| ID | 120455 |
| Title Proper | UK response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan |
| Other Title Information | proposals for a neutral and non-aligned Afghanistan, 1980-1981 |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Smith, Richard |
| Publication | 2013. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Although not unexpected, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was still largely a shock to the West. It was the first time since the Second World War that the Soviets had directly intervened in a country outside the Warsaw Pact. Despite the intervention eventually being seen as Moscow's 'Vietnam' the West was initially unsure about what the invasion meant for stability in the region or the future conduct of East-West relations. In response to the crisis the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) proposed that Afghanistan revert to a neutral and non-aligned status in an attempt to create the basis for a viable political settlement, one that would allow the Soviet Union to withdraw troops without losing face. It launched the proposal in early 1980, lobbying other countries to support and champion the idea, culminating in a visit to Moscow by the Foreign Secretary, Lord Carrington, in July 1981. In this early phase of Soviet intervention the British proposals were premature but not without merit. They anticipated the strategy the Soviets would eventually adopt in their attempt to achieve an orderly withdrawal. |
| `In' analytical Note | Cambridge Review of International Affairs Vol. 26, No.2; Jun 2013: p.355-373 |
| Journal Source | Cambridge Review of International Affairs Vol. 26, No.2; Jun 2013: p.355-373 |
| Key Words | Afghanistan ; Soviet Invasion ; Warsaw Pact ; East - West Relations ; Soviet Union |