The Soviet Union And Afghanistan Relations, 1919-1945

Abstract

The aim of this article is to examine the bilateral relations between Afghanistan and the Soviet Union between years of 1919-1945 and the effects of this relationship on both sides. Tsarist Russia has always been interested in Afghanistan. This interest was continued by its successor and heir, the Soviet Union. Bolsheviks, who were in charge in the first years of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union also approached international politics and foreign policy with an ideological perspective and acted in anticipation of a revolution throughout the world. There have been some exceptions to this situation. Afghanistan was one of them. During the first years, the Soviets found it useful to establish a normal bilateral relationship instead of encouraging a revolution in Afghanistan, which had common borders and where political, social and economic conditions were suitable. In fact, the Soviets supported the authoritarian Afghan King Amanullah Khan, who was facing an uprising due to the modernization program he tried to implement in his country. At that time in terms of Soviet interests unstable Afghanistan was not welcomed, instead an Afghanistan that could cooperate with the Soviets even if its administration was authoritarian. One of the most important reason for this decision was the Basmachis, who hide and found sanctuary in Afghanistan and tried destabilize the Soviet Central Asia. In order to suppress the Basmachi Uprising, it was an indispensable necessity to take away the supply and logistics opportunities in Afghanistan. Likewise, it was considered strategically appropriate for Afghanistan to remain as a buffer zone, as it was in the 19th century. As a result, the British and Soviet forces will not come into direct confrontation. Therefore, the Soviets postponed the option of intervening in internal affairs in order to control Afghanistan until the invasion in 1979.