The role of Pakistan and Iran in the creation of seven and eight anti-Soviet Sunni and Shiite parties in Afghanistan (1979-1989)

with the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan, the Islamic opposition intensified, supported by the Muslim bloc, Western powers and China. Headquarters of Islamic reactionary movements were established on the territory of Pakistan. The most significant of them subsequently merged into the “Peshawar Seven” (“Union of Seven”). Nevertheless, there was no unity within the Islamic union: some parties held fundamentalist views, while others held traditionalist views. The question of restoring the monarchy in Afghanistan remained open. There were also contradictions on the national issue. But, most importantly, various groups fought for the provision of funding. The United States was the main sponsor of the right-wing Sunni Mujahideen movement. They supplied ammunition, vehicles, and high-tech weapons to the Afghan Mujahideen. These operations were carried out through Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt with the help of the MI6, CIA and ISI special services. China also took an active part in the supply of weapons. In addition, the United States waged an active information and ideological war against the USSR. Along with the right-wing Sunni Islamic movement, the right-wing Shiite movement emerged, the center of which was the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Iranian government, which has just established a new theocratic government, has also used the Afghan conflict for its own purposes. There was also no agreement within the right-wing Shiite forces, however, under pressure from Iran, they formed the “Shiite Eight” (“Union of Eight”). Their program practically did not differ from the one voiced by representatives of the right-wing Sunni forces. They even tried to interact with some representatives of the right-wing Sunni movement.

right-wing Sunni Afghan parties, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, USA, USSR, PDPA, Afghanistan, Islamic Republic of Iran, right-wing Shiite movement