Cold War

• In the 20th Century, the nature of society and their devout beliefs make a reform a difficult task.
• The tribal nature of Afghani society has been problematic for changes and reform.
• Backward way of society causes them to try and do too much all at the same time.
• Slow to modernise.
• King Zahir ruled 1933 – 1974, this was known as the ‘Golden Age’ of stability and reform.
• The tribal nature of Afghani society has been problematic for changes and reform.
• parliament in 1949, based on British democratic structure.
• Backward way of society causes them to try and do too much all at the same time.
• Slow to modernise.
• He appointed his cousin Mohammod Daud Kahn in 1953 – built factories, irrigation systems, with support from the Soviet Union.
• King Zahir ruled 1933 – 1974, this was known as the ‘Golden Age’ of stability and reform.
• Zahir Shah was forced to remove Daud in 1963, as tribal leaders worried about USSR control & Communists don’t believe in God.
• parliament in 1949, based on British democratic structure.
• Daud set up reforms wanting to westernise and modernise Afghanistan.
• He appointed his cousin Mohammod Daud Kahn in 1953 – built factories, irrigation systems, with support from the Soviet Union.
• The Benefits of Daud's reforms included an expanded educational system, military training, foreign links, and more positive treatment of women.
• The Drawbacks of Daud's reforms included a decrease in salaries, lack of jobs, brain drain, and a growing social divide.
• Zahir Shah was forced to remove Daud in 1963, as tribal leaders worried about USSR control & Communists don’t believe in God.
• Daud set up reforms wanting to westernise and modernise Afghanistan.
• The April Revolution of 1978 was a coup from left-wing military leader, Taraki.
• Daud was shot and his family was killed too.
• The Benefits of Daud's reforms included an expanded educational system, military training, foreign links, and more positive treatment of women.
• The USSR were interested in Afghanistan due to its border length, being a socialist state, and not wanting America to influence it.
• The Drawbacks of Daud's reforms included brain drain due to lack of jobs, decreased salaries, political dissatisfaction, and a pressure cooker of social issues, rural and urban divide, and major soviet influence.
• The Taraki Regime, 1978 – 9, modelled itself on Stalinist regime, killing lots of people, purging the Khalq faction within the PDPA, and introducing land reforms.
• During the April Revolution of 1978, a coup from left-wing military leader, Taraki, led to the death of Daud and his family.
• The Mujahideen, supported by the US, were those who take part in Jihad (holy war), and are used as a loose term to describe all the tribal people who are against the soviet regime.
• The Taraki Regime, 1978 – 9, modelled itself on Stalinist regime, killing lots of people, purging the Khalq faction within the PDPA, and introducing land reforms, redistributing 600k hectares of land.
• Taraki attended a non-aligned nations' conference in Havana, Cuba, and later met with Brezhnev in Moscow, where Brezhnev advised Taraki to ease drastic social reforms and remove Prime Minister Hafizullah Amin.
• The Mujahideen, supported by the US, were those who take part in Jihad (holy war), and are used as a loose term to describe all the tribal people who are against the soviet regime.
• Unbeknownst to Taraki, his bodyguard was an informant for Amin, leading to Amin's capture of Taraki and subsequent takeover of the government.
• Afghanistan's President, Mohammad Najibullah, attended a non-aligned nations' conference in Havana, Cuba, and later met with Brezhnev in Moscow.
• Amin reported Taraki's intention to remove him, prompting Amin to manipulate the situation, ultimately resulting in Taraki's death, announced as an undisclosed illness but revealed to be strangulation with a pillow.
• Brezhnev advised Taraki to ease drastic social reforms and remove Prime Minister Hafizullah Amin.
• Herat saw a violent outbreak in March 1979, marking a significant revolt against the communists.
• Unbeknownst to Taraki, his bodyguard was an informant for Amin, leading to Amin's capture of Taraki and subsequent takeover of the government.
• Insurgents swiftly gained control, leading to a week of intense conflict before government forces regained power.
• On March 15th, armed peasants carrying religious slogans stormed the city, dismantling communist symbols, attacking non-Muslim attire, and targeting government officials.
• Amin reported Taraki's intention to remove him, prompting Amin to manipulate the situation, ultimately resulting in Taraki's death, announced as an undisclosed illness but revealed to be strangulation with a pillow.
• By noon, the rebels had captured most of the city.