Jihad against Soviet invasion

The jihad against the Soviet invasion refers to the Afghan resistance movement that emerged when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Many Afghan factions, motivated by national, religious, and anti-occupation sentiments, united to defend their homeland. They received support from various countries, including the United States and Pakistan, viewing the conflict as a fight against foreign imperialism and atheistic Communism. This jihad mobilized thousands of fighters, leading to a prolonged guerrilla war that eventually contributed to the Soviet withdrawal in 1989. The conflict was a complex struggle rooted in defending sovereignty and religious identity.