Insurgent groups known collectively as the mujahideen , as well as smaller Maoist groups , fought Hostile_encounter a guerrilla war against the Soviet Army and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan government , mostly in the rural countryside .

The mujahideen groups were backed primarily by the United States , Saudi Arabia , and Pakistan , making it Causation a Cold War proxy war .

Soviet troops occupied Control the cities and main arteries of communication , while the mujahideen waged guerrilla war in small groups operating Being_in_operation in the almost 80 percent of the country that was outside government and Soviet control , almost exclusively being the rural countryside .

The Soviets used Using their air power to deal Resolve_problem harshly with both rebels Hostile_encounter and civilians , levelling Cause_change_of_position_on_a_scale villages to deny safe haven to the mujahideen , destroying Destroying vital irrigation ditches , and laying Placing millions of land mines .

The Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan has been accused Judgment_communication by India and the international community of supporting Supporting and training Education_teaching mujahideen .