Afghan Civil War (1989–1992): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:34, 23 July 2007

Revision as of 20:03, 25 July 2007

Line 16:

}}

{{Campaignbox Afghanistan}}

The '''[[1989]] to [[1992]]''' phase of the '''[[Afghan Civil War]]''' began after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan, leaving the [[Democratic Republic of Afghanistan]] to fend for itself against the MujahadeenMujahideen. After several years of fighting, the government fell in 1992.

== Timeline ==

==Civil war after the departure of Soviet troops==

By 1992 [[Muhammad Najibullah]], who had been [[President of Afghanistan]] for almost 6 years, agreed to step down in favor of a transitional government. The [[United Nations]] presented a plan to Najibullah, saying that as soon as he resigns, a multi-national [[United Nations]] [[peacekeeping]] force would be sent quickly to stabalize the situation in [[Afghanistan]]. But the [[mujahideen]] filled the vacuum. Najibullah tried to flee [[Kabul]], but his departure was blocked by [[Abdul Rashid Dostum]]'s [[militia]] in [[Kabul International Airport]]. Najibullah sought sanctuary in the [[United Nations]] compound in [[Kabul]].

After the [[Soviet troop withdrawal from Afghanistan|Soviet withdrawal]] in February 1989, most American and Pakistani observers expected the [[Khalq]] regime to collapse rapidly.

However, the DRA continued to receive massive aid from the Soviet Union, valued at two to six billion dollars a year. Moreover, Soviet miltary advisors were still active in Afghanistan.<ref>Marshall, A.(2006); ''Phased Withdrawal, Conflict Resolution and State Reconstruction''; Conflict research Studies Centre; ISBN 1 905058-74-8 [http://www.defac.ac.uk/colleges/csrc/document-listings/ca/]</ref>

Between March and May 1989, Afghan troops repelled an attack by 10,000 mujahideen against [[Jalalabad]]. This success proved that the Afghan Army could fight without Soviet help, and greatly boosted the morale of the DRA troops.

==Growing weakness of the Najibullah regime==

===Internal dissensions===

On 6th March 1990, the DRA defense minister, [[Shahnawaz Tanai]] launched a coup against Najibullah. The coup was a failure, and Tanai was forced to flee to Pakistan, where he joined [[Gulbuddin Hekmatyar]], with who he had been secretly negotiating. Najibullah ordered a severe repression against Tanai's supporters that seriously weakened the army.

===Economic crisis===

By 1992, Afghanistan was in dire straits. Food and fuel shortages considerably diminished the fighting ability of the Afghan army, and caused the loyalty of pro-government militias to waiver.

== Fall of Kabul ==

By 1992 [[Muhammad Najibullah]], who had been [[President of Afghanistan]] for almost 6 years, agreed to step down in favor of a transitional government. The [[United Nations]] presented a plan to Najibullah, saying that as soon as he resigns, a multi-national [[United Nations]] [[peacekeeping]] force would be sent quickly to stabalizestabilize the situation in [[Afghanistan]]. But the [[mujahideen]] filled the vacuum. Najibullah tried to flee [[Kabul]], but his departure was blocked by [[Abdul Rashid Dostum]]'s [[militia]] in [[Kabul International Airport]]. Najibullah sought sanctuary in the [[United Nations]] compound in [[Kabul]].

Different Mujahideen groups entered Kabul from different directions. [[Hezbi Islami]] made the first move and entered the city from the south. [[Hekmatyar]] had asked other mujahideen groups such as [[Harakat-Inqilab-i-Islami]] and [[Khalis faction]] to join him while entering [[Kabul]] but he did not have any luck in convincing them. Hekmatyar's men had numeric superiority but lacked technical and strategic advantage. They were armed with light weapons such as the [[AK-47]] and [[RPG-7]]. The Hezb had acquired some surrendered weapons from Afghan Army on the way to Kabul but were not sufficient enough. As they entered the city's southern sector, they faced no resistance. [[Hekmatyar]] aired a statement in the radio urging that the '' Lions had entered [[Kabul]] to liberate its people''. The advance was slow and steady until the [[Jamiat Islami]] entered the city from the north.

Line 27 ⟶ 46:

In the western sector of the city, the Hezb forces crossed the [[Kabul River]] and arrived at the northern bank after taking control of the Karta i Seh area. While charging towards the Kote Sangi and Kabul University, Sayyaf's forces attacked Hezb forces from the Ghazi School area in a surprise move, and the Hezb forces were separated into two groups after being cut off by Jamiat forces.

Throughout the night, the exhausted and demoralized forces of HezbkHezbi Islami, foughtedfought on, some to the bitter end. After suffering heavy casualties, Hezb forces in the southern bank fled out of Kabul towards [[Logar]] and deserted their positions. There were two choices for the Hezb Forces who were surrounded in the Northern bank of the [[Kabul]] river, either to surrender or to fight to the death, and most of them chose the latter. Heavy shells were fired in the areas which they were holding. Many civilians fled, but those who were caught in the cross fire were not so unfortunatefortunate.

Kabul fell completely into Jamiat hands in [[April 30]], [[1992]]. [[Mohammad Najibullah]] tried to flee Kabul, but his departure was blocked by [[Abdul Rashid Dostum]]. On [[April 17]] [[1992]], he sought sanctuary in the [[UN]] compound in Kabul. President [[Burhanuddin Rabbani|Rabbani]] refused to let him leave the country, but made no attempt to arrest him properly.

==References==

<references/>

[[Category:Afghan Civil War|*]]

[[Category:Warlordism]]