On 14 April 1988, the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan with the Soviet Union and United States as guarantors signed the Geneva Accords. The agreement outlined a timetable for the withdrawal of Soviet troops and pledged non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. The accords did not involve the Afghan mujahideen in the negotiations, which limited their immediate effectiveness. While it created a diplomatic pathway out of the long Soviet-Afghan war, the accords did not resolve the internal Afghan conflict or guarantee stability for the post-Soviet phase. The formal withdrawal of Soviet forces began in May 1988 and wrapped up by February 1989. The signing of these accords marked a pivot in Afghan international relations and set the stage for the next chapter of domestic struggle.
