قیام 24 حوت 1357 هرات از نظر جنرالان شوروی و حکومت کمونیستی افغانستان
Description
The Uprising of March 15, 1979 in Herat; The Soviet Generals' and the Afghan Communist Government's Narrative of a Pivotal Rebellion Author: Teaching Assistant Aziz Rahman Hanafi and Assistant Professor Dr. Mahammad Naiem Muslim Faculty of Sharia, Herat University Abstract The uprising and resistance against the colonization and occupation of Islamic countries has been one of the most important characteristics of the Islamic Ummah throughout history. This is evidenced by the numerous sacrifices and martyrdoms across the Islamic world from east to west and from north to south. In this context, the uprising of March 15, 1979, by the people of Herat and their loyal children to religion and homeland in the 17th Division stands against the symbol of oppression, tyranny, irreligion, and the unrestrained communist regime of the Democratic Republic and its supporter, the Soviet Socialist Union. This article aims to examine from a historical perspective, taking into account the analysis of the narratives of Soviet generals and the then Afghan communist government, what their reactions were to the March 15, 1979, Herat uprising and what impact this uprising had on the Soviet decision to save its puppet government. This research is based on a library method using highly confidential Politburo documents, Soviet reports on the Herat uprising, and eyewitness accounts. In fact, the Herat uprising on March 15, 1979, as the first widespread popular uprising against the then communist government and its Soviet supporter, played a decisive role in the political and military developments of the subsequent decades in Afghanistan and the region. The mentioned documents show that the Soviet Union, fearing military losses and the weakening of its political position in saving the Afghan communist government, limited itself to providing military and financial aid, although it later changed its stance. However, the then government considered the uprising as a "rebellion of bandits" and the result of foreign provocations, and resorted to its bloody suppression. Meanwhile, popular sources describe it as a reaction to anti- Islamic and oppressive policies. Keywords: Uprising, March 15, Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, Soviet Socialist Union, People's Party, Parcham.
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Steps to reproduce
This is a historical, analytical, and archival study focused on the March 15, 1979 (24 Hut 1357) uprising in Herat, Afghanistan. The methodology involved evaluating primary and secondary historical sources, including converted memoirs of Soviet generals and records of the communist regime, to assess the reactions and impacts of both factions. Crucially, the research analyzes the causal factors of the popular uprising—specifically state interference in the citizens' religious and social affairs—while demonstrating the inherent structural weakness of puppet regimes when confronted with spontaneous public mobilization.
Institutions
- Herat UniversityHerat, Herat