The Taliban government, in a statement it released, said that the withdrawal of Soviet forces was the result of the Afghan people’s long struggle, sacrifices, and resistance. The statement said that this event demonstrates the determination of Afghans to defend the country’s independence and protect religious values.
The statement added that Afghanistan has, over the past more than one hundred years, emerged three times from foreign occupation, and that future aggressors should learn lessons from these historical experiences. It also called on Afghans to remain vigilant against all kinds of threats and conspiracies and to safeguard national unity and Islamic values.
For context, the forces of the former Soviet Union launched a military invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979. Soviet troops remained in Afghanistan for nearly nine years, but due to prolonged fighting, internal problems, and international pressure, they were eventually forced to withdraw.
The process of the Soviet withdrawal began in May 1988 and was completed on February 15, 1989. This day corresponds to the 26th of Dalwa on the Afghan calendar and is observed each year in Afghanistan as the anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet forces.
