Final Answer:
The U.S. supported the Mujahideen in Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989) as part of a strategy to counter the Soviet Union's influence in the region, providing aid to resist Soviet forces. This support aimed to weaken the Soviet presence and eventually led to their withdrawal but also contributed to subsequent internal conflicts and the rise of factions like the Taliban.Thus the correct option is B).
Step-by-step explanation:
The Mujahideen in Afghanistan received significant support from the United States during the Soviet-Afghan War from 1979 to 1989. This conflict emerged when the Soviet Union intervened in Afghanistan to support the communist government against various Afghan resistance groups, primarily the Mujahideen. The United States, along with other countries, provided military and financial aid to the Mujahideen fighters to counter the Soviet forces.
The support for the Mujahideen was part of a broader strategy by the United States to undermine Soviet influence and power during the Cold War. The aid included weapons, training, and financial resources, empowering the Mujahideen to resist the Soviet military occupation. This support played a pivotal role in weakening the Soviet Union's position in Afghanistan and eventually contributed to their withdrawal from the country in 1989.
However, the consequences of supporting the Mujahideen also had far-reaching implications. The withdrawal of Soviet forces led to internal conflicts among various Mujahideen factions, contributing to the instability that followed in Afghanistan. Additionally, some factions within the Mujahideen later evolved into groups like the Taliban, marking a complex and often controversial legacy of the U.S. involvement in the region during that period. Thus the correct option is B).