The embassy remained in Afghanistan during the Soviet–Afghan War (which began in 1979) but was withdrawn in January 1989 when Soviet troops began to be withdrawn from the country. The embassy and those of the US, France, Italy and Japan were withdrawn as the security situation deteriorated. British embassy staff and their families recalled walking the to the airport "through enemy lines" to catch flights to India. The closure of foreign embassies effectively withdrew diplomatic recognition from Afghan president Mohammad Najibullah who remained in power, with Soviet and then Russian backing, until 1992 when the mujahedeen took Kabul. The withdrawal was criticised by some commentators at the time as "wholly political, and contrary to the realistic and non-political traditions of British diplomacy". Some nations, such as India and Pakistan, maintained embassies in the Islamic State of Afghanistan.