Babrak Karmal

Babrak Karmal was an Afghan communist politician who led the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan and served as Afghanistan’s president from 1979 to 1986.

People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan: An Afghan communist party founded in 1965 that ruled Afghanistan from 1978 to 1992. Karmal led the party’s Parcham faction and later headed its government.
Soviet–Afghan War: The conflict in Afghanistan following the Soviet invasion of December 1979 and ending with the Soviet withdrawal in 1989. Karmal’s government relied on Soviet troops during the war.
Nur Muhammad Taraki: An Afghan communist politician who led the People’s Democratic Party government from 1978 until 1979. Taraki’s Khalq faction rivaled the Parcham faction Karmal led.
Afghan Civil War (1989–1992): The conflict among Afghan government forces and armed opponents after Soviet troops withdrew in 1989. The government Karmal helped build continued fighting after his presidency and the Soviet withdrawal.
Saur Revolution: The April 1978 coup that brought the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan to power. The coup created the regime Karmal would lead after the Soviet intervention.
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan: The Soviet Union’s military intervention in Afghanistan beginning in December 1979. The intervention installed Karmal as head of the Afghan government.
Hafizullah Amin: An Afghan communist leader who ruled from September to December 1979 before being killed during the Soviet intervention. Amin’s rule immediately preceded Karmal’s installation as leader.
Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan: The departure of Soviet forces from Afghanistan, completed in February 1989. It ended the military support on which Karmal’s government had depended.
Parcham: A faction of Afghanistan’s communist People’s Democratic Party associated with Babrak Karmal. Karmal’s political base within the party was this faction.
National Fatherland Front: An Afghan political coalition founded in 1981 to broaden support for the ruling party. Karmal’s government used the coalition to seek allies beyond the party.

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