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| “ | We want to create a society in which our workers and farmers can afford to appear in handsome attire and enjoy a good life and health; we want this kind of society. | „ |
| ~ Nur Muhammad Taraki |
The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (Persian: حزب دموکراتيک خلق افغانستان, Hezb-e dimūkrātĩk-e khalq-e Afghānistān, Pashto: د افغانستان د خلق دموکراټیک ګوند, Da Afghanistān da khalq dimukrātīk gund; abbreviated PDPA) was a Marxist–Leninist political party in Afghanistan established on 1 January 1965. Four members of the party won seats in that year's parliamentary elections, reduced to two seats in 1969, albeit both before parties were fully legal.
Biography edit
Since 1919, the Soviet Union had strongly influenced Afghan politics, economy and military. The thousands of Afghan academic students and military trainees in the USSR were compelled to study Marxism and the international communist movement; some of them converted to that ideology.
Nur Muhammad Taraki, the first PDPA Afghan President in 1978, had worked and studied in India in 1932, had met members of the Communist Party of India there, and had converted to communism. Hafizullah Amin, the second PDPA Afghan President, had seen his leftist beliefs strengthened during his studies in the United States in the late 1950s. Taraki and Babrak Karmal (the third PDPA Afghan President) had been frequent contacts of the Soviet Embassy in Afghanistan from the late 1950s.
From its inception in 1965 until at least 1984, the PDPA labeled themselves "national democratic" (not 'communist'); however, in its view of international relations, the PDPA was clearly pro-Soviet oriented. The secret party constitution of 1965 called for "expanding and strengthening Afghan-Soviet friendly relations". A party history in 1976 stated: the party struggles against imperialism, particularly American imperialism and its ally, Maoism, and is fighting alongside our brother parties, foremost among them the Leninist party of the Soviet Union.
In a 1978 party pamphlet, the PDPA described itself as "vanguard of the working class" and President Taraki as "experienced Marxist–Leninist" These descriptions led Western authors to label PDPA as either of "clear Marxist orientation", "an avowedly pro-Soviet socialist movement", or reformist "with a socialist bent".
After the April 1978 PDPA coup d'état and execution against Mohammed Daoud Khan, President Taraki stated that the PDPA were nationalists and revolutionaries but not "Communists", and declared a commitment to Islam within a secular state. Once in power, however, it became clear that the PDPA was dominated by an urban intelligentsia and lacked any real social base in the overwhelmingly rural and Islamic communities of Afghanistan.
The party launched a programme ranging from land redistribution to emancipation and education of women, which violated traditional customs, religious laws, and the balance of power between Kabul and the rural localities. The radical reform program, class-struggle, anti-imperialistic rhetoric, support of countries such as Cuba and North Korea, the signing of a friendship treaty with the Soviet Union, increased presence of Soviet advisers in the country, and support of countries like Cuba and North Korea led to the international media and domestic opponents giving the label of 'communist' to the PDPA.
While a minority, the party helped former prime minister of Afghanistan, Mohammed Daoud Khan, to overthrow King Mohammed Zahir Shah in 1973, and establish the Republic of Afghanistan. Initially the PDPA was highly represented in the government cabinet, but many were later fired as relations with President Daoud Khan were worsened.
In 1978 the PDPA, with help from members of the Afghan National Army, seized power from Daoud Khan in what is known as the Saur Revolution. The PDPA led by Nur Muhammad Taraki established the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan which would last until 1987. After National Reconciliation talks in 1987 the official name of the country was reverted to Republic of Afghanistan (as it was known prior to 1978).
Under the leadership of Mohammad Najibullah in 1990, the party's name was changed to Homeland Party (حزب وطن, Hezb-e Watan) and much of the party's communist symbols and policies were altered or removed. The republic lasted until 1992 after mujahideen rebels took over; the PDPA dissolved, with some officials joining the new government, some joining militias, and others deserting.
For most of its existence, the party was split between the hardline "Khalq" and moderate "Parcham" factions.