Page "Military of Afghanistan" Paragraph 9

After the exile of King Zahir Shah in 1973, President Daud Khan forged stronger ties with the Soviets by signing two highly controversial military aid packages for his nation in 1973 and 1975.

For three years, Afghan armed forces and police officers received advanced Soviet weapons, as well as training by the KGB and Soviet commandos.

Due to problems with local political parties in his country, President Daud Khan decided to distance himself from the Soviets in 1976.

He made Afghanistan's ties closer to the Greater Middle East and the United States instead.