A.the war in Afghanistan had drained the nation’s resources
The war caused political instability, especially in the areas belonging to the Soviet Union in Asia that was bordering with Afghan territories. It amounted to a huge economic effort that drained resources needed to boost other areas that needed urgent reforms. Some major industrial sectors needed urgent reforms in order to continue competing in the ever globalized world.
The great amount of economic and human losses gave a bad international image of the USSR. It is often compared to the Vietnam initiative by the US.
Mijael Gorbachev publicly acknowledged to the world that the war in Afghanistan was a mistake. He initiated the Perestroika and the Glasnost in order to try to adapt to the challenges and increase the productivity and competitivity that had rendered many sectors, energetic, etc outdated.
