title: Between Neutrality and Solidarity: Swiss Good Offices in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1992
abstract: &lt;p&gt;Following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December of 1979, the Swiss government initially concluded that as a neutral and unaffected country, Switzerland had no role to play in the crisis. However, not only did Switzerland begin to deliver humanitarian aid to the region in 1979, between 1982 and 1986, Switzerland also agreed to extend a protective power mandate to Soviet prisoners of war (POWs) on behalf of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). In exchange for tran