Mission Viejo High School Model United Nations
33rd Annual Conference
“Orbis Unum"
Historical Security Council
My name is Matthew Imler and I will be your Vice Chair for the Novice Historical Security
Council at the MVHSMUN 2016 Conference. I am a junior at Mission and I have been in the
MUN program since last year. I have been to multiple conferences and won multiple awards.
MUN is one of my favorite extra-curricular programs on campus. At MVHS I participate in
many clubs, including FCA. I am also in varsity cross country and track and field. Outside of
school, I love to snowboard in the winter, go to Lake Havasu in the summer, but running takes
up most of my free time. I am looking forward to meeting all of you at the MVHSMUN
Conference, and I am interested to what you bring in store for our committee.
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
I. Background
During this time in the 1980’s, the Cold War, a battle for global influence between the
U.S. and the Soviet Union, was very tense. From the Cuban missile crisis to the Space Race,
there was competition between these two superpowers for global dominance of their rivaling
political ideals. The rival ideas: United States was democratic while the USSR was communist.
In 1979, the Soviets invaded their falling communist ally, Afghanistan, to support the newlyformed communist government which was threatened by a popular uprising. This conflict began
one year before the rebellion, when the Afghan communist party overthrew the previous
government. President Mohammed Daoud was forced out of office, and the communist party
lead by Mohammad Nijibaullah took power. The new government imposed strict reforms such as
new state religion, human rights, and land redistribution. The people of Afghanistan did not
favor this new government and protests broke out. To combat this issue, the communist
government imprisoned hundreds of citizens and executed thousands who opposed their policies.
The protest turned violent, and the Soviet Union decided that there was no other way to preserve
their government in Afghanistan than to invade the country.
In late December of 1979, The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan which led to years of
brutal conflict. Muslim rebels, called the Mujahedeen, fought the Soviet forces and were
supported indirectly by the US. Thus began a proxy war in Afghanistan where the US indirectly
supported the Mujahedeen by selling Russian-made weapons to throw suspicion of American
involvement. Despite the Soviet Union’s military superiority, the rebels use strategic guerilla
warfare to cause chaos for the larger military. The Soviet-backed Afghan forces only gained
about 20% of the land while 80% of it was in the hands of the Mujahedeen. Many Muslim
supporters of the Mujahedeen in neighboring countries came to Afghanistan to fight. With this
invasion came many refugees who sought shelter away from war zones. This has now become an
international issue which needed to be addressed by the UN. The Security Council’s job is to
find a peaceful end to the conflict for all nations, both indirectly and directly, involved.
II. United Nations Involvement:
In the early 1980s, the Security Council tried to make a response in retaliation to the
Mission Viejo High School Model United Nations
33rd Annual Conference
“Orbis Unum"
invasion; however, this was unsuccessful due to Soviet Russia’s ability to veto. As a result, the
General assembly took matters into their own hands and passed resolution ES-6/2. This
resolution called for the Soviets to withdrawal and humanitarian assistance from other nations.
More resolutions were passed following ES-6/2. Non- profit organizations such as United
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), United States Development Programme (UNDP), and World Food Programme
(WFP) got involved in 1989.
III. Possible Solutions:
Delegates, now is the time to propose solutions that will work in union with your
country’s policy on the issue. The Dias would be in favor of unique solutions that might not be
brought up otherwise. It is important to understand that we will begin the topic on December
27th, 1979 when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Make sure that your solution
incorporates not only the war at hand but also other issue like refugees and possible US
involvement. Consider how this conflict not only effects the people of Afghanistan but the
international community overall, particularly the relations between the US and USSR. One direct
solution is to send UN peacekeepers to this country at war to care for the refuges and to strive to
keep peace. Another solution is to have a multilateral peace talk between countries who are
directly involved in this crisis. You country might have changed to different governments from
the time this has happened to present. Again, this is the Security Council and funding will be
handled by the UN.
IV. Country Blocs:
Western Bloc: Most western countries voted to pass the resolutions to remove the
Soviets out of Afghanistan.
Middle East Bloc: These countries are split down the middle, about half endorse
the Soviets and half want them out.
Asian Bloc: These countries are relatively unaffected in this crisis; however, each
specific country has different views.
African Bloc: Again, these countries are split down the middle on favoring or
disproving the Soviet’s actions.
V. Questions to Consider:
1. Has your country dealt with an issue similar to this before? If so, how did you
approach the issue?
2. Will the UN have a physical presence in Afghanistan?
3. Which side does your country support and why?
4. What is an effective way to end this invasion?
5. How do you keep the refugees safe?
Mission Viejo High School Model United Nations
33rd Annual Conference
“Orbis Unum"
6. How do you address possible US involvement?
Work Cited:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1523091/mujahideen
http://www.legalserviceindia.com/historicalcases/afghan.htm
http://geography.about.com/od/countryinformation/a/ussr.htm
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/russia_invasion_afghanistan.htm
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1499983/Soviet-invasion-of-Afghanistan
http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/08/the-soviet-war-in-afghanistan-19791989/100786/
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1977-1980/soviet-invasion-afghanistan
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-july-dec06-soviet_10-10/
http://www.e-ir.info/2014/10/09/why-did-the-soviet-union-invade-afghanistan-in-1979/
http://www.un.org/News/dh/latest/afghan/un-afghan-history.shtml#1980s