In 1989, when the Cold War ended, the Red Army had already withdrawn from the country, thereby admitting its defeat. Following the Soviet Union, the US withdrew from the conflict, too, and at that moment, the second Afghan war started – a proxy war between regional neighbors over power in the Hindu Kush, disguised as a civil war.
1989年，冷战告终，苏联从阿富汗撤军，实质上承认在苏阿战争中失败。美国也随即撤出。于是阿富汗内战再度爆发——说是内战，其实是一场代理人战争，是盘踞在兴都库什山区和武装力量和邻近的各部武装之间的一场混战。