Editing Soviet–Afghan War (section)

=== April 1988: The Geneva Accords ===
{{Main|Geneva Accords (1988)}}
Following lengthy negotiations, the [[Geneva Accords (1988)|Geneva Accords]] was signed in 1988 between Afghanistan and Pakistan.{{sfn|Amstutz|1994|p=335}} Supported by the Soviet Union and the United States respectively, the two Asian countries agreed to refrain from any form of interference in each other's territory. They also agreed to allow Afghan refugees in Pakistan to voluntarily return. The two superpowers agreed to halt their interference in Afghanistan, which included a Soviet withdrawal.<ref name="nsaessay" />

The United Nations set up a special [[United Nations Good Offices Mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan|mission]] to oversee the process. In this way, President Najibullah had stabilized his political position enough to begin matching Moscow's moves toward withdrawal. Among other things the Geneva Accords identified the US and Soviet non-intervention in the internal affairs of Pakistan and Afghanistan and a timetable for full Soviet withdrawal. The agreement on withdrawal held, and on 15 February 1989, the last Soviet troops departed on schedule from Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=Alison |title=Last Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan intervention ends |work=Newsday Moscow Bureau |agency=Newsday |date=16 February 1989}}</ref>