Republic of Afghanistan
Encyclopedia
Republic of Afghanistan (Pashto د افغانستان جمهوریت) was the official state government
of Mohammed Daoud Khan
from 1973 to 1978. Daoud Khan became Afghanistan
's first President
in 1973 after he deposed Mohammad Zahir Shah in a non-violent coup. Daoud was known for his progressive politics and attempts to modernise
the country with help from the Soviet Union
and the United States
, among others.
In 1978, a military coup known as The Saur Revolution
took place with help from the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
. Daoud and his entire family were assassinated during the coup in 1978. The Daoud Republic gave birth to the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
(1978–1992).
was in Italy
undergoing eye surgery as well as therapy for lumbago, his cousin and former Prime Minister
Mohammed Daoud Khan
staged a coup d'état
and established a republican government. As a former prime minister, Daoud Khan had been forced to resign by Zahir Shah a decade earlier. In the August following this coup, Zahir Shah abdicated rather than risk an all-out civil war.
, Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal
was arrested for plotting a coup against Daoud's new established government. It is unclear if the coup was made to seize the power from Daoud or from former king, Mohammed Zahir Shah
. Maiwandwal was arrested and committed suicide in jail before his trial; widespread belief says he was tortured to death.
After the coup President Mohammed Daoud Khan
established his own political party
, the National Revolutionary Party. This party became the sole focus of political activity in the country. The Loya jirga
approved Daoud's new constitution establishing a presidential one party system of government in January, 1977. Any resistance or rebellion against the new regime was crushed or suppressed by the government.
and the Afghan communists in the country deteriorated. The Soviet Union saw Daoud's shift to a more western-friendly leadership as dangerous, since Daoud was trying to distance himself and Afghanistan from the Soviet Union. He removed and kicked out Soviet military and economic advisers. The Soviets saw Daoud as an "anti-communist
" concept because of his new approach towards the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA)
and criticizing Communist Cuba
's role in the Non-aligned Movement
.
In 1976 Daoud established a seven year economic plan for the country. He started military training programs with India
for example and started economic development
talks with Iran
. Daoud also turned his attention to the oil rich Middle East
ern nations such as Saudi Arabia
, Iraq
and Kuwait
among others for financial assistance.
Daoud had achieved little of what he had set out to accomplish in 1978. The Afghan economy hadn't made any real progress and the Afghan standard of living had not risen. Daoud had also garnered much criticism for his single party constitution in 1977 which alienated him from his political supporters. By this time the Parcham
and Khalq
faction in the PDPA had reached a fragile agreement on reunification. At this time Communist army officials were planning a military coup against Daoud's government. According to second President of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
, Hafizullah Amin
, the PDPA had started plotting the coup in 1976 two years before the Saur Revolution
.
On April 27, 1978 the military-communist
coup started. The coup started with military troops from the military base
at Kabul
International Airport
starting to move towards the center of the city. It took only 24 hours to consolidate power in the capital. Daoud and most of his family was executed in the presidential palace in Kabul the following day.
The PDPA seized power in a military coup in 1978 which is best known as the Saur Revolution
. Nur Muhammad Taraki
, Secretary General of the PDPA, became President
of the Revolutionary Council and Prime Minister of the newly established Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
. After the military coup, Taraki assumed the position as President of Afghanistan
and Hafizullah Amin
assuming the position as Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan
.
State government
A state government is the government of a subnational entity in a federal form of government, which shares political power with the federal or national government. A state government may have some level of political autonomy, or be subject to the direct control of the federal government...
of Mohammed Daoud Khan
Mohammed Daoud Khan
Sardar Mohammed Daoud Khan or Daud Khan was Prime Minister of Afghanistan from 1953 to 1963 and later becoming the President of Afghanistan...
from 1973 to 1978. Daoud Khan became 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...
's first President
President of Afghanistan
Afghanistan has only been a republic between 1973 and 1992 and from 2001 onwards. Before 1973, it was a monarchy that was governed by a variety of kings, emirs or shahs...
in 1973 after he deposed Mohammad Zahir Shah in a non-violent coup. Daoud was known for his progressive politics and attempts to modernise
Modernization
In the social sciences, modernization or modernisation refers to a model of an evolutionary transition from a 'pre-modern' or 'traditional' to a 'modern' society. The teleology of modernization is described in social evolutionism theories, existing as a template that has been generally followed by...
the country with help from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, among others.
In 1978, a military coup known as 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...
took place with help from the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
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...
. Daoud and his entire family were assassinated during the coup in 1978. The Daoud Republic gave birth to the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was a government of Afghanistan between 1978 and 1992. It was both ideologically close to and economically dependent on the Soviet Union, and was a major belligerent of the Afghan Civil War.- Saur Revolution :...
(1978–1992).
Formation
In 1973, while Mohammed Zahir ShahMohammed Zahir Shah
Mohammed Zahir Shah was the last King of Afghanistan, reigning for four decades, from 1933 until he was ousted by a coup in 1973...
was in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
undergoing eye surgery as well as therapy for lumbago, his cousin and former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Afghanistan
The Prime Minister of Afghanistan is a currently defunct post in the Afghan Government.The position was created in 1927, and was appointed by the king, mostly as an advisor, until the end of the monarchy in 1973...
Mohammed Daoud Khan
Mohammed Daoud Khan
Sardar Mohammed Daoud Khan or Daud Khan was Prime Minister of Afghanistan from 1953 to 1963 and later becoming the President of Afghanistan...
staged a coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
and established a republican government. As a former prime minister, Daoud Khan had been forced to resign by Zahir Shah a decade earlier. In the August following this coup, Zahir Shah abdicated rather than risk an all-out civil war.
Political reforms
The same year former Prime Minister of AfghanistanPrime Minister of Afghanistan
The Prime Minister of Afghanistan is a currently defunct post in the Afghan Government.The position was created in 1927, and was appointed by the king, mostly as an advisor, until the end of the monarchy in 1973...
, Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal
Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal
Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal was an Afghan politician during the reign of Zahir Shah.-Biography:After graduating from high school, Mohammad Hashim became a journalist, editing several newspapers...
was arrested for plotting a coup against Daoud's new established government. It is unclear if the coup was made to seize the power from Daoud or from former king, Mohammed Zahir Shah
Mohammed Zahir Shah
Mohammed Zahir Shah was the last King of Afghanistan, reigning for four decades, from 1933 until he was ousted by a coup in 1973...
. Maiwandwal was arrested and committed suicide in jail before his trial; widespread belief says he was tortured to death.
After the coup President Mohammed Daoud Khan
Mohammed Daoud Khan
Sardar Mohammed Daoud Khan or Daud Khan was Prime Minister of Afghanistan from 1953 to 1963 and later becoming the President of Afghanistan...
established his own political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
, the National Revolutionary Party. This party became the sole focus of political activity in the country. The Loya jirga
Loya jirga
A loya jirga is a type of jirga regarded as "grand assembly," a phrase in the Pashto language meaning "grand council." A loya jirga is a mass meeting usually prepared for major events such as choosing a new king, adopting a constitution, or discussing important national political or emergency...
approved Daoud's new constitution establishing a presidential one party system of government in January, 1977. Any resistance or rebellion against the new regime was crushed or suppressed by the government.
Rise of communism
During Daoud's presidency, relations with the communist countries abroad, especially the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and the Afghan communists in the country deteriorated. The Soviet Union saw Daoud's shift to a more western-friendly leadership as dangerous, since Daoud was trying to distance himself and Afghanistan from the Soviet Union. He removed and kicked out Soviet military and economic advisers. The Soviets saw Daoud as an "anti-communist
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
" concept because of his new approach towards the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA)
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...
and criticizing Communist Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
's role in the Non-aligned Movement
Non-Aligned Movement
The Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries...
.
In 1976 Daoud established a seven year economic plan for the country. He started military training programs with India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
for example and started economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
talks with Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Daoud also turned his attention to the oil rich Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern nations such as Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
among others for financial assistance.
Daoud had achieved little of what he had set out to accomplish in 1978. The Afghan economy hadn't made any real progress and the Afghan standard of living had not risen. Daoud had also garnered much criticism for his single party constitution in 1977 which alienated him from his political supporters. By this time the Parcham
Parcham
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....
and 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 in the PDPA had reached a fragile agreement on reunification. At this time Communist army officials were planning a military coup against Daoud's government. According to second President of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was a government of Afghanistan between 1978 and 1992. It was both ideologically close to and economically dependent on the Soviet Union, and was a major belligerent of the Afghan Civil War.- Saur Revolution :...
, Hafizullah Amin
Hafizullah Amin
Hafizullah Amin was the second President of Afghanistan during the period of the communist Democratic Republic of Afghanistan....
, the PDPA had started plotting the coup in 1976 two years before 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...
.
The Saur Revolution
Afghan National Army
The Afghan National Army is a service branch of the military of Afghanistan, which is currently trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the role in land-based military operations in Afghanistan. , the Afghan National Army is divided into seven regional Corps. The strength of the Afghan...
coup started. The coup started with military troops from the military base
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
at Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
International Airport
International airport
An international airport is any airport that can accommodate flights from other countries and are typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle these flights to and from other countries...
starting to move towards the center of the city. It took only 24 hours to consolidate power in the capital. Daoud and most of his family was executed in the presidential palace in Kabul the following day.
The PDPA seized power in a military coup in 1978 which is best known as 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...
. Nur Muhammad Taraki
Nur Muhammad Taraki
Nur Muhammad Taraki was an Afghan politician and statesman during the Cold War. Taraki was born near Kabul and educated at Kabul University, after which he started his political career as a journalist...
, Secretary General of the PDPA, became President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Revolutionary Council and Prime Minister of the newly established Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was a government of Afghanistan between 1978 and 1992. It was both ideologically close to and economically dependent on the Soviet Union, and was a major belligerent of the Afghan Civil War.- Saur Revolution :...
. After the military coup, Taraki assumed the position as President of Afghanistan
President of Afghanistan
Afghanistan has only been a republic between 1973 and 1992 and from 2001 onwards. Before 1973, it was a monarchy that was governed by a variety of kings, emirs or shahs...
and Hafizullah Amin
Hafizullah Amin
Hafizullah Amin was the second President of Afghanistan during the period of the communist Democratic Republic of Afghanistan....
assuming the position as Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan
Deputy Prime Minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both...
.