USSR and Afghanistan: Military-diplomatic and economic relations in 1953–1963

Abstract

Based on the  previously unknown documents  from the  Russian state and departmental archives, and also on scientific literature, the activities of the Soviet diplomats and intelligence officers to intensify the military-diplomatic and economic relations between the USSR and Afghanistan in 1953–1963 are analyzed. It is shown how, in the context of the Cold War and the confrontation between the USSR KGB and the U.S. CIA, the Soviet intelligence in Afghanistan managed to obtain reliable information about the foreign and domestic policy of the local government and to contribute to the implementation of Moscow’s foreign policy course. It is documented why the Soviet-Afghan relations began to rapidly improve from the second half of 1955. The research shows the participation of the Soviet military specialists in the reorganization of the Afghan army and in its rearmament, the delivering process of modern military equipment (tanks, aircrafts).In addition, the Soviet Union at that time provided a large-scale economic assistance to Afghanistan: dozens of important national economic facilities were built (hydroelectric power stations, irrigation complexes,  airfields,  roads,  power  lines, car repair  plants  and  workshops). It  is concluded that during that period, informal leadership in the political and economic spheres for influence in Afghanistan belonged to Moscow.