“The Revolution of 7th Saur has been victorious & armed forces of the country are in control. We congratulate the people of Afghanistan,” said radio announcement on repeat across #Afghanistan. A government formed with leaders of People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (THREAD)
The new government led by Nur Mohammed Taraki paraded their support in Kabul. They had killed Pres Daoud Khan & 17 members of his family (cousin King Zahir Shah watched from exile in Italy after 1973 coup ended Afghan Monarchy) buried them all in a mass grave discovered in 2008.
The last Afghan King was not the only one watching. At UN, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs Hafizullah Amin insisted April 1978 was not another coup d'etat."It was not in anyway sponsored by the Soviet Union, it was sponsored, organized, planned by the people of #Afghanistan."
The Hezb-e Democratik-e Khalq-e Afghanistan (PDPA) wanted to “modernize” #Afghanistan by decree. Such as implementing land reforms that redistributed land, introducing coed literacy programs included communist teaching. Below is an ex from Kabul Times shared by @NafeesRehmanDr. 
PDPA’s efforts were made possible because Afghan constitution of 1964 kind of allowed formation of political parties for the first time (VERY important).
PDPA was under the influence of Soviet Union & by end of 1978, govt was being advised by USSR.
Pres Taraki & Leonid Brezhnev
PDPA was under the influence of Soviet Union & by end of 1978, govt was being advised by USSR.
Pres Taraki & Leonid Brezhnev
The USSR already had advisors & some military personal in #Afghanistan under Pres Daud but after the coup for the “Saur revolution” more than 3000 Soviet civilian advisors were in Kabul in 1979.
Soviet-Afghan Friendship Treaty signed by Taraki is below:
Soviet-Afghan Friendship Treaty signed by Taraki is below:
PDPA’s mission to create a modern socialist Afghanistan resulted in violence, mass torture, forced disappearances, & mass killings. The purge began immediately after April 27 & thousands of professionals were arrested.
Majority were never heard from again.
Arrests continued...
Majority were never heard from again.
Arrests continued...
Just in Kabul alone 5,000 people were forcibly disappeared between 1978 to 1979.
Death List emerged in 2013.
Killings occurred under direction of Interrogation Department of the Afghan Security Service AGSA – predecessor of KAM, KhAD & WAD.
Full list: aihrc.org.af/media/files/li…
Death List emerged in 2013.
Killings occurred under direction of Interrogation Department of the Afghan Security Service AGSA – predecessor of KAM, KhAD & WAD.
Full list: aihrc.org.af/media/files/li…
The head of the intelligence service immediately after the April 1978 coup d’état was Assadullah Sarwari.
General Aslam Watanjar was named Minister of Interior. Both directly reported to Pres Taraki.
Below is photo of Sarwari during his 2006 trial. He was released in 2017.
General Aslam Watanjar was named Minister of Interior. Both directly reported to Pres Taraki.
Below is photo of Sarwari during his 2006 trial. He was released in 2017.
There were no more than 15,000 PDPA members in 1978. Taraki sent Babrak Karmal, a Parcham, abroad as ambassador. Karmal & MirKhybar were prison mates & close.
Elsewhere in Afghanistan, there were other left-wing groups like Shole-ye Jawed (Eternal Flame).
Elsewhere in Afghanistan, there were other left-wing groups like Shole-ye Jawed (Eternal Flame).
Current #profilepic is an aerial view of the notorious Pul-e-Charkhi Prison. It is currently full...
In 2006, NATO forces discovered a mass grave of some 2,000 bodies near the prison.
In 2007, an anonymous Afghan man (70) returning from exile unearthed 15 "rooms" of skeletons.
In 2006, NATO forces discovered a mass grave of some 2,000 bodies near the prison.
In 2007, an anonymous Afghan man (70) returning from exile unearthed 15 "rooms" of skeletons.
