The Soviet Afghan war began when soviets assassinated the head of the Afghan government (the soviets had troops in Afghanistan in small numbers because the government’s were allies.) Afghanistan had problems due to their unpopular land reforms and other policy’s and requested help from the soviets.

The soviets believed the Afghan gov was trying to forge links with China, Pakistan and the USA. So the gov head and several others were whacked by Soviet special forces and a new head of government was put in power.

The insurgency had been going on for several years because the Afghan government had proclaimed its self as a communist and atheist government. Afghans were deeply religious and weren’t happy about land reforms and other policies so they fought back. Pakistan started to support the insurgency before the soviets whacked the head of government. Once the soviets had openly invaded the insurgency received more support from nations like USA China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, west Germany, Israel, and the redcoats.