Contents

Proxy war: role of external elements........................................................3

1. Introduction......................................................................................3

2. Reasons behind proxy war.................................................................3

1. Mutual Assured Destruction (fear of nuclear holocaust).........................3

2. Less expensive..............................................................................3

3. Independent conflicts turned into proxy wars........................................3

4. Differences in military strength..........................................................4

5. Public not in support of direct war....................................................4

6. Fear of international reaction / sanctions............................................4

3. Proxy war strategy............................................................................4

4. History of proxy wars........................................................................4

1. Greek civil war (1946-1949)..........................................................4

2. Korean war (1950-1953)..............................................................5

3. Suez Crises (1956-1957)..............................................................5

4. Tibetan uprising (1959-1973).........................................................5

5. Vietnam war (1957-1975).............................................................5

6. Indo-Pak war of 1971....................................................................5

7. Angolan civil war (1974-2002).......................................................5

8. Afghan-Soviet war (1979-1989).....................................................5

9. Lebanon war 2006 and Gaza War 2008-2009..................................6

5. Ongoing proxy wars..........................................................................6

1. Arab-Israeli Conflict (1948-present)..................................................6

2. Syrian civil war (2011-present).......................................................6

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 3. Pro-Russia conflict in Ukraine (2014-present)...................................6

4. War in Afghanistan (2001-present)..................................................6

5. Military operation against terrorists in Pakistan (2014-present)...............6

6. Saudi-led intervention in Yemen (2015-present).................................6

7. Libyan civil war (2014-present)......................................................6

8. Iraqi insurgency (2011-present).......................................................7

6. Effects of proxy wars........................................................................7

1. Deaths, injuries, disabilities...............................................................7

2. Displacements and refugees.............................................................7

3. Loss of infrastructure......................................................................7

4. Loss of money..............................................................................7

5. Destabilizing effect..........................................................................7

7. Conclusion.......................................................................................7

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Proxy war: role of external elements
1. Introduction
A proxy war is a conflict between two nations where neither country directly
engages the other. It frequently involves both countries fighting their opponent’s
allies or assisting their allies in fighting their opponents. It has been common
after the WWII and during the rise of the Cold War. Most of the proxy wars
were motivated by the fear of the direct conflict between USA and USSR that
would result is nuclear holocaust. Currently, many proxy wars are being fought
in Middle East, South Asia and other parts of the world that are serious
threats to the security and stability of the world.

2. Reasons behind proxy war

1. Mutual Assured Destruction (fear of nuclear holocaust)
The main reason behind the proxy wars has been the threat of nuclear
holocaust resulting in mutually assured destruction. Drastic disaster that resulted
from drop of nuclear bombs on Heroshima and Nagasaki terrified the whole
world.
2. Less expensive
Proxy war is comparatively less expensive than the direct engagement in war.
A country may supply training, funds, weapons, intelligence, personnel, or
shelter or some or all of them. In direct engagement, everything comes at
stake.
3. Independent conflicts turned into proxy wars
Independent conflicts may turn into proxy wars due to the intervention of
external powers. For example, Spanish Civil War between Nationalists and
Republicans turned into a proxy war when Nazi German and its allies started
supporting Nationalists while USSR, Maxico and others started supporting
Republicans.
4. Differences in military strength

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Proxy war is also preferred when there is a difference in military strength of
two countries. For example, in Arab-Israeli conflict, Israel is far superior in
military strength than the Arabs; therefore, Arabs are blamed that they resort to
funding terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas.
5. Public not in support of direct war
Proxy war is also preferred when public is not in support of direct war. For
example, in Soviet-Afghan war, American public had no interest in fighting a
direct war. Therefore, USA supported Afghan Mujahideen against the USSR.
6. Fear of international reaction / sanctions
Saudi Arabia and Iran have very tense relations. They may be punished
economically by the imposition of trade sanctions if they go against each other
in direct war. Therefore, they are fighting each other through proxy wars in
Syria and Yemen.

3. Proxy war strategy

 Sponsoring country may provide immense support to its client to have
quick win or may provide sufficient support to client to ensure the
continuance of the conflict until the opponents retreat.
 Sponsoring country may support a state or non-state actor and may
provide training, funds, weapons, intelligence, personnel, or shelter or
some or all of them to its client.
 It may have one or more clients.
 It may also support a country that has a client.

4. History of proxy wars

1. Greek civil war (1946-1949)
It was fought between Greek government, supported by US and UK, and Greek
Communist Rebels which were supported by Yugoslavia, Albania and Bulgaria.
Communist rebels were defeated.

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2. Korean war (1950-1953)
It was fought between US-led UN forces and Communists in North Korea and
China. USSR also supported the Communists. Communist North Korea and pro-
West South Korea were established.
3. Suez Crises (1956-1957)
It was fought between Israel, supported by UK and France, and Egypt,
supported by US, USSR, and UN. Israel withdrew from Sinai.
4. Tibetan uprising (1959-1973)
It was fought between Tibet, supported by US and Nepal, and People’s
Republic of China. Tibet uprising was crushed.
5. Vietnam war (1957-1975)
It was fought between anti-communist forces (South Vietnam, US, South
Korea, Australia), supported by Canada, West Germany, and UK, and
communist forces (North Vietnam, Viet Cong, Khmer Rouge), supported by
China, USSR, North Korea, and East Germany). Communist won and
Communist Vietnam was established over both North and South Vietnam.
6. Indo-Pak war of 1971
It was fought by India and Bangladesh, supported by USSR, with Pakistan,
supported by US, China, and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh was created and CFL was
converted into LoC.
7. Angolan civil war (1974-2002)
It was fought between communist MPLA, supported by USSR, with anti-
communist UNITA, supported by USA. UNITA has since been a formidable
political party.
8. Afghan-Soviet war (1979-1989)
It was fought by Afghan Mujahdeen, supported by US, UK, China, Saudi
Arabia and Pakistan, with USSR and Afghan Government. USSR withdrew from
Afghanistan and was later disintegrated.

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9. Lebanon war 2006 and Gaza War 2008-2009
These were a part of Israel-Iran proxy conflicts.

5. Ongoing proxy wars

1. Arab-Israeli Conflict (1948-present)
It is being fought between Israeli Jews, supported by UK, US, and Saudi
Arabia, and Palestini Arabs, supported by Iran, Syria, and Qatar.
2. Syrian civil war (2011-present)
It is being fought between family dictatorship, supported by Iran, Russia, and
Iraq, and Syrian people (named Syrian Rebels), supported by Saudi Arabia,
Qatar, US, Turkey, Libya, UK, France and EU. Various conflicts are going in
Syria like the internal wahabi conflict, Iranian-Saudi conflict, Qatar-Saudi
conflict, Sunni-Shiiyat conflict, US-Russia conflict, and Hezbollah-Future
Movement conflict.
3. Pro-Russia conflict in Ukraine (2014-present)
It is being fought between Ukraine government, supported by US and EU, and
Ukraine insurgents, supported by Russia and Novorossiya.
4. War in Afghanistan (2001-present)
It is being fought by US-led NATO forces, supported by US, UK and Pakistan
with Afghan Taliban.
5. Military operation against terrorists in Pakistan (2014-present)
It is being fought by Pakistani Army with the terrorists who are supported by
India and Russia to fight a proxy war in Pakistan. Gulf money is also at play
in Pakistan.
6. Saudi-led intervention in Yemen (2015-present)
It is being fought by Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia, supported by nine
Arab States and USA with the Houthi Rebels / insurgents, supported by Iran.
7. Libyan civil war (2014-present)
It is being fought by Libyan government (Council of Deputies), supported by
Egypt, UAE, Israel and US with the dissident islamist groups including new

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General National Congress (GNS), ISIS, and Ansar Ul-Shariyat (Libya)
supported by Qatar, Sudan, Turkey, and Iran.
8. Iraqi insurgency (2011-present)
It is being fought by Iraqi government (predominantly Shiyat), supported by
Iran, Syria, Russia, and US with the ISIS (Iraqi insurgents and military
group), supported by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.

6. Effects of proxy wars

1. Deaths, injuries, disabilities
Proxy wars result in tens of thousands of deaths, injuries and disabilities
because they last longer than direct wars.
2. Displacements and refugees
Proxy wars also result in tens of thousands of displacements and refugees
because of long lasting military actions which often target civilians.
3. Loss of infrastructure
In proxy wars, attacks are often made to destroy the infrastructure like bridges,
grid stations, universities, hospitals, houses etc of the opponent. Proxy wars are
more dangerous than the direct wars.
4. Loss of money
Sponsoring countries spend huge amount of money to support their clients.
Billions of dollars are spent annually in proxy wars—a non-value added activity.
5. Destabilizing effect
Proxy wars destabilize the countries and the region. For example, proxy wars
between Saudi Arab and Iran, between Israel and Palestine, between Pakistan
and India, between USA and USSR and China have resulted in destabilization
of their respective regions.
7. Conclusion
Proxy war is an indirect war and there are multiple reasons why countries opt
for proxy wars instead of direct wars. Many proxy wars have been fought in
the past and many are ongoing in different regions of the world. Proxy wars
are more drastic and destructive than direct wars and these last long too.
These are major threat to the stability and security of the world.
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