Atlas of Battles

campaign, Cold War

Operation Curtain

Operation Curtain was a campaign fought in 1984 at Afghanistan–Iran border, in what is now Afghanistan; it lasted about 4 years. Its exact site is not recorded; the atlas places it at Afghanistan–Iran border. It was part of the Soviet-Afghan War, which ran from 1979 to 1989. The recorded result: Tactical Soviet and Afghan government Success; 12–15% of supply caravans intercepted; Heavy losses for the Mujahideen. Recorded strength: 11,000 intelligence and special forces personnel against Tens of thousands of local and foreign fighters.

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Fought1984lasted about 4 years
WhereAfghanistan–Iran border, Afghanistan29.861N, 60.883E, placed at the location, approximate
OutcomeTactical Soviet and Afghan government Success; 12–15% of supply caravans intercepted; Heavy losses for the Mujahideen
BelligerentsAfghanistan; Soviet UnionagainstAfghan Mujahideen; Pakistan; Iran
Casualties and lossesSpecial forces only: 570 killed; 11 missingand17,000+ killed
Part ofSoviet-Afghan War1979 to 1989

Where it sits in the Soviet-Afghan War

Operation Baikal-79, 1979Tajbeg Palace assault, 1979Siege of Khost, 1980Panjshir offensives, 1980Marmoul offensives, 1983Siege of Urgun, 1983raids inside Soviet Union during Soviet–Afghan war, 1984Operation Curtain, 1984Battle of Maravar Pass, 1985Battle near the village of Afridge, 1985Operation Trap, 1986Battle of Jaji, 1987Battle of Arghandab, 1987Operation Magistral, 1987Battle for Hill 3234, 1988Operation Arrow, 198819791988Operation Curtain, 1984
16 placed engagements of the Soviet-Afghan War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date1984 (year precision)
to 1988
PlaceAfghanistan–Iran border, Afghanistan
29.861N, 60.883E
KindCampaign, Cold War
Strength11,000 intelligence and special forces personnelTens of thousands of local and foreign fighters
Casualties and lossesSpecial forces only: 570 killed; 11 missing17,000+ killed
Commanders
  • Mohammad Najibullah
  • Shahnawaz Tanai
  • Mohammed Rafie
Operation CurtainOperation CurtainZahedanZabol100 km29.861N, 60.883E
Placed at Afghanistan–Iran border; the exact site is not recorded. with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1984

Operation Curtain is one of 4,429 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 83 in present-day Afghanistan.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q21644073, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Operation Curtain, revision 1380943204, read 2026-11-15, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.