What if, after the Soviets pull-out of Afghanistan in 1988/89 (or earlier/later in an ATL) they retain control of Badakhshan (the 'pan-handle' in the north-east) and/or other areas?
I don't think that the retention of Badakhshan itself would be that useful or cause many butterflies, especially after the USSR is 'disolved'. What could be interesting is if the Soviets through whatever means annex the entire north-eastern corner of Afghanistan as far south and including the Khyber Pass. I can't post a map at this time but i'm imagining a border running from the Uzbek-Tajiki border, between Mazar-e-Sharif and Konduz, then south-easterly, between Kabul and Jalalabad to the Pakistani border.
After 'peace' is declared between the Soviets and Afghans, Pakistan would find it's northern provinces pincered between the USSR and India. I'm thinking the following effects could be seen:
1. An even more paranoid Pakistan, wary of being trapped between two nations it doesn't trust.
2. Soviet troops stationed in large numbers to fight insurgents. These troops being in close proximity to the border with Pakistan.
3. Pakistan growing closer to the West to guard against the Soviet 'threat'.
4. No coalition in Afghanistan.
5. The communist puppet regime in Afghanistan lasting longer.
What i'm asking is, would the world have been better today if the Soviets had had a
little bit of success, rather than none at all?
