Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

• Afghanistan bordered the Soviet Union in Asia
• In April 1978 , communists in Afghanistan had taken over the government by force using violence and killing its Muslim leaders
• By 1979, the Mujahideen had been formed by Islamic extremists to wage jihad against the communist government - In December 1979, Leonid Brezhnev , the leader of the Soviet Union, sent 50,000 Soviet troops to protect the communists
• The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was a shock to the USA , who had spent many years improving relations with the Soviet Union - The USA, China and United Nations immediately condemned the actions of the Soviet Union