Afghan Mellat

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The Afghan Social Democratic Party, more commonly known as Afghan Mellat (Pashto: افغان ملت - Afğān Mellat; "Afghan Nation"), is a Pashtūn (Afghan) ultra-nationalist[1][2] and self-declared social democratic political party in Afghanistan. The party was founded in March 1966 by Ghulam Mohammad Farhad, a German-educated Pashtun intellectual fascinated by some aspects of Nazi policy.[3] Afghan Mellat looks after the interests of the Pashtun ethnic group and has its support only from them.[4] The party favors the ideas of Pashtunization of Afghanistan and a Greater Afghanistan (i.e. it claims the Pashtun-speaking parts of Pakistan for Afghanistan).[4] It has been called ethno fascist by its critics.[5] Although the party describes itself as social democratic, it is not recognized as such by the Socialist International.[6]

In the 1969 parliamentary elections, Farhad was elected to the parliament.[5]

After the Saur Revolution in 1978, the party was banned. Farhad was imprisoned, but released in 1980.

In exile in Pakistan, the party operated under the auspices of the National Islamic Front of Afghanistan.

In 1986-1987, dialogues took place between the government and the party and some leading party members were released from prison.[5] However, the party chose to stay outside of the governing coalition. The relations with the government split the party into three factions; with one faction led by Shams-ul-Huda Shams, one by Qudratullah Hadad and the other by Mohammad Amin Wakman. It is Wakman faction that is currently led by Afghanistan's Finance Minister[7], Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady, the son-in-law of the NIFA leader Pir Gailani.[5]

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[edit] Wakman branch

In 1995 Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady took over the Wakman branch. Under his leadership, the party toned down its Pashtun nationalist profile and sought support amongst non-Pashtuns.[8] The Wakman branch of the party is recognized by the Afghan government as the "Afghan Mellat Party"[9]

After the fall of the Taliban government, the party leader Ahady has been included in the government as Finance Minister. The party supported Hamid Karzai in the presidential election and receives support from Karzai. The party has around 10 MPs.[5] The party officially registered themselves in Afghanistan on May 16, 2004.

[edit] Sham branch

Shams-ul-Huda Shams applied for recognition of his party in 2004, but it was under Ajmal Shams, his son, that it achieved official recognition in May 2007 as "Da Afghanistan Toranpal Woloswak Afghan Mellat Melli Taraqi" party.[10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Amin Saikal, "Modern Afghanistan: A History Of Struggle And Survival", p. 166
  2. ^ Gilles Dorronsoro, "Afghanistan: Revolution Unending, 1979-2002", p. 71, LINK in Google-Books
  3. ^ Th. Ruttig, "Afghanistan's Political Parties and where they come from (1902-2006)", Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Germany; with references to Abdulhamid Mubarez, Tahlil-e waqe’at.e siasi-ye Afghanistan 1919-1996, Kabul, 1996: "... In 1948, Farhad was the first elected mayor of Kabul. From 1934, he had studied in Nazi Germany and was fascinated by some aspects of its policy. ..."; (PDF)
  4. ^ a b Zalmay Khalilzad, "The Security of Southwest Asia", University of Michigan, 2006, ISBN 0566006510
  5. ^ a b c d e http://www.kas.de/db_files/dokumente/7_dokument_dok_pdf_9674_2.pdf
  6. ^ Complete list of all member parties of "Socialist International"
  7. ^ who_main
  8. ^ [ Afghan Elections 2004-2005 ]
  9. ^ "New Afghan party sets agenda, backs talks with insurgents" 30 May 2007 BBC Monitoring, South Asia - Political, Text of report by Mashhad Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran External Service on 29 May 2007
  10. ^ National Afghanistan TV, Kabul, in Dari, 1430 GMT 22 May 2007, as reported by BBC Monitoring South Asia

[edit] External links

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