional and global politics. Part of the cold war, it was fought between sovietled afghan forces against multinational insurgent groups called the mujahideen, mostly composed of two alliances the peshawar seven and the tehran eight. Are there any good books about the sovietafghan war.
The soviet invasion of its neighbour afghanistan in december 1979 sparked a bloody nineyear conflict in that country until soviet forces withdrew in 198889, dooming the communist afghanistan government to defeat at the hands of the mujahideen, the afghan popular resistance backed by. The soviet war in afghanistan reprint by gregory feifer isbn. Comment on soviet intervention in afghanistan baghdad. Mujahideen fighters in afghanistan during the soviet occupation of the early 1980s.
In 1979, the soviet union decided to try its luck in afghanistan, long a target of russian foreign policy. The written recorded history of the land presently constituting afghanistan can be traced back to around 500 bce when the area was under the achaemenid. The mitrokhin archive and the secret history of the kgb. The secret history of the cia, afghanistan, and bin laden from the soviet invasion to september 10, 2001 from the worlds lar. The soviet war in afghanistan was a war initially fought between the forces of the afghanistan government and afghan assistance fighters, supporter from abroad. The secret history of the cia, afghanistan, and bin laden, from the soviet invasion to september 10, 2001 coll, steve on. In kabuls heart, soviet towers harbor decades of tales the. The secret history of the cia, afghanistan and bin laden. Without proper equipment and training, the afghanistan government was unable to resist the opposition,called the mujahedeen, eventually seeking the aid of the soviet union.
For me the book was personally meaningful in that one of the many actors on this crowded stage was sir william mcnaughtonmy grandfather nine generations past. William dalrymples top 10 books on afghanistan from 16thcentury mughal rulers, to daring victorian spies and todays taliban, the travel writer and historian picks his favourites from a rich. The secret history of the cia, afghanistan, and bin laden, from the soviet. With a focus on the 1980s, the impact of the afghansoviet war on pakistan delves into both afghanistans history and the involvement of superpowers in shaping its present situation. This heading may be further subdivided by the subdivisions used under individual wars. Due to the years of soviet military buildup at the expense of domestic development, economic growth stagnated. The sovietafghan war was a conflict wherein insurgent groups known collectively as the. The taliban established a government headed by mullah muhammad omar, the groups spiritual leader and a military leader as well until his death c.
Understanding war in afghanistan is an excellent book for journeyman students of afghanistan. Nearly twentyfive years ago, the soviet union pulled its last troops out of afghanistan, ending more than nine years of direct involvement and. In 1979, the soviets invaded and occupied afghanistan, a small country in central asia. What are some good books to read about afghan history. The soviet union supported the government while the rebels found support from a. The secret history of the cia, afghanistan, and bin laden from the soviet invasion to september 10, 2001 by. Sep 15, 2011 fighting for afghanistan is the third book in the rogue historian trilogy, taking maloneys story into the conflict in 2006, when the talibanled insurgency threatened to overwhelm the u. He follows this account with a firsthand report of the 1979 invasion, and analyzes the intervention from political, military, and economic perspectives.
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