Afghan Social Democratic Party
Encyclopedia
The Afghan Social Democratic Party, more commonly known as Afghan Mellat ( - Afğān Mellat; "Afghan Nation"), is a Pashtun
nationalist
political party in Afghanistan
. Controversially, the party's leadership describes it as social democratic
, but it is not recognized as such by the Socialist International
. The party's current leader is Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady.
Ghulam Mohammad Farhad
, an Afghan intellectual served as the first President of the party. Afghan Mellat looks after the interests of the Pashtun ethnic group and has its support only from them. The party favors the ideas of Pashtunization of Afghanistan and a Greater Afghanistan (i.e. it claims the Pashtun-speaking parts of Pakistan
for Afghanistan).
In the 1969 parliamentary elections, Farhad was elected to the parliament.
After the Saur Revolution
in 1978, the party was banned. Farhad was imprisoned, but released in 1980.
In exile in Pakistan
, the party operated under the auspices of the National Islamic Front of Afghanistan.
In 1986-1987, dialogues took place between the government and the party and some leading party members were released from prison. However, the party chose to stay outside of the governing coalition. The relations with the government split the party into three factions; with one faction led by Shams-ul-Huda Shams, one by Qudratullah Hadad and the other by Mohammad Amin Wakman. It is Wakman faction that is currently led by Afghanistan's Finance Minister, Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady, the son-in-law of the NIFA leader Pir Gailani.
After the fall of the Taliban government, the party leader Ahady has been included in the government as Finance Minister. The party supported Hamid Karzai
in the presidential election and receives support from Karzai. The party has around 10 MPs. The party officially registered themselves in Afghanistan on May 16, 2004.
, his son, that it achieved official recognition in May 2007 as "Afghan Mellat Milli Motaraqi Gwand - افغان ملت ملي مترقي ګوند".
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
nationalist
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
political party in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Controversially, the party's leadership describes it as social democratic
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
, but it is not recognized as such by the Socialist International
Socialist International
The Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
. The party's current leader is Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady.
History
Afghan Social Democratic Party was founded on March 8, 1966 by a group of influential bureaucrats associated with the ruling elites. However, it was officially declared on March 27 of that year.Ghulam Mohammad Farhad
Ghulam Mohammad Farhad
Ghulam Mohammad Farhad was an Afghan engineer and Pashtun nationalist. He lived in Germany on a royal scholarship from 1921 to 1928, training as an electrician at the Technical University of Munich. During his studies in Germany, he came in contact with Nazi policy and became fascinated by some...
, an Afghan intellectual served as the first President of the party. Afghan Mellat looks after the interests of the Pashtun ethnic group and has its support only from them. The party favors the ideas of Pashtunization of Afghanistan and a Greater Afghanistan (i.e. it claims the Pashtun-speaking parts of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
for Afghanistan).
In the 1969 parliamentary elections, Farhad was elected to the parliament.
After the Saur Revolution
Saur Revolution
The Saur Revolution is the name given to the Communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan takeover of political power from the government of Afghanistan on 28 April 1978. The word 'Saur', i.e...
in 1978, the party was banned. Farhad was imprisoned, but released in 1980.
In exile in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, the party operated under the auspices of the National Islamic Front of Afghanistan.
In 1986-1987, dialogues took place between the government and the party and some leading party members were released from prison. However, the party chose to stay outside of the governing coalition. The relations with the government split the party into three factions; with one faction led by Shams-ul-Huda Shams, one by Qudratullah Hadad and the other by Mohammad Amin Wakman. It is Wakman faction that is currently led by Afghanistan's Finance Minister, Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady, the son-in-law of the NIFA leader Pir Gailani.
Wakman branch
In 1995 Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady took over the Wakman branch. Under his leadership, the party toned down its Pashtun nationalist profile and sought support amongst non-Pashtuns. The Wakman branch of the party is recognized by the Afghan government as the "Afghan Mellat Party"After the fall of the Taliban government, the party leader Ahady has been included in the government as Finance Minister. The party supported Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai, GCMG is the 12th and current President of Afghanistan, taking office on 7 December 2004. He became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001...
in the presidential election and receives support from Karzai. The party has around 10 MPs. The party officially registered themselves in Afghanistan on May 16, 2004.
Shams branch
Shams-ul-Huda Shams applied for recognition of his party in 2004, but it was under Ajmal ShamsAjmal Shams
Eng. Ajmal Shams is the son of the late Shamsul Huda Shams, the former president of the Afghan Social Democratic Party...
, his son, that it achieved official recognition in May 2007 as "Afghan Mellat Milli Motaraqi Gwand - افغان ملت ملي مترقي ګوند".
History of leaders
| # | Picture | Leader | From | To | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ghulam Mohammad Farhad Ghulam Mohammad Farhad Ghulam Mohammad Farhad was an Afghan engineer and Pashtun nationalist. He lived in Germany on a royal scholarship from 1921 to 1928, training as an electrician at the Technical University of Munich. During his studies in Germany, he came in contact with Nazi policy and became fascinated by some... |
March 8, 1966 | 1984 | - | - | - | |
| 2 | Mohammad Amin Wakman Mohammad Amin Wakman Mohammad Amin Wakman is the Honorary Chairman and Director of International Affairs of Afghan Mellat Party.Mohammad Amin Wakman was born on November 1, 1939 in Maidan Wardag Province of Afghanistan... |
1987 | 1995 | - | - | - | |
| 3 | Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady | 1995 | - | - | - | - | |
| 4 | 100px | Shams-ul-Huda Shams | 1987 | 2005 | - | - | - |