USSR attack Pakistan in the 1980th

Ak-84

Banned
I agree that the Soveits could have defeated Pakistani resistance, as stubborn as that would have been, if they committed enough troops to it.

6 Divisions; I don't think could break through the Pakistani defences, the Pakistanis would have the heights, and in OTL they had fortifications all through the pass and some km ahead of it, and they could move reinforcements from C Pakistan (another corps) pretty easily, up the GT road to Peshawar.

An effort like Czechoslovakia would be needed, only two or three times the size, Czech ops, 25 divisions, 250,000 men, in Pakistan, more like a million.
 
I have considered this as a possible option in my own current timeline in the ASB forum (gratuitous self-promotion).

The Soviet Red Army was spread pretty thin at this stage and, from late 1985, had insufficient monies to keep it operational in all theatres. So you would need to see some reconciliation with the Europeans that would allow the transfer of forces from Eastern Europe to Afghanistan. Unless the situation has begun to stabilise in favour of the Afghani government by early 1986, the steady collapse of support amongst the Soviet population will ensure it is impossible after that date.

The only actions the Soviets would be able to undertake in Pakistan, without being unusually provocative and prompting the US to provide direct military support to the Zia government, would be to hit government installations directly linked to the support of Afghan rebels. This would include supply lines, bases and government facilities. Again, this would require a larger military commitment to Afghanistan.

However, after fighting and concluding such a war, the Soviet economy would have demanded military cutbacks rather than a further invasion of Pakistan. In short, any Soviet attack would be limited and retaliatory in nature and would certainly not approach a full-scale invasion. You would also need to have someone other than Gorbachev in the post of Secretary General. Otherwise, this is simply ASB.
 
The late 1980s and 1990s are even worse for the Russians.

Imagine having no choice but to evacuate Afghanistan and any Pakistani territory held under fire, television actually showing Soviet troops pulling out and some being slaughtered by triumphant Afghans and Pakistanis, perhaps even raiding inside what is still the USSR's own soil. If you think Gorbachev was unpopular in OTL...:eek:

And what happens if a second explosion comes in Poland while the Red Army is committed in force in Pakistan? If the Red Army needs 40 regular divisions to cow Poland into submitting and doesn't have 40 regular divisions available, indeed, if the combined armies of Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia could arguably defeat the remaining category A divisions, not to mention just why East Germany needed equipment for so many extra divisions hidden from Moscow...
 
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