the reasons for renewed hostilities in the Cold War

• April 1978 – coup led to the overthrow of Mohammad Daoud Khan, cousin of the former King of Afghanistan
• Khan had been in power since 1973
• Supported by the leftist People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA)
• Same group that had overthrown Khan primarily because of his failure to implement the socialist principles he said he was committed to
• Dec 1979 – Coup would lead to a Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
• Would have a profound effect on international politics in the 1980s