How the Saur Revolution altered Afghanistan’s destiny

Every year, Afghans around the world mark April 27 as a tragic day in the country’s history, as it was on that date in 1978 that the communists overthrew the government of Sardar Daud Khan in a bloody coup. It was termed the “Saur Revolution.” Afghanistan has never been a stable country since, remaining in a perpetual cycle of conflict for almost half a century. The events of 1978, claimed by its proponents to be a national democratic revolution, instead marked the beginning of a prolonged national catastrophe.
Communism, a completely foreign ideology, found supporters in the country under false promises of progressivism, social justice and equality. A conservative Muslim society that valued its ancient culture and long‑held traditions had nothing in common with a sociopolitical and economic system founded on Marxism and Leninism. This new way of life usurped many of their freedoms and forced Afghans into one‑party rule. Afghans have long since blamed that fateful day in April 1978 for all the calamities that followed. Even after half a century, the nation remains haunted by the legacy of the communist era, especially the Soviet occupation that began in 1979 and cost nearly 2 million Afghan lives.
That communism could have brought any positive change to Afghanistan is a view held by only a small minority, while the overwhelming majority of Afghans remain united in rejecting the very notion of communism in their country. It is true that after decades of monarchic rule and limited attention to public welfare, there was a desire for change. But communism was never a feasible alternative. A more suitable path might have been a progressive political and economic system inspired by the social democratic models of Western Europe, adapted to Afghanistan’s realities.
Just a year and a half after the communist coup, Soviet troops entered Afghanistan from the north on Dec. 27, 1979, and a full‑scale invasion began. This marked the climax of the Cold War between the two superpowers, the US and the Soviet Union, with Afghanistan becoming the battleground.
The Soviet invasion was a turning point not only for the US but for the entire Western world. The NATO bloc understood that if the Soviets consolidated their position in Afghanistan and continued their advance toward South Asia to reach their long‑cherished dream of warm waters, they would effectively control the Gulf and diminish Western influence in the Middle East. Under these circumstances, the Afghan freedom struggle received tremendous military, financial and political support from the West, especially the US.
While Afghans fought heroically to defend their freedom, it is also true that without full US support, the struggle might not have succeeded. It became a shared objective: Afghans fighting for liberation and the West working to prevent further Soviet expansion. The US was also able to rally a broad coalition of allies, including Arab and Muslim countries, against the Soviet aggression. 

With the country facing an uncertain future, Afghans have an opportunity to revisit the past half‑century of experimentation.

Dr. Ajmal Shams

Although the communist era devastated Afghanistan in many ways, it also created new opportunities by exposing the landlocked country and its people to the wider world. Millions of Afghans migrated to neighboring countries and to distant destinations such as the US, Canada and Western Europe. These refugees were exposed to new ways of life, gained education and acquired new skills.
During the republic era of 2002 to 2021, many of the technocrats who ran the government were Western‑educated Afghans who had escaped communist persecution and settled abroad. Afghan expatriates in the West have also been instrumental in sending millions of dollars in remittances back home, contributing significantly to the national economy.
After the first Taliban regime was toppled by the US in 2001, Afghanistan experienced, for the first time, a genuine democratic process. This led to Hamid Karzai becoming the first democratically elected president in Afghanistan’s history. The country adopted a new constitution founded on a free‑market economy, which was well suited to Afghanistan’s circumstances and preserved its national Islamic character.
Despite its shortcomings, it was the best constitution Afghanistan was able to enact considering all the on-the-ground realities. The country’s new experiment with political and economic reforms was largely successful and should not be blamed for the collapse of the republic in August 2021. In fact, the failure to adhere to the letter and spirit of that constitution may be considered one of the contributing factors.
Now that the country faces an uncertain future, Afghan leaders, politicians, intellectuals, scholars and ordinary citizens have an important opportunity to revisit the past half‑century of experimentation with different regimes and political systems. It is time to reflect on what political and economic model would best serve the nation’s interests in the current geopolitical and economic landscape. Great nations learn from their mistakes and find new paths that allow future generations to prosper and succeed.

• Dr. Ajmal Shams is Vice President of the Afghanistan Social Democratic Party. He served as a Deputy Minister in the former Government of Afghanistan.
X: @ajmshams