Flags of Afghanistan

Flags from Our World

AFGHANISTAN

A Flag History of Afghanistan

Afghanistan probably holds the world record of changes to its national flag, reflecting the turbulent history of the country. The first truly national flag was adopted in 1901 by Emir Abd el Rahman who united the country after the second Anglo-Aghan war of 1878-80 and adopted a flag in his dynastic colour, black, with, in white, a "mehrab", an arch in a mosque where the praying congregation stands, facing the Kaaba in Mecca; this emblem has featured in most Afghan flags since then. His grandson Aman Allah Shah became King in 1926 and introduced the vertical black-green-red flag that has proved most durable. In 1930 the emblem featuring a "mehrab", flanked by two flags and ensconced in two sheaves of wheat, occupying almost the full width of the central stripe was introduced during the rule of Nadir Shah and this flag was used until 1973.

On 17 July 1973, when King Muhammad Zahir Shah was abroad, a coup d'état took place and the Republic was proclaimed. The flag was changed to a horizontal tricolour and a republican emblem now only featuring a "mender", a many tiered pulpit placed to the right of the mehrab in a mosque, was used. Then, in April 1978 a Marxist coup took place, followed by another coup that brought a radical communist regime to power in October 1979. A red flag, with the party emblem in gold was introduced, provoking much opposition from traditional Muslims. Soviet troops occupied the country in late 1979 and in an attempt to placate the traditionalists, the flag was changed in 1980 to a more Islamic design while keeping certain communist symbols on a black-red-green field; however, various "mujahedeen" resistance groups fought the communist regime and its Soviet backers. In 1986 Soviet troops were gradually withdrawn and a year later a new constitution was adopted, making concessions to moderate islamists; the communist emblems disappeared from the flag.

Meanwhile however, various mujahedeen had fought under banners in which the Islamic colours white and green were dominant; a government in exile was formed in Pakistan and a black-white-green flag was adopted. Black represented the struggle of the people; white stood for the Prophet's standard and Peace; green, the symbol of Islam and the colour of Mohammed's turban. A number of variants of this were later used in the country itself, after the Islamic State of Afghanistan was proclaimed in 1992. Power struggles between the various mujahedeen factions continued. Meanwhile, a movement known as "Taliban" arose around Kandahar in the south. Claiming to be religious students but sponsored by the Pakistani secret service they gradually took over the country. After they captured Kabul in late 1997, the country changed its name to Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The flag was plain white, inscribed with the "Shahada", the Muslim Article of Faith (There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is the Prophet of Allah) in green.

The fundamentalist Taliban regime was not recognised internationally and collapsed after American bombardments following the terrorist destruction of New York's World Trade Center at the end of 2001. A provisional government was formed with interim leader Muhammad Kazai, who invited former King Muhammad Zahir Shah back home. The new National Flag was based on the flag of 1930-1973 with the addition of the "Shahada", the Muslim Article of Faith, above the mehrab.

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