History glossary
mujahideen
Islamic guerrilla fighters, especially the Afghan resistance groups that fought Soviet forces in the 1980s.
- Category
- Armed movement
- Region
- Afghanistan
- Date range
- especially 1979-1989
What it means
Mujahideen means those engaged in jihad or struggle. In the Cold War context, it often refers to Afghan resistance fighters who fought the Soviet occupation after 1979, receiving support from Pakistan, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and others.
