- 1. The Soviet-Afghan War, which lasted from 1979 to 1989, was a brutal and complex conflict that saw the Soviet Union invade Afghanistan in an attempt to prop up a communist government facing a growing insurgency from various mujahideen groups. The war began when the Afghan communist leader, Nur Muhammad Taraki, called for military support from the Soviets to help stabilize his regime, which was faltering under pressure from both internal dissent and external factors. As Soviet troops poured into Afghanistan, they encountered fierce resistance from a diverse coalition of fighters who were motivated by nationalism, religion, and anti-imperial sentiment. The mujahideen, often operating from rural bases and fortified by extensive support from the United States and Pakistan, engaged in a guerrilla warfare campaign characterized by ambushes, sabotage, and widespread civilian casualties. The conflict became a Cold War battleground, with the U.S. supplying arms and training to the resistance fighters through Operation Cyclone, while the Soviets deployed a significant amount of military hardware and personnel. Over the decade-long conflict, an estimated one million Afghans lost their lives, while millions more were displaced. The war severely weakened the Soviet Union, contributing to its eventual dissolution and the end of communist rule in Eastern Europe. Additionally, it had profound implications for Afghanistan, leading to a power vacuum that resulted in decades of instability, civil war, and the rise of the Taliban, as well as broader repercussions for international relations and the emergence of jihadist movements across the world.
What year did the Soviet-Afghan War begin?
A) 1980
B) 1979
C) 1978
D) 1982
- 2. Which country invaded Afghanistan in 1979?
A) Pakistan
B) Soviet Union
C) United States
D) China
- 3. Which group primarily fought against the Soviet forces?
A) Taliban
B) Northern Alliance
C) Mujahideen
D) Al-Qaeda
- 4. Which US President was in office when the Soviet-Afghan War began?
A) Jimmy Carter
B) Richard Nixon
C) George H.W. Bush
D) Ronald Reagan
- 5. What was the name of the operation that provided US support to Afghan rebels?
A) Operation Cyclone
B) Operation Ajax
C) Operation Desert Storm
D) Operation Enduring Freedom
- 6. Which country served as a major conduit for US aid to the Mujahideen?
A) Iran
B) Saudi Arabia
C) Pakistan
D) India
- 7. Which tactics did the Mujahideen primarily use against the Soviets?
A) Guerrilla warfare
B) Conventional warfare
C) Naval blockade
D) Air raids
- 8. Which region of Afghanistan was most fiercely contested during the war?
A) Herat
B) Panjshir Valley
C) Kandahar
D) Kabul
- 9. In what year did the last Soviet soldier leave Afghanistan?
A) 1990
B) 1988
C) 1989
D) 1991
- 10. What role did the ISI play in the conflict?
A) Supported the Soviet Union
B) Provided support to the Mujahideen
C) Facilitated drug trade
D) Remained neutral
- 11. What was the name of the Soviet military operation launched to secure Kabul?
A) Operation Storm-333
B) Operation Sledgehammer
C) Operation Lightning
D) Operation Blue Star
- 12. Which international organization condemned the Soviet invasion?
A) United Nations
B) African Union
C) NATO
D) European Union
- 13. What year was the Geneva Accords signed, attempting to resolve the conflict?
A) 1985
B) 1986
C) 1987
D) 1988
- 14. What type of weapons were supplied to Mujahideen by the U.S.?
A) Nuclear weapons
B) Naval armaments
C) Chemical weapons
D) Stinger missiles
- 15. How did the U.S. primarily support the Mujahideen?
A) By sending troops
B) Through financial and military aid
C) Through diplomatic negotiations
D) By providing refugees
- 16. What significant impact did the Soviet-Afghan War have on the Soviet Union?
A) Contributed to its eventual collapse
B) Led to the expansion of its territory
C) Strengthened its global position
D) Increased military spending
- 17. Which event is often cited as a major factor in the downfall of the Soviet Union?
A) The Soviet-Afghan War
B) The Cuban Missile Crisis
C) The Cold War
D) The Berlin Wall Fall
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