the soviets' exit from afghanistan led to a

great reduction in violence in the country, as the soviets departed, taking their military and equipment with them. The withdrawal of the Soviet Union's support for the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, which had been in place since 1979, also resulted in a dramatic decrease in the intensity of the war. With the Soviets gone, the various factions within Afghanistan were able to more easily pursue peace negotiations. This led to the establishment of the Taliban government in 1996, which was able to bring a measure of stability to much of the country. The Taliban's strict rule, however, proved oppressive to many Afghans, leading to ongoing discord within the region.

weakened economy, increased civil wars and political instability, as well as an increase in refugees seeking asylum from the conflict. The Soviet Union's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989 led to a power vacuum in the country, which allowed different warlords and mujahideen, or opposition fighters, to gain control of various parts of the country. This ushered in a period of instability and violence that lead to significant destruction and displacement, with millions of Afghans fleeing to neighboring countries like Pakistan and Iran as refugees. The civil war continued for many years until the Taliban rose to power in 1995 and declared the country to be under its rule. The Taliban's repressive regime and the US led-invasion in 2001 further exacerbated the situation in the country, leading to increased instability and more displacement of people.