— Ch. 1 · The 1965 Split —
Parcham.
~3 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
Babrak Karmal and Nur Muhammad Taraki established the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan in 1965. By 1967, this single organization fractured into two distinct sects known as Parcham and Khalq. The split arose from deep ideological disagreements regarding how to achieve revolution in their country. Parchamites argued that Afghanistan was not yet developed enough for a Leninist revolutionary approach. They sought a patriotic and anti-imperialist united front instead of immediate violence. Their rivals, the Khalqists, demanded an immediate and violent overthrow of the existing government. This fundamental disagreement created a permanent rift between the two groups.
Urban Tajik Support
Parchamites drew their primary support from middle-class residents living within urban city centers. These supporters were predominantly ethnic Tajiks rather than Pashtuns. In contrast, the Khalqists relied on rural Pashtun populations across the countryside. The demographic divide shaped the political strategies each faction employed during the late 1960s. Urban dwellers often favored gradual social-economic reforms over sudden upheaval. This base gave Parcham a different character compared to its more militant rural counterparts. The party structure reflected these geographic and ethnic differences throughout its early years.