Afghanistan–Yugoslavia relations
# Afghanistan–Yugoslavia relations

Afghanistan–Yugoslavia relations were historical foreign relations between Afghanistan and now split-up Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Both countries were founding member states of the Non-Aligned Movement. Prime Minister of Afghanistan Mohammed Daoud Khan represented the Kingdom of Afghanistan at the 1961 First Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade.

## History

### Soviet intervention in Afghanistan

Yugoslav diplomacy was highly alarmed by the 1979 Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, which similarly to Yugoslavia was at the time a non-aligned and socialist country outside of the Warsaw Pact. Yugoslavia officially condemned Soviet intervention and expressed "astonishment" and "deep concern" about developments in Afghanistan. The intervention happened when President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito health situation deteriorated with perception that Moscow is waiting for Tito to die in order to renew its pressure on Belgrade. The funeral of Josip Broz Tito turned into the largest state funeral in history. Yugoslavia insisted that the Non-Aligned Movement organize a special ministerial meeting where Soviet intervention would be condemned, kind of action which until then was always reserved for Western countries. India was not ready to support the Yugoslav initiative fearing it will strengthened position of Pakistan and China, while Cuba, the chair of the Movement at the time, was in fact closely aligned with Soviet Union. Following the intervention Yugoslavia limited its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan to a level of the chargé d'affaires.

