Afghanistan History from Dost to Baradar (1838-2021) Dr. Shreesh K. Pathak
Afghanistan: A multiethnic, Tribal society consisting Ethnolinguistic Groups
Pashtun (42%), Tajik (27%), Hazara (9%), Uzbek (8%), Aimaq, Turkmen, Baloch, Pashai, Nuristani, Gujjar, Arab, Brahui, Qizilbash, Pamiri, Kyrgyz, Sadat and others (14%).
Pashtun (15%) in Pakistan
Afghanistan : Geopolitics • Iran • Pakistan • India • China • Tajikistan • Uzbekistan • Turkmenistan • Russia
Afghanistan History: Graveyards of World Powers
The Great Game Imperial Russia-Afghanistan-British India
Afghanistan History: Graveyards of World Powers
First Anglo-Afghan War (1838-42) UK enters
Dost Mohammad Khan Shah Shuja Durrani
Afghanistan History: Graveyards of World Powers Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-80)
• Sher Ali Khan • Yaʿqūb Khan
• Sir Louis Cavagnari • Abdur Rahman • Treaty of Gandamak • British Control of Afghani Foreign Affairs • 1907: Russia accepted Afghanistan as the British Zone of Influence
Henry Mortimer Durand
• Afghanistan-Pakistan Border: The Durand Line (1893)
Afghanistan History: Graveyards of World Powers Third Anglo-Afghan War (191921) UK Episode ends here
• Amānullāh Khan • War of Independence • August 1919- British Recognised Independence. • Constitutional Monarchy-1926 • Queen Soraya Tarzi • Social Reforms
Afghanistan History: Zahir Shah- 40 Years Rule (1933-1973) • Civil Unrest • Amānullāh fled India (1929) • Nadir Shah- Minister of War, King (1929) • Zahir Shah: A Monarch • Zahir was not happy with the Durand Line in 1947. • General Mohammed Daud became his PM1953: Cousin and Brother in Law • Daud Supported Separatist Movement at Af-Pak Border. • Pakistan Closed the border, Zahir made him resigned- 1963
Afghanistan History: New Constitution and Coup • Elected PM • General Election-1965 • Communist Party- PDPA • Islamist Party • Zahir on Foreign Tour-1973 • Bloodless Coup by G. M. Daud with the help of Army and Communists • Daud: The Dictator • NAM • Furious Brezhnev
Afghanistan History: USSR Enters • Daud was killed in Pro-Soviet Coup-Saur Revolution-1978- Hafizullah Amin • New Communist President-Nur M Taraki • Taraki was against clerics. • Mujahideen (USA-Op. Cyclone, Pakistan, China, Iran, S. Arabia), USSR entered to counter. • Civil War 1979 (Communists Vs Islamists) • Taraki was killed, USSR entered • Infightings: Communist and Islamist Factions • Hafizullah Amin Rule
Afghanistan History: Iranian Revolution
• 1979- Islamists took over Liberal King Reza Pahalvi • Amin started appeasing Islamists. • Amin murdered allegedly by ProSoviet Conspiracy. • Babrak Karmal Rule by USSR
Afghanistan History: Consolidating Mujahideen • 1985-Mujahideen came together in Pakistan to form alliance against Soviet Forces • Mohammad Najibullah/ Dr. Najib rose to power, as Gorbachev wanted. • 1988- Geneva Peace Accord- Afghanistan, USSR, USA, Pakistan signed accord and USSR began pulling out troops. • US did not respect the accord, continued supplying arms to Mujahideen. • Civil War: Najib vs Mujahideen • 1991- USSR Disintegrated. • Mujahideen won, Infighting surfaced within them. • 1992- Dr. Najib was killed by Taliban • B. Rabbani removed by Taliban-1996
Taliban 1.0 • 1997: Taliban Rule was recognized by Pakistan and S. Arabia. • More Radicalist than Mujahideen • Pashtun Nationalism • Destroyed Bamiyan • Northern Alliance (Mujahideen) emerged in late 90s under Ahmad Shah Massoud, retaliated to Taliban but got defeated, Massoud got killed (2001). • 9/11 Al- Quida (Taliban sheltered Osama)- 2001 • 2001- USA entered.
Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani • USA entered. • Massoud’ Aid Hamid Karzai became President • 2004- Election, 2006- Elected President • 2011- Obama killed Osama • 2004-2011: India-Afghanistan Relations: 3 Billion Investment • 2012: Taliban opened office in Dubai for peace talks with USA and Afghan Govt. • 2013: USA announced – Direct Talk with Taliban- Obama, Karzai suspended security talks with USA. • 2014- Ashraf Ghani- President
Trump, Biden and Taliban 2.0 • 2017- Sending more troops • 2020: Trump suddenly announced Direct Peace Talk with Taliban • 2021: Taliban 2.0- Zalmay Khalilzad • Habibatullah Akhundzada • Abdul Ghani baradari • Sirajuddin Haqqani