Republic of Afghanistan (1973–1978)
Republic of Afghanistan
| |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973–1978 | |||||||||
| Anthem: څو چې دا ځمكه اّسمان وي (Pashto) Tso če dā źməka asmān wī " presidential republic under an authoritarian dictatorship | |||||||||
| President | |||||||||
• 1973–1978 | Mohammad Daoud Khan | ||||||||
| Legislature | Loya Jirga | ||||||||
| Historical era | Cold War | ||||||||
| 17 July 1973 | |||||||||
| 27–28 April 1978 | |||||||||
| Currency | Afghani | ||||||||
| Calling code | +93 | ||||||||
| ISO 3166 code | AF | ||||||||
| |||||||||
.svg)
.svg)
| History of Afghanistan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Timeline | |
| 410–557 | |
| Nezak Huns | 484–711 |
The Republic of Afghanistan (
In 1978, a military coup known as the Saur Revolution took place, instigated by the communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, in which Daoud and his family were killed. The "Daoud Republic" was subsequently succeeded by the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.[3]
History
Formation
In July 1973, while
A few days after the coup, the former Royal Afghan Army under Zahir Shah was now being referred to as the “Afghan Republican Army” under Daoud Khan in “The Kabul Times” newspaper.[5]
Single party rule
After seizing power, Daoud Khan, who had himself proclaimed as the first
Also in 1973, Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal, a former Prime Minister, was accused of plotting a coup, though it is unclear if the plan was actually targeting the new republican government or the abolished monarchy. Maiwandwal was arrested and allegedly committed suicide in jail before his trial, but widespread belief says he was tortured to death.[3]
Rise of communism
After General Daoud's 1973 establishment of the Republic of Afghanistan, members of the
But during Daoud's presidency, relations with the Soviet Union deteriorated. They saw his shift to a more Western-friendly leadership as dangerous, including Daoud's criticism of Cuba's membership in the Non-Aligned Movement and Daoud's expulsion of Soviet military and economic advisers. The suppression of political opposition furthermore turned the Soviet-backed PDPA, an important ally in the 1973 coup against the King, against him.[3]
Daoud in 1978 had achieved little of what he had set out to accomplish. The Afghan economy had not 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. On March 1978, Daoud visited Islamabad and agreed to stop supporting rebels groups in Pakistan, as well as agreeing to expel Pakistani militants in the future. He additionally made plans for Afghan military personnel to be trained by the Pakistan Armed Forces.[10]
When Afghans by 1978 had grown disappointed with the "do nothing" Daoud government, the PDPA government officials alone were identified by some with economic and social reform.[8] By this time, the two main factions of the PDPA, previously locked in a power struggle, had reached a fragile agreement for reconciliation. Communist-sympathizing army officials were by then already planning a move against the government. According to Hafizullah Amin, who became Afghan head of state in 1979, the PDPA had started plotting the coup in 1976, two years before it materialized.[3]
Saur Revolution
The PDPA seized power in a brutal military
Politics
Daoud Khan pursued the policy of bi-tarafi, meaning "without sides", during the Cold War.[13] He sought investments from the Soviet Union and the United States. Secularists supported Daoud as he was in favour of letting the Islamic veil (and more specifically the purdah) remain optional for Afghan women, however, extremists would harass women who chose not to veil themselves, even resorting to throwing acid on exposed legs.[14]
Education
Daoud Khan heavily focused on education and women's rights during his reign. His government opened many schools and by the time of the Saur Revolution, 1 million Afghan students were enrolled in school, many whom were girls.[13]
References
- ^ Richard S. Newell (1997). "The Constitutional Period, 1964-73". In Peter R. Blood (ed.). Afghanistan: A Country study.
- ^ Rubin, Barnett. "DĀWŪD KHAN". In Ehsan Yarshater (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica (Online ed.). United States: Columbia University. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f "Daoud's Republic, July 1973 – April 1978". Country Studies. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- ^ a b Barry Bearak (23 July 2007). "Former King of Afghanistan Dies at 92". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
- ^ "India, Czechoslovakia, FRG, Mongolia and GDR recognise Republic of Afghanistan. Kabul Times. (Kabul, Afghanistan), Volume 12; Number 97". 21 July 1973.
- ^ Dā Urdu Mojellā [National Army Magazine] (56th ed.). Urdoo Mojella, Military Press Kabul: Ministry of Defense (Afghanistan) (published 1976–1977). 1977. p. 118.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ "Image 7 of Numbers 8-9, Saturday, May 18, 1974". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ ISBN 978-0898755282, retrieved 29 March 2018
- ISBN 978-1-4381-0819-3.
- ISBN 978-1-4381-0819-3.
- ^ "World: Analysis Afghanistan: 20 years of bloodshed". BBC News. 26 April 1998. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- ^ a b Garthoff, Raymond L. Détente and Confrontation. Washington D.C.: The Brookings Institution, 1994. p. 986.
- ^ a b "THE AFGHAN COMMUNISTS" (PDF).
- ISBN 978-1-4381-0819-3.