Afghanistan's Cold War Dynamics

The video discusses the US-Soviet competition in Afghanistan during the Cold War, starting in the 1950s. Initially, this rivalry was peaceful, focusing on economic development and aid, with the US and Soviet Union vying for influence through various projects. The Soviets focused on northern Afghanistan, while the US took responsibility for the south. The strategic interest for the Soviets was due to Afghanistan's proximity to Soviet Central Asia, while the US saw it as a way to undermine Soviet influence. The situation escalated in 1979 with the Soviet invasion, leading to a violent conflict where the US covertly supported Afghan resistance against Soviet troops.

What was the initial form of American-Soviet competition in Afghanistan during the 1950s?

• Military confrontation

• Space race

• Economic development and aid

• Cultural exchange programs

Which part of Afghanistan did the Soviet Union focus its development aid on?

• Eastern Afghanistan

• Northern Afghanistan

• Western Afghanistan

• Southern Afghanistan

Why did the United States see Afghanistan as a strategic area during the Cold War?

• It was rich in natural resources

• It was close to the Soviet Union

• It had a large population

• It was a gateway to the Middle East

What event marked the shift from peaceful competition to violent conflict in Afghanistan?

• The Cuban Missile Crisis

• The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

• The fall of the Berlin Wall

• The Vietnam War

How did the United States respond to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?

• By imposing economic sanctions on the Soviet Union

• By sending troops to Afghanistan

• By negotiating a peace treaty

• By covertly supporting Afghan resistance