On 28 April 1978, the Saur Revolution marked the overthrow of Mohammad Daoud's government by the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), led by figures like Nur Mohammad Taraki, Babrak Karmal, and Amin Taha. This coup resulted in Daoud's assassination, ushering in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan under PDPA rule, which lasted until April 1992.
The PDPA, once in power, initiated a Marxist-Leninist reform agenda, secularizing laws and promoting women's rights, including banning forced marriages and recognizing women's suffrage. Significant reforms included socialist land reforms and moves towards state atheism, along with economic modernization efforts with Soviet assistance, highlighting a transformative but turbulent period in Afghan history.
However, these reforms, particularly the secularization efforts and the suppression of traditional Islamic customs, sparked widespread unrest. Repression by the PDPA resulted in thousands of deaths and imprisonments, contributing to mass revolts across the country, particularly in rural areas. This widespread opposition laid the groundwork for the Soviet Union's intervention in December 1979, aiming to support the faltering PDPA regime.
The Soviet occupation faced fierce resistance from Afghan mujahideen, bolstered by significant international support, notably from the United States and Saudi Arabia. This support included financial aid and military equipment, escalating the conflict into a major Cold War confrontation.
The Soviet's brutal campaign, characterized by mass killings, rapes, and forced displacements, led to millions of Afghan refugees fleeing to neighboring countries and beyond. International pressure and the high cost of the occupation eventually forced the Soviets to withdraw in 1989, leaving a deeply scarred Afghanistan and setting the stage for further conflict in the years that followed, despite continued Soviet support for the Afghan government until 1992.