|
|
Timeline (1979-1989) |
|
|
The Soviet-Afghan War This section will focus on a brief year by year time line of significant events during the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. The costs of the war in both men and equipment are also listed here. To navigate this section simply click on the year at right to see the events of that period. |
Chronology of the Afghan War | |
|
|
|
| |
|
24 April |
Coup engineered by Nur Mohammed Tataki and Amin is successful and deposes Mohammed Daoud Khan. Between 1000 and 2000 are killed in coup. The new rulers welcome Soviet aid to boost nation's weak, feudal economy and to help with agrarian reforms. | ||
|
|
|
| |
|
March 15-21 |
Soon dissatisfaction with the Soviet-backed regime turned to action as anti-communist demonstrators seized the town of Herat near the Iranian border. The Afghan 15th division is ordered to restore the situation but soon joins the opposition. As many as 200 Soviet civilians and advisers butchered in Herat. Herat is then bombed by Afghans and Soviet planes leaving an estimated 5000 afghani dead. | ||
|
April |
Soviet-piloted Mi-24 helicopters support a DRA Army offensive in the Kunar valley which kills an estimated 1000 when the village of Kerala is razed. | ||
|
17 May |
Afghan mechanized brigade from the 7th division defects to the resistance. | ||
|
July |
Battalion of Soviet paratroopers lands in Bagram airbase to protect the Soviet helicopter force. | ||
|
August |
5th brigade of the 9th Afghan division mutinies and joins the resistance in the Kunar valley. | ||
|
August-October |
General Pavlovskiy, chief of ground forces, leads a group of 50 soviet officers on a planning reconnaissance throughout Afghanistan. | ||
|
14 September |
Primer Minister Amin's faction kills president Taraki in a gun battle. | ||
|
October |
Insurrection in Afghan 7th division. Soviet forces begin mobilizing within Turkistan Military District. | ||
|
24 December |
Soviet airborne division begins air landing in Kaboul. | ||
|
27 December |
Soviet divisions cross border and begin advance south along the eastern and western highways. Soviet airborne and spetsnaz forces overthrow government and kill Amin the president. | ||
|
28 December |
Babrak Karmal declared new president of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. | ||
|
|
|
| |
Soviet Invasion is condemned by United Nations General Assembly, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organization of Islamic Nations. | ||||
|
1 January |
Kandahar revolts and Soviet citizens and troops are hacked to pieces. | ||
|
21 February |
Protests against the Soviet occupation in Kabul. Hundreds are killed and thousands are arrested. Anti-Soviet riot in Shindand put down by Soviet forces. | ||
|
February |
Soviet sweep of Kunar valley | ||
|
March |
Soviet push into Paktia results in the loss of a soviet battalion. Soviet sweep of Kunar valley. | ||
|
April |
Soviet offensive in Pandshir valley. | ||
|
May |
Soviet sweep of Ghazni and of Kunar valley. | ||
|
June |
Soviet sweep of Ghazni valley. | ||
|
September |
Pandsher I - Soviet forces sweep the Kunar valley. | ||
|
October |
Pandshir II - Operation to eliminate forces missed during Pandsher I. | ||
|
November |
Soviet sweep of Kunar valley. Soviet sweep of Wardak province. Lowgar valley offensive until mid-December. | ||
|
|
|
| |
|
February-May |
Fighting in Kandahar. | ||
|
April |
Pandsher III. | ||
|
June-July: |
Nangahar offensive. | ||
|
4 July |
108th MRD offensive in Sarobi Valley. Heavy fighting in Herat. | ||
|
August |
Operation Pandsher IV. | ||
|
5 September |
5th MRD offensive in Farah province. | ||
|
5 October |
MRD sweeps around Herat. Unsuccessful DRA operation at Marmoul Gorge, Balkh province. Soviet offensive in Kandahar. | ||
|
December |
Combined sweeps with DRA and 66th MRB in Nangahar. Fighting in Herat. | ||
|
|
|
| |
|
January |
Fighting in Herat. | ||
|
February |
City fighting in Kandahar | ||
|
May |
Pandshir V, largest operation yet launched in retaliation for attack on Bagram air base.108th MRD governing headquarters for composite force drawn from 3 divisions (108th MRD, 201st MRD and 103rd ABD) | ||
|
July |
Sweep against Paghman hills near Kaboul | ||
|
August-September |
Pandshir VI | ||
|
November |
Laghman valley offensive | ||
2 November | 1000+ people killed during bombing of Salang Tunnel. | |||
|
|
|
| |
|
January |
Lowgar valley offensive. Soviets negotiate cease-fire in Pandshir valley. | ||
|
April |
Sweeps around Herat | ||
|
June |
Ghazni offensive. | ||
|
August |
Paktia province offensive. | ||
|
November |
Shomali offensive. | ||
|
|
|
| |
|
April |
Gora Tepa offensive. end of cease-fire in Pandsher valley. Pandsher VII, largest offensive yet, launched under control of 108th MRD. Operation also includes push up Andarab valley and Alishang valley. Soviets garrison lower valley and fighting continues throughout summer. | ||
|
June |
Lowgar valley offensive. Herat and Kandahar offensives. | ||
|
July-August |
Lowgar and Shomali valley offensive. | ||
|
August-October |
Relief of Ali kheil garrison in Paktia by 70th MRB and 345th ABR. | ||
|
September |
Pandsher VIII. | ||
|
October |
Fighting in Herat. | ||
|
November |
Paktia operation. | ||
|
December |
Kunar valley offensive with 66th MRB and 345th ABR lasts until February. | ||
|
|
|
| |
|
April |
Maidan valley offensive | ||
|
May-June |
Kunar offensive and relief of Barikot garrison | ||
|
June |
Pandsher IX launched in retaliation for fall of Pechgur | ||
|
July |
Heavy fighting in Herat and Kandahar | ||
|
August-September |
Paktia offensive. Largest offensive since Pandsher VII, relieved Khost but failed to take Zhawar base | ||
|
|
|
| |
|
March |
Offensive around Andkhoy | ||
|
April |
Paktia offensive takes Zhawar | ||
|
May |
Offensive in the Arghandab near Kandahar | ||
|
June |
Khejob valley offensive | ||
|
August |
Lowgar valley offensive | ||
|
October |
6 Soviet regiments withdrawn from Afghanistan. | ||
|
November |
66th MRB offensive in Naizan valley | ||
|
|
|
| |
|
January-February |
Temporary cease-fire for national reconciliation | ||
|
May-June |
Arghandab offensive. Paktia offensive near Jadji | ||
|
14 July |
Loss of Kalafghan garrison in Takhar province | ||
|
November-January |
Operation Magistral to relieve Khost | ||
|
|
|
| |
|
March |
Offensive to relieve Urgun in Paktia province | ||
|
April |
Kandahar to Ghazni offensive | ||
|
14 April |
Geneva accords signed | ||
|
April |
Soviet withdrawal from Barikot, upper Kunar valley and Alikhel, Chowni and Chamakani in Paktia, Qalat in Zaboul | ||
|
May |
66th MRB withdrawal from Jalalabad | ||
|
15 October |
Half of Soviet force withdrawn | ||
|
|
|
| |
|
15 February |
Last Soviet combat units withdrawn from Afghanistan. |