Development of Jihad Groups Ideology in Afghanistan - Capstone Project Example

Following the Saur Revolution in 1978, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was established. It was a government that was based on ideal principles, mostly in support of the welfare of the poor and the farmers. Initially, it was a country with strong relations with the Soviet Union, however, the Cold War between the US and Russia would soon affect the relative peace between these two countries. At about July 1979, President Carter ordered covert financial support to be given to the oppositionists of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.

The root causes of the war were in the overthrow of the Afghanistan government in April of 1978 by the left-wing leaders who then relinquished power to the Marxist-Leninist parties of Khalq and Parcham, later forming the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan. With no support from the people, the government developed ties with USSR, causing major land and social reforms that were not agreed upon by the Muslims and also non-Muslims. The Muslim insurgencies were initiated against the government and alongside internal political infighting between the Khalq and Parcham groups, Soviet troops invaded the country in December of 1979.

The goal was to set the USSR to restore the faltering of the chaotic state.Rebellion from the Muslim rebels or the mujahideen further intensified, covering various parts of the country. The Soviets, at first, allowed the Afghan army to control the rebels, however, the army soon had limited resources and could not effectively fight off the rebels. The Afghan War was at a stalemate with close to 100,000 Soviets in cities and towns as well as mujahideen freely roaming Afghanistan. The Soviet troops attempted to end the insurgency using different techniques however, the guerrillas were able to fight off the Soviet troops.

These troops sought to push out the mujahideen's civilian supporters by bombing them and depopulating the rural areas. Their techniques led to significant abandonment of the countryside and in 1982, millions of Afghanis sought asylum in Pakistan with others fleeing for Iran.