The document discusses the history of Soviet involvement in Afghanistan. It notes that the Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev, was mentally ill and distrustful of religious nations. The Afghan leader, Babrak Karmal, asked Brezhnev for help expanding Afghanistan and making it part of the Soviet Union. This led to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 in order to install a communist government. However, outside of Kabul Soviet influence was weak as Islamic leaders opposed Soviet attempts to reform Afghan culture.