The Marxist party that split into two warring factions of ideology
In short: In 1965, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) emerged as the country's primary leftist force. But internal friction quickly fractured the movement into two bitter rivals: the hardline Khalq and the moderate Parcham. This ideological schism would define the country's trajectory toward a violent socialist revolution.
Founded on January 1, 1965, the PDPA was a Marxist-Leninist organization that sought to establish a socialist state in Afghanistan. While it initially gained influence among leftist elements and even helped Mohammad Daoud Khan overthrow King Mohammad Zahir Shah in 1973, the party was plagued by internal instability. By 1967, personal rivalries and policy disputes caused a definitive split into two factions: the People’s (Khalq) and the Banner (Parcham). The party's secret constitution, never shared with its members, defined it as the vanguard for all laborers. Publicly, the group avoided the word communist in favor of socialist or national democratic labels. Four members initially won seats in the 1965 parliamentary election.
The two groups represented opposite ends of the revolutionary spectrum. The Khalqists adhered to rigid Marxist-Leninist dogma and a militant revolutionary line, while the Parchamis, led by Babrak Karmal, were considered more moderate and sought to form a 'common front' with other left-wing parties. Despite this friction, the factions briefly re-merged in July 1977 following Soviet mediation, specifically to coordinate a coup against the Daoud Khan regime. The Parcham faction was notably pro-Soviet and supported the existing government during the split. Conversely, the Khalqists were known for their militant revolutionary stance. The 1977 re-merger was a strategic move to prepare for the seizure of power.
The coup succeeded on April 27, 1978, when PDPA strongman Hafizullah Amin orchestrated the Saur Revolution to establish the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. However, the internal rivalry persisted. After Soviet military forces killed Amin in a palace coup in December 1979, a Parchamite-dominated PDPA took control. In its final years, under Mohammad Najibullah, the party shifted away from Marxism-Leninism toward Afghan nationalism, eventually rebranding as the Homeland Party in June 1990 before being banned in 1992. The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan lasted until 1987, when the country's name reverted to the Republic of Afghanistan. Following the 1992 takeover by mujahideen rebels, the Homeland Party was officially banned. Many former officials either joined the new government or fled to join various militias.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan | political party, Afghanistan | Britannica
- Also: People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
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