— Ch. 1 · Origins And Ideology —
Khalq.
~7 min read · Ch. 1 of 7
Twenty-seven men gathered at Nur Mohammed Taraki's house in Kabul on the 1st of January 1965 to hold the First Congress of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan. Hafizullah Amin used his position training teachers in the late 1950s and early 1960s to raise political consciousness among students and staff. He published dramas and political sketches under a pseudonym while holding conferences where he could speak directly to participants. A teachers conference in Kandahar during 1961 gave him direct access to those responsible for education in that province. This laid the groundwork for Khalq's support base in rural areas as well as within Kabul among Amin's former students. Amin believed radicalizing Afghan teachers was the first step to radicalize youth of the rural masses into supporting the Khalqist cause. Using his position he was able to radicalize a generation of Afghan teachers. Finally, Hafizullah Amin was the only Khalqi member of the PDPA to be elected to Parliament in 1969. The party split in 1967 due to bitter resentment with the rival Parcham faction which had a differing revolutionary strategy. The Khalq faction was more tribal and militant whereas Parcham had more support among urban population and middle classes. Taraki believed revolution could be achieved by building a tightly disciplined working-class party in classical Leninist fashion. Karmal felt Afghanistan was too undeveloped for such a strategy and required a national democratic front of patriotic forces.
The Saur Revolution
On the 25th of April 1978 police arrested Politburo members of the PDPA while Hafizullah Amin remained free until five hours later when he was finally imprisoned. During those five hours Amin instructed Khalqi army officers to overthrow the government without having authority. On the 27th of April Khalqist military leaders began the revolution by proclaiming to cells in armed forces that time for revolution had arrived. Khalqist Colonel Mohammad Aslam Watanjar served as Army commander on ground during coup while his troops gained control of Kabul. Colonel Abdul Qadir led Air Force squadrons launching major attack on Royal Palace where President Mohammad Daoud Khan and most family including women and children were assassinated. The Saur Revolution occurred after month in Persian calendar giving it its name. Khalq's victory was partially due to Daoud miscalculation that Parcham was more serious threat. This success gave effective control over armed forces great advantage over Parchami rival. During first months of revolution Cabinet membership split eleven to ten with Khalq in majority. By time communist coup arrived in April 1978 Khalq outnumbered Parcham by factor two or three to one. Taraki passed recruitment duties within military to Amin in 1973 making move highly successful.