Parcham

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

For places in Iran, see
Parcham, Iran and Parcham-e Qadim
.
Parcham
پرچم
FounderBabrak Karmal
Founded1967
DissolvedJune 1990
Succeeded byWatan Party
IdeologyIslamic socialism
Afghan nationalism
Left-wing nationalism
Marxism–Leninism (until 1987)
Political positionLeft-wing
Party flag

Parcham (

Mohammed Najibullah. The faction was formed directly after the founding of the Party in 1965 following ideological splits in the PDPA. While the Parchamites stressed the need for swift social-economic reforms to achieve revolution, this was in direct contrast with their PDPA rivals, the Khalqists, who sought an immediate and violent overthrow of the government. Karmal believed that Afghanistan was not developed enough for a Leninist revolutionary approach and instead sought a patriotic and anti-imperialist united front
to take the next steps toward revolution.

History

In 1965, Babrak Karmal and Nur Muhammad Taraki established the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan. By 1967, the party split into different sects, the largest and most powerful of which were Parcham and Khalq. Despite spawning from the same founding party, they differed in both their ideologies and their bases. While the Khalqists were primarily rural Pashtuns, the Parchamis were supported by middle-class residents of urban city centers.

From 1968-1969, Parcham published a weekly magazine. This was allowed by King Mohammed Zahir Shah and further divided the two factions, as the Khalqs' newspaper was shuttered by the government in 1966. Because of Parcham's links with the Kingdom of Afghanistan, initially wishing to keep the constitutional monarchy intact, it was derisively referred to as the "Royal Communist Party" by their Khalqist rivals.

The 1973 coup d'état saw heavy support from Parchamites, especially those within the Afghan Army. Following the coup's success, many Parchami's held high-ranking jobs in Mohammed Daoud Khan's government and security forces. However, in the following years, widespread reports of Parchami participation in the death of anti-communist former Primer Minister Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal led to members of Parcham being purged from Khan's administration and persecuted by his regime.

In 1977, Parcham managed to reconcile with the Khalq faction, and following the

Operation Storm-333 intervention, which supported a more moderate and pragmatic leadership. The new government under Parcham leader Babrak Karmal
struggled to win popularity after the excesses of the Khalqists, and they were now low in numbers following the mass executions committed by the Khalq regime from 1978–1979.

Karmal was replaced by

Marxism-Leninism removed from the party's manifesto, instead adopting a uniquely Afghan version of Islamic socialism
.

The Watan Party was officially banned in Afghanistan on May 6th, 1992. There have been numerous attempts to relaunch the party including Mir Afghan Bawary's Watan Party of Afghanistan and General Abdul Jabar Qahraman's Watan Party.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ Azadi, RFE/RL's Radio. "Afghan Candidate Killed In Blast Claimed By Taliban". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  2. ^ "The Ghost of Najibullah: Hezb-e Watan announces (another) relaunch". Afghanistan Analysts Network – English (in Pashto). 21 August 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
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