How could the Soviets win the war in Afghanistan? By winning I mean creating a stable, pro-Soviet government, not preserving the Soviet state.
I would say that "non-interference" would suffice. Chechnya shows that even very determined insurgency in mountain country with very porous border could be dealt with, if guerillas don't have foreign sponsorship with unlimited spending account (Chechen rebels had plenty of moral support, but not too much material one).I don't see how without outright cooperation from the Americans, actually.
How could the Soviets win the war in Afghanistan? By winning I mean creating a stable, pro-Soviet government, not preserving the Soviet state.
A stable government in Afganistan? Has it ever had one, let alone imposed from outside?
How could the Soviets win the war in Afghanistan? By winning I mean creating a stable, pro-Soviet government, not preserving the Soviet state.
You would be surprised. Zahir Shah was USSR's bosom friend and his oust by radical Marxist officers was considered a disaster. Afghan revolution was an entirely homegrown affair, Soviets intervened only when they believed that googly-eyed Marxists are about to lose the country to American puppets Muj (American assistance to Muj started earlier than Soviet invasion).it was the damn Soviets who sent the place all to hell & gone with their heavy-handed intervention...
You would be surprised. Zahir Shah was USSR's bosom friend and his oust by radical Marxist officers was considered a disaster. Afghan revolution was an entirely homegrown affair, Soviets intervened only when they believed that googly-eyed Marxists are about to lose the country to American puppets Muj (American assistance to Muj started earlier than Soviet invasion).
I'm not 100% sure it isn't an urban legend, but I've heard it (Soviets called on PDPA to slow down) repeatedly.Am I correct in thinking that the USSR tried to discourage the revolutionary officers from acting?