Saur Revolution

The Saur Revolution was the April 1978 coup in which Afghanistan’s People’s Democratic Party seized power and established a communist government.

People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan: A Marxist-Leninist political party that ruled Afghanistan from 1978 to 1992. Its factional leadership organized the coup and formed the new government.
Mir Akbar Khyber: An Afghan intellectual and Parcham leader whose 1978 killing provoked mass demonstrations. His funeral became a public display of party strength before the coup.
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan: The Afghan state established under People’s Democratic Party rule in 1978. It was the political order created by the coup.
Kabul Revolution of 1929: The 1929 uprising that overthrew King Amanullah Khan and brought Habibullah Kalakani to power. It was an earlier Afghan revolution with different social and political forces.
Afghan communist reforms: The land, education, and social policies introduced by Afghanistan’s communist government after 1978. These reforms translated the new regime’s ideology into state policy and provoked opposition.
Khalq: A radical faction of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan led by Nur Muhammad Taraki and Hafizullah Amin. Khalq’s leaders drove the coup and dominated the first revolutionary government.
1978 Afghan political crisis: The escalating confrontation between Daoud’s government and the People’s Democratic Party in early 1978. Arrests of party leaders during this crisis triggered the military revolt.
Nur Muhammad Taraki: An Afghan Marxist politician who became president after the Saur Revolution. He led the first post-coup government before being killed in an internal power struggle.
Afghan Revolution of 1964: The constitutional transformation that introduced Afghanistan’s 1964 constitution and a limited parliamentary system. It was a reformist political transition, unlike the 1978 military seizure of power.
Saur Revolution literacy campaigns: State-led literacy initiatives introduced by Afghanistan’s communist government, including programs for women and rural communities. They show how the post-coup government pursued social change beyond the cities.

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