Leaving Afghanistan

Richard S. Ehrlich

Soviet forces began retreating from Afghanistan on May 15, 1988,finally pulling out in on 15 Febuary 1989, nine years after they swept into the country.

The civil war continued following the Soviet withdrawal, as the mujahideen pushed to overthrow President Najibullah, who was toppled in 1992.

During the Soviet occupation about a million Afghans lost their lives as the Red Army tried to impose control and millions more fled abroad as refugees. Soviet deaths were estimated to be around 15,000.