Despite renewals of the official cease-fire, Afghan…

Despite renewals of the official cease-fire, Afghan resistance to the Soviet presence continues, and the effects of the war are felt in neighboring countries: Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran now number in the millions.

Morale in the Afghan military is low.

Men are drafted only to desert at the earliest opportunity, and the Afghan military drops from its 1978 strength of 105,000 to about 20,000-30,000 by 1987.

On July 20, 1987, Najibullah meets with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to discuss the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan.

On November 30, a new constitution returns the name of the country to the Republic of Afghanistan and permits other political parties to participate in the government.

The flag retains the basic black-red-green horizontal tricolor motif, but the arms lose the image of the open Qu'ran and the five-pointed red star.

Najibullah is elected to the newly strengthened post of president.

He proposes another cease-fire, but the mujahideen refuse to deal with a "puppet government".