1990 Afghan coup attempt: Difference between revisions

Tanai, who has been described alternatively as a "radical [[Pashtun nationalism|nationalist]]" and a "hard-line [[Communism|communist]]" of the radical [[Khalq]] faction of the [[People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Coll|first=Steve|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/52814066|title=Ghost wars : the secret history of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden, from the Soviet invasion to September 10, 2001|date=2004|publisher=Penguin Press|isbn=1-59420-007-6|location=New York|oclc=52814066}}</ref> was fiercely anti-[[Afghan mujahideen|mujahideen]] yet launched an unlikely alliance with the [[Islamic fundamentalismIslamism|Islamic fundamentalistIslamist]] (but also nationalist) rebel [[Gulbuddin Hekmatyar]] of the ''[[Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin]]'' party. Tanai was against Najibullah's peace plans and supported a military solution to the [[Afghan Civil War (1989–1992)|conflict]]. Hekmatyar ordered his fighters to intensify their attacks against the Kabul regime in support of Tanai. The success of the coup was taken for granted. A previous coup attempt by Khalqists was foiled in December 1989, to which Tanai has been linked.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1990-03-07/news/mn-1897_1_coup-attempt|title=Afghanistan Army Units Attempt Coup : Asia: President Najibullah declares rebellion was crushed by loyal forces. Troops hunt for hard-line defense minister believed to have sparked the battle.|first=MARK|last=FINEMAN|date=7 March 1990|publisher=|via=LA Times}}</ref> The coup occurred a year following the [[Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/03/13/Afghan-guerrillas-profit-from-failed-coup/4048637304400/|title=Afghan guerrillas profit from failed coup|publisher=}}</ref>