The Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan was a pivotal moment in Cold War history. Initiated after more than eight years of combat against insurgent forces—including the Mujahideen—the decision to withdraw came amid escalating costs and fallout from the conflict. In 1979, the Soviet Union had intervened in Afghanistan, acting to support the communist government against opposition forces. However, this mission proved far more challenging than anticipated. By the mid-1980s, the USSR was under substantial pressure both from the United States and its own citizens, who were questioning the justification of the war. The withdrawal plan, announced by President Mikhail Gorbachev in 1986 and executed in 1988, included a phased pullout of troops, culminating in the departure of the last major military units. The Soviet Union aimed to leave behind a semblance of stability while attempting to improve its international standing through diplomacy. The final exit of the Soviet forces symbolized a significant shift in global geopolitics, as it not only marked the decline of Cold War-era conflicts but also the emergence of new power dynamics in Central Asia. The conflict had devastating effects on Afghanistan, leading to long-standing instability and civil war.