What was the USSR's goal in invading or conquering Afghanistan? What did the Soviets do in the other -Stans? How would Afghanistan be different today if they had been successful? | AskHistorians Archive Observer

What was the USSR's goal in invading or conquering Afghanistan? What did the Soviets do in the other -Stans? How would Afghanistan be different today if they had been successful?

by EconomistMagazine

estherke

Please resubmit this question without the what-if part. We don't allow hypothetical questions, those should be directed to /r/HistoricalWhatIf.