The conflict that began in 1979 with Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and lasted until 1989 is known as what?

• A. The Afghan Civil War (1989–1992)
• B. The Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989)
• C. The Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988)
• D. The Gulf War (1990–1991)

Answer: (B)

This question tests your understanding of the major Cold War conflict in Afghanistan when the Soviet Union intervened to prop up a communist government and fought for about a decade. The name most commonly used for this war is the Soviet-Afghan War. It began with the December 1979 invasion, as Soviet troops entered Afghanistan to shore up the PDPA government against growing internal opposition, and lasted until 1989, when Soviet forces withdrew under international pressure and the changing political climate. The conflict featured fierce fighting against Afghan guerrilla groups, known as the mujahideen, who received substantial support from the United States and other countries, making it a focal point of Cold War proxy dynamics. The war ended with the Soviet withdrawal, but Afghanistan soon sank into another period of civil conflict and eventually the rise of the Taliban, illustrating how a prolonged external intervention can reshape a region’s internal politics. The other listed conflicts occurred in different times or places: the Afghan civil war happened after the Soviet withdrawal, and the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War were separate regional conflicts with different players and causes.