Boris Gromov: Afghanistan War was an irreparable political mistake by the Soviet leadership

The former commander of the 40 army in Afghanistan, currently, the governor of Moscow region, Colonel-General Boris Gromov has described the ten-year Afghanistan War as an irreparable political mistake by the Soviet leadership.

Boris Gromov guided the withdrawal of the Soviet troops from Afghanistan in 1988, and this week marks the 20th anniversary of the start of the pullout.

The Soviet forces stayed in Afghanistan for 9 years, one month and 12 days from 1979 to 1989. The last contingent left Afghanistan on the 15th of February 1989. “I have more than once expressed my opinion about this. I believed and believe that the war was a huge and in many respects irreparable political mistake of the leadership of the Soviet Union at the time,” the former commander of the 40 army said.

According to his opinion, military operations in the overall volume of tasks fulfilled by the Soviet forces in Afghanistan were no more than 40%. “When I was asked what the most difficult task was during the pullout, and what the main outcome was, I say believe me that we emerged with minimum losses,” says the governor of Moscow region.

Boris Gromov supported promoting economic ties between the Moscow region and Afghanistan. “Moscow region sends regularly humanitarian aid to Afghanistan,” he said.