Parcham
Encyclopedia
Parcham was the name of one of the factions of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
. The Parcham faction seized power in the country after toppling Hafizullah Amin
.
The basic ideology of the Parchamis was one of a gradual move towards socialism
in Afghanistan. The Parcham faction supported this idea because they felt that Afghanistan was not industrialized enough to undergo a true proletarian revolution called for in the Communist Manifesto. The Parcham faction had more urban based members who belonged to the middle and upper middle classes. Pushtuns, mainly Persian speaking, educated and urban were the dominant group in Parcham but non-Pushtuns were also represented in cadres. In 1986 its leader Babrak Karmal asserted that he was a Persian-speaking Pushtun from his mother's Mullakhel (Ghilzays) tribe; however, his origins remain disputed. Many claim him to be a Tajik since his family integrated into that community. Opposed to the moderate Parchamis were the more radical Khalq
faction. The Khalq (meaning "People") developed a more vigorous line, advocating an immediate and violent overthrow of the government and an establishment of a Soviet-style communist regime.
In 1992 the Parcham-led PDPA converted itself into Watan Party
.
People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan was a communist party established on the 1 January 1965. While a minority, the party helped former president of Afghanistan, Mohammed Daoud Khan, to overthrow his cousin, Mohammed Zahir Shah, and established Daoud's Republic of Afghanistan...
. The Parcham faction seized power in the country after toppling Hafizullah Amin
Hafizullah Amin
Hafizullah Amin was the second President of Afghanistan during the period of the communist Democratic Republic of Afghanistan....
.
The basic ideology of the Parchamis was one of a gradual move towards socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
in Afghanistan. The Parcham faction supported this idea because they felt that Afghanistan was not industrialized enough to undergo a true proletarian revolution called for in the Communist Manifesto. The Parcham faction had more urban based members who belonged to the middle and upper middle classes. Pushtuns, mainly Persian speaking, educated and urban were the dominant group in Parcham but non-Pushtuns were also represented in cadres. In 1986 its leader Babrak Karmal asserted that he was a Persian-speaking Pushtun from his mother's Mullakhel (Ghilzays) tribe; however, his origins remain disputed. Many claim him to be a Tajik since his family integrated into that community. Opposed to the moderate Parchamis were the more radical Khalq
Khalq
Khalq was a faction of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan. Its historical leaders were Presidents Nur Muhammad Taraki and Hafizullah Amin. It was also the name of the leftist newspaper produced by the same movement. It was supported by the USSR and was formed in 1965 when the PDPA was born...
faction. The Khalq (meaning "People") developed a more vigorous line, advocating an immediate and violent overthrow of the government and an establishment of a Soviet-style communist regime.
In 1992 the Parcham-led PDPA converted itself into Watan Party
Democratic Watan Party of Afghanistan
The Democratic Watan Party of Afghanistan is a political party in Afghanistan.It emerged out of the Parcham faction of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan...
.