<P> The Soviet -- Afghan War lasted over nine years , from December 1979 to February 1989 . Insurgent groups known as the mujahideen fought against the Soviet Army and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan government , mostly in the country 's rural countryside . The mujahideen groups were backed by the United States and Pakistan , making it a Cold War proxy war . Between 562,000 and 2,000,000 civilians were killed and millions of Afghans fled the country as refugees , mostly to Pakistan and Iran . </P>
<P> The Soviet -- Afghan War lasted over nine years , from December 1979 to February 1989 . Insurgent groups known as the mujahideen fought against the Soviet Army and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan government , mostly in the country 's rural countryside . The mujahideen groups were backed by the United States and Pakistan , making it a Cold War proxy war . Between 562,000 and 2,000,000 civilians were killed and millions of Afghans fled the country as refugees , mostly to Pakistan and Iran . </P>
who was involved in the soviet invasion of afghanistan
who was involved in the soviet invasion of afghanistan
mujahideen Soviet Army Democratic Republic of Afghanistan government
mujahideen Soviet Army Democratic Republic of Afghanistan government