The USSR begins massive military aid to the DRA (Democratic Republic of Afghanistan) following the revolts against President Nur Mohammed Taraki’s government.

President Taraki is killed and Hafizullah Amin emerges as DRA leader. Then he requests for large numbers of Soviet forces to combat the growing Mujahideen insurgency.

The Soviets decide to invade Afghanistan due to fears of an Iranian-style Islamist revolution and news of Amin's secret meetings with US diplomats in Afghanistan.

Babrak Kamal is installed as the DRA's new Soviet-backed leader following the Soviet assassination of Amin.

Resistance intensifies as multiple Mujahideen groups, who are supported with money and arms from the US, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, fight against Soviet forces and their DRA allies.

Two Mujahideen coalitions are formed (moderate & fundamentalist). The Mujahideen guerrilla attacks consequently become more organized and effective.

1982

The United Nations General Assembly calls for Soviet withdrawal.

1985

More than five million Afghans are now estimated to be displaced by the war, forcing many to flee neighbouring countries, Iran and Pakistan.

What if the Soviets never provided aid to Afghanistan?

1986

The US begins supplying Mujahideen with Stinger missiles, which allows them to shoot down Soviet helicopter gunships. Karmal is replaced by Mohammed Najibullah.

What if the Soviets never invaded Afghanistan?

President Taraki is killed and without Soviet forces to combat the growing Mujahideen insurgency the future of Afghanistan seems uncertain.

What if the Soviets never assassinated Amin?

Mujahideen insurgency takes over Afghanistan and the Soviet-Afghan War never happens.

Amin is able to get backing from the United States and creates a western-style Afghanistan

1988

Mujahideen groups fail without US backing and Afghanistan becomes a great western ally.

The Soviet Union signed an accord with the United States, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and agreed to withdraw its troops.

The USSR pulls their troops out of Afghanistan

The Soviet-Afghan War ends February 15, 1989

What if the United States didn't back Mujahideen groups?

Mujahideen groups never become more advanced and lose to the Soviet-backed DRA.

Amin meets with Americans and ends up getting American-aligned troops into Afghanistan.

Afghans are able to prevent Soviet invasion from severely effecting anything and become a strong western ally.

Afghanistan becomes aligned with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia views

Afghanistan regains a nonaligned status.

What if the United Nations actually mattered?

The DRA becomes a strong eastern ally

What if Mujahideen groups win anyway?

Afghanistan becomes aligned with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia views

The USSR pulls their troops out of Afghanistan and everyone is happy

What if the United States hadn't provided Mujahideen with weaponry?

The Soviets don't feel the pressure to sign the peace accord.

The Soviets make Afghanistan a part of the USSR

What if the United States, Pakistan and Afghanistan didn't want peace but instead an anti-communist Afghan-state.

Afghanistan works with NATO and becomes a beacon of democracy in the Middle East.