The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan 1979

• A 1978 coup had seen Communists take control of Afghanistan

• However a Mujahadeen Islamic insurgency fought back
• The Afghan communists requested help from the Soviets in 1979 which arrived.
• The Soviets were worried about an Iranian style revolution that would place an unstable Islamic Fundamentalist nation on its doorstep.
• They seized control of the government and took military control of the country