| Summary/Abstract |
During the 1979–1989 Soviet-Afghan War, the Soviets provided training, advice, and support to the Border Guard forces of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Afghanistan shared borders with the Soviet Union, China, Iran, and Pakistan. The Soviets addressed the Iranian, Chinese, and Pakistani borders as any nation assisting another nation would. Afghanistan’s border with the Soviet Union was different. The Soviet Union increased its own border forces facing Afghanistan while moving Soviet border forces well within Afghanistan, creating a de facto Soviet border inside their neighboring country. The Afghan government ignored this challenge to national sovereignty. The Soviet border force was more than stationary outposts. It had ground maneuver and air assault battalions which swept the area in search of guerrillas.
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