The Jaimet-e-Islami group of mujahideen waged a war with some help from the United States against the Soviets from 1980 onward and continued to do so for 9 years as the untrained group of fighters under Massoud notched up improbable triumphs over the Soviets. Following heavy casualties and defeats that left them red faced, the Soviet leadership withdrew their forces from Afghanistan. It was largely due to Massoud’s dogged fight against them.