2.6 Afghanistan c.1979-c.2001
Trace invasion, post-war instability, Al-Qaeda, anti-US strategy and the global response to 9/11.
How to study WJEC GCSE History
Confirm the exact option route, build chronology across its five content areas, analyse evidence in context and reach a concept-led historical judgement.
Core concepts
Concept 1
2.6.1 The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan 1979-1989
Exam cue: Use this as Unit 2 only if the centre selected option 2.6 and modern is not used in Units 1 or 3; apply the live on-screen enquiry materials.
Concept 2
2.6.2 Consequences of the end of the war
Exam cue: Build a precise chronology across the five specified areas, then connect evidence to the historical concept named by the task.
Concept 3
2.6.3 The rise of Al-Qaeda
Exam cue: Use provenance, content and context to analyse sources; compare the construction and evidence of interpretations before judging them.
Concept 4
2.6.4 Al-Qaeda's targeting of the US as a centre of Western power
Concept 5
2.6.5 The 'Global War on Terrorism'
Concept 6
Apply continuity and change, similarity and difference, significance and impact, and cause and consequence to the selected historical topic.
Concept 7
Analyse historical sources in context and distinguish them from later historical interpretations.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Studying this option when it is not part of the centre's entered combination, or blending it with the alternative option in the same period.
Guardrail: Study only the centre-entered option and verify that Units 1-3 use medieval, early modern and modern exactly once.
Repeating a medieval, early modern or modern period across Units 1-3 instead of forming the required three-period route.
Guardrail: Study only the centre-entered option and verify that Units 1-3 use medieval, early modern and modern exactly once.
Treating unassessed background as a direct question target, or confusing a contemporary source with a later interpretation.
Guardrail: Do not import outgoing WJEC or Eduqas structures, combine alternative options, confuse sources with interpretations or treat background content as directly assessed.
Memory anchors
Soviet invasion
Cold War context, Afghan politics, intervention and resistance shaped the 1979-1989 war.
War's aftermath
Withdrawal, civil conflict, displacement and regional intervention created new instability.
Rise of Al-Qaeda
Networks, ideology, leadership and conflict experience enabled transnational organisation.
Targeting the US
Analyse stated aims, earlier attacks, propaganda and US policy without collapsing distinct actors.
Global War on Terrorism
9/11, Operation Enduring Freedom, the Taliban and racialised responses shaped consequences in 2001.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
Why did the USSR intervene in 1979?
Who resisted Soviet forces?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
What is Pass Harbor?
Completely free exam prep for 247 UK exams.
- Practice questions
- Flashcards
- Study guides
- Mock exams
- No registration
- No paywall
- Start instantly
“No more expensive exam prep. Quality study tools should be accessible to everyone.”