Afghanistan History in Brief

Excavations in Afghanistan suggest that early humans were living in Afghanistan 50,000 years back. They are also believed to be the earliest farming communities.

Afghanistan has always been at the cross roads of history because of its central location vis a vis Central, West and South Asia. Its history has been shaped by continuous waves of migrating people over the centuries. This has let to its multi ethnic, cultural and linguistic shape. Since the beginning of recorded history vast armies and migrating people have passed through the region temporarily establishing control and moving southward.

Most of its current inhabitants are of Iranian origin and that is why they speak Iranian languages (Pashto and Dari). The Islamic invasions have defined modern Afghanistan and its Pagan, Hindu and Zoroastrian past has long since vanished.

It has been a part of the vast empires and trade for thousands of years however it was formed into a single political entity by the Abdali (Durrani) chief Ahmad Shah Abdali (Durrani) in 1747. In the nineteenth century it lay between two expanding empires i.e. The British and Russian empires and eventually acted as a buffer state.

Pre Islamic Period

The first recorded event begins with the Aryan invasions from Central Asia between 2000 to 1500 BC .It was followed by Persian, Greek, Mauryan, Bactrian, Scythian, Hun and Mongol invasion in various phases of history.

Alexander of Macedonia defeated the Achaemenians in 329 BC and captured Bacteria (modern Balkh) before moving unto conquer India. The Kushan rule of the first Century AD saw Afghanistan as a centre of culture and learning. 7th Century AD the Persians Sassanid empire held vast tracts of Afghanistan before they were defeated by the Muslims Arab invasion. Eastern Afghanistan was ruled by the Hindu Shahis until the Turkic invasion of the 10th Century AD.

Islamic Conquest

In 642 AD the area came under the Islamic influence through invasions and the Persian Arabs controlled the area till the establishment of the Ghaznavid empire in 998 AD. The illustrious Ghaznavid ruler Mahmud (998-1030) turned Ghazni into a centre of great culture, learning and as base for the forays into the Indian sub continent. The Ghaznavids were defeated by the Ghorids in 1146 AD. After their downfall parts of
Afghanistan then were ruled by the Safavids Iranians, and Central Asians (Khawarzam) Empires.

In 1219 the Mongols entered Afghanistan after the defeat of Khawarzam King and lay waste many cities like Herat, Ghazni and Balkh. On the decline of the Mongol empire Taimur Lang incorporated Afghanistan into his empire in the beginning of 16th Century. In the 16th 17th and 18th centuries Afghanistan had been divided between Uzbek, Safavid, Moghul and Pashtun rule. The Pashtuns rose against the Persian rule and defeated them and even managed to hold Isfaham (from 1719-29).Nadir Shah Afshar pushed back the Pashtuns in 1729 and conquered Kandahar .He later occupied Ghazni, Kabul, Lahore and Delhi. In 1747 Nadir Shah Afshar was killed in an uprising. His loyal Pashtun General Ahmad Shah Abdali established his rule in Kandahar in 1747 and the family continued to rule/administer Afghanistan till 1973.

Hotaki Dynasty

During the Persian rule over Kandahar great enmity had devolped between the two principal Pashtuns tribes the Abdali (later Durrani) and the Ghalzai. The Persian rule was perpetuated due to this tribal enmity. As the court at Asfahan fell into decadence the Pashtuns tribes became restless and revolted. They killed the Georgian governor Gurgin Khan and under the leadership of Mirwais Khan Hotak an influential Ghalzai leader, captured Kandahar in 1709 AD Persia sent an Army to quell the rebellion however they were defeated and MirWais extended his control over the Kandahar region. MirWais died in 1715.He was succeeded by his 18 year old son Mahmood.Mahmood defeated the Persians and occupied Isfahan in 1722. He died in 1729.His successors Ashraf was defeated by Nadir Shah who ended the short lived Ghilzai rule.

Durrani Rule

In 1747 after the assassination of Nadir Shah Afshar his Abdali general Ahmad Khan established control over Kandahar and became Ahmad Shah Durrani. He formed the modern State of Afghanistan extending his rule to Amu Darya (Oxus) in the North to Punjab, Kashmir in the East, Mashad in the West and Arabian Sea in the South. The family of Durranis ruled Afghanistan till the coup of 1973, when monarchy was abolished.

Buffer State

Afghanistan in the nineteenth century lay between two expanding empires that is the British and Russian. These expanding empires and their attempt to gain influence in the Asia Heartland was termed as the “Great Game”. British concerns over the Russian advance to gain influence in Afghanistan resulted in two Anglo Afghan Wars, 1839-1842 and 1878-1880. At the end of second Afghan War Amin Abdul Rehman came to the throne of Afghanistan. During his rule borders with British India and Russian Central Asia were officially demarcated. However Britain controlled Afghanistan’s foreign affairs.

Afghanistan remained neutral during World War 1 but the general public opinion was highly anti British. The assassination of Amir Habibullah was probably due to some members of his family resenting British influence.Amir Amanullah Khan gained control of his foreign policy after initiating the third Anglo Afghan War of 1919. The treaty of Rawalpindi was signed in August 1919.This day 19th August is celebrated as Independence Day of Afghanistan.

Amanullah (1919-29) swiftly moved to end Afghanistan’s isolation by establishing diplomatic relations with a number of countries and introduced several reforms to modernize his country. Some of his reforms like co-education and abolition of veil alienated large segments of the society. Kabul fell to the rebellious forces of Habibullah Kalakani alias Bacha Saqao (son of water carrier) in 1929.

Nadir Khan a cousin of Amanullah defeated and executed Habibullah Kalakani in the same year and assumed the throne. He reversed the reforms of Amanullah and adopted a more gradual approach to reforms. He was assassinated in 1933.

Nadir Shah’s son Zahir Shah assumed the throne and ruled till 1973. In 1953 a cousin of the King’s Sardar Daud became the Prime Minister. He established closer relationship with the Soviet Union and became very hostile to Pakistan. Dispute with Pakistan let to an economic crisis and he was forced to quite in 1963. In 1964 Zahir Shah promulgated a liberal constitution and a bicameral legislature was established to which 1/3 members were appointed by the King. This new formed liberalism gave rise to political parties most of whom were either extremists left or right wing. This included the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). The party split into two fractions mainly on ethnic lines Khalq (Pashtun) and Parcham (non Pashtun).

Republican Rule

Poor economic condition and drought created unrest in Afghanistan in 1973. This prompted Sardar Muhammad Daud Khan to over throw Zahir Shah and established a Republic in 1973. The 1964 constitution was abrogated. His reforms met with little success and his 1977 constitution failed to quell political instability. This led to the bloody communist coup of April 1978 and the PDPA seized power with Nur Muhammad Tarakai assuming the office of the President.

Soviet Invasion/Occupation

The PDPA implemented a socialist agenda and attempted to abolish the centuries old tribal culture of Afghanistan. This was deeply resented by the deeply conservative society of Afghanistan. The Soviet influence also increased manifold both in the Government and the armed forces. This led to a massive backlash and rebellion. The government attempted to quell the uprising by using heavy handed tactics. The armed forces were also affected by desertion and rebellion. This prompted the Soviet invasion of 25 December 1979.
18. For over nine years the Soviet Union attempted to fight the insurgents known as Mujahideen who were helped/financed by US, UK, China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan etc. The anti Soviet resistances brought in many holy warriors from across the Muslim world (mainly Arabs) including one Osama bin Ladin (OBL).

The Soviet Union withdrew its forces from Afghanistan by February 1988 under the Geneva Accord. Massive military aid by the US and Saudi Arabia continued to the Mujahideen even after that and after the collapse of the Soviet Union the Najeebullah regime fell. The Mujahideen gained control of Kabul in April 1992 under Ahmad Shah Masaood and established the Islamic State of Afghanistan.

Mujahideen/Taliban

Sibghatullah Mujadedi was inducted into office in April 1992 for two months. He was followed by Burhanuddin Rabani who later refused to relinquish power and a civil war ensued between a number of contenders like Gulbedin Hikmatyar, Ali Mazari, Ahmad Shah Masood, Abdur Rab Sayyaf and Rashid Dostum.

The decadence of Mujahideen rule, warlordism and criminal gangs gaining control of fiefdoms gave rise to Taliban movement. These students (Taliban) gained control of Kandahar and established order. They then extended their control to 95% of the country by late 2000. The opposition formed the Northern Alliance (NA).

The catastrophic events of September 11, 2001 led to the US invasion of Afghanistan and the Taliban were ousted from power. Under the subsequent Bonn process Hamid Karzai was elected president in November 2004 and parliamentary elections in September 2005.

History of Modern Afghanistan....Click here for details.