What are the appropriate left-wing takes on the pit of chaos that has been Afghanistan since the 1970s?
I've made some educated guesses from skimreading without looking too much into theory, but honestly it seems like a perfect sandpit for unusual factional takes, odd critical support and obscure doctrinal differences, as well as just being an utterly confusing mess and a good excuse to post about the Soviet intervention in general. So feel free to tell me that one of the people I've called good is actually terrible and explain why, or point out where I've got history wrong.
So with no further ado, let's look at the main factional events. If you can figure out who you support throughout all of them and explain why in this thread, you get to control of Afghanistan for the next 15 minutes!
1970s
1973 Afghan coup d'état: Mohammed Daoud Khan vs King Mohammed Zahir Shah: Mohammed Daoud good?
There's some factional stuff in the PDPA worth mentioning ( en.wikipedia.org
Saur Revolution: Mohammed Daoud Khan vs People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan: PDPA good?
PDPA win. Nur Mohammad Taraki installed as Prime Minister. The snazzy red flag is adopted
Factional Struggle! President Nur Mohammad Taraki vs Foreign Minister Hafizullah Amin: ???
Hafizullah Amin has Taraki killed and becomes President. Soviets intervene in Afghanistan.
Operation Storm 333: Hafizullah Amin vs Babrak Karmal+Soviets: Karmal is Soviet backed so Karmal good?
1980s
The little factional sidequest is only one little thing also I forgot to mention the country is in civil war by this stage. At some point the green, black and red flag replaces the USSR style one
Soviets + Democratic Republic of Afghanistan v. Mujahideen/Taliban with US backing is easy: Soviets Good. OR IS IT? Apparently the Chinese provided backing for the Mujahideen too.
Soviets begin to wind down operations. Democratic Republic of Afghanistan becomes Republic of Afghanistan and seeks compromise with non-socialist groups. Elections held, ending single party rule. Mujahideen boycott.
Republic of Afghanistan minus Soviets vs Mujahideen: RoA good.
Republic of Afghanistan adopts new constitution declaring itself an Islamic Republic. Ruling "People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan" becomes the Socdemish(?) "Watan party."
Republic of Afghanistan vs Mujahideen: Despite reformism presumably still RoA good.
1990s
USSR collapses. Republic of Afghanistan falls shortly afterwards, Peshawar Accords create interim government of some Mujahideen forces. Islamic State of Afghanistan formed. Civil war begins between Islamic State of Afghanistan and the Taliban's Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Islamic State of Afghanistan vs Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: ?
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan wins. Northern Alliance is formed from remains of Islamic State of Afghanistan
Taliban vs Northern Alliance: ?
2000s + 2010s
9/11 happens. USA asks Afghanistan to hand over Bin Laden. They don't. ISAF invades.
UK+USA+Friends (basically half the planet including ex-yugos, Romania, Albania, Mongolia and Tonga for some reason, but not Russia, China or Iran) + Northern Alliance vs Taliban and allies: ????
Taliban falls. Karzai government created from Northern Alliance forces. Taliban insurgency begins. Several groups splinter from Taliban.
ISAF+Afghan Government vs Taliban, Al Qaeda, ISIL-KP, Pakistani Taliban, Taliban splinter groups, Foreign fighters and god knows who else, and I wouldn't be surprised if half of these guys are fighting each other as well: ?
Who do you critically support against who? Why, when, where, and what? And if that's too confusing for you - it certainly is for me - just post some helicopters with stars on them flying low while you think through whether or not you critically support Khalqs against Parcham reformism.