Emirate of Afghanistan د افغانستان امارت Da Afġānistān Amārāt امارت افغانستان Amārāt i Afġānistān | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | |||||||||
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| Status | Unrecognized emirate | ||||||||
| Capital | Kabul | ||||||||
| Religion | Islam (official)[1] | ||||||||
| Government | Islamic emirate | ||||||||
| Emir and King | |||||||||
• 1929 | Habibullāh Kalakāni | ||||||||
| Historical era | Afghan Civil War (1928–1929)/Interwar Period | ||||||||
| 14 December 1928 | |||||||||
| 17 January 1929 | |||||||||
| April–May 1929 | |||||||||
| 13 October 1929 | |||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 1929 | 7,120,000[note 1] | ||||||||
| Currency | Afghan afghani | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | Afghanistan | ||||||||
TheEmirate of Afghanistan was anunrecognized state inCentral Asia ruled by theSaqqawists that existed from January to October 1929.Habibullāh Kalakāni became the state's onlyemir on 18 January 1929.[2] After the fall of Kalakāni on 13 October 1929, the Emirate ended.
Their rule is known in thehistory of Afghanistan as theSaqqawist period.[3]
The emirate emerged during theAfghan Civil War of 1928–1929, a conflict betweenSaqqawist forces led byHabibullāh Kalakāni and opposing tribes and monarchs within Afghanistan. After early Saqqawist victories, the capture of Kabul in January 1929 marked the establishment of the Saqqawist emirate. Kalakāni's rule, known as the Saqqawist period, was marked by social unrest and military engagements. Eventually, Nadir Khan captured Kabul on 13 October 1929 and disestablished the emirate. The war's aftermath saw Nadir Khan ascend to the throne asMohammad Nadir Shah and the re-establishment of theKingdom of Afghanistan.[citation needed]
By 1929, Afghanistan had 9 provinces, consisting of 5 major provinces (wilayats) and 4 minor provinces (Hukumat-i Alas).[4]
The major provinces were:[4]
The minor provinces were:[4]
Although these provinces werede jure all part of the emirate, in practice the Saqqawist territories were in a constant state of flux, and never encompassed the entire country. In particular, the Saqqawists never penetrated into the Farah or Meymaneh provinces.
Top-level decision-making essentially fell to two individuals:Habibullāh Kalakāni, the leader of the Saqqawists, and his partner and virtual equal in matters of government,Sayyid Husayn.[5]
After taking over Kabul, Kalakāni appointed a number of people into office, including:[6]
Once in power, the Saqqawists abolished conscription and taxation, and closed down schools.[7]
On 9 May 1929, Kalakāni passed a decree in Kabul which forbade citizens of Kabul from moving out of the city without permission, even into the government-controlled Bandar-i Arghandah, Charasya, Bini Hisar, Butkhak, Kutal-i Pay Manar, Kutal-i Khayr Khanah, Maydan, Jalriz, Logar, Khurd Kabul, Tangi Gharu or Dih Sabz.[8]
For a while, Kalakāni relied on the royal treasury to pay his army, without levying taxes. However, when the treasury ran out, taxation was reinstated in order to cover the expenses of his army. Revenue was also collected by forcing wealthy Tajik merchants to contribute to his treasury.[7]
TheGapminder Foundation estimates that Afghanistan's population numbered 7.12 million in 1929. This number reflects the entire country and not only the Saqqawist-occupied territories.[9]
The Saqqawists maintained a military during their period of control. On 14 April 1929, Fayz Muhammad estimated the Saqqawists to number 20,000.[10]
A British report in 1932 describes how, from the outbreak of the civil war, the Kabul, Koh-i-Daman and Kohistan areas had been the chief sources for the supply of manpower for the Saqqawists. As Kalakani’s commitments on the various fronts grew, so did his demands for manpower become more incessant. The economic situation which was already in a bad way, thus grew rapidly worse. Tilling of the fields and sowing of crops reached a standstill owing to lack of labour, and the alienation of the support of the leading Maliks and Khans at this time only tended to enhance the already prevalent feeling of discontent and weariness. In addition to this, Kalakani’s treasury was unequal to the severe strain imposed upon it and for the months of July and August the troops received no pay. Their morale was thus so lowered that they were unable to withstand any determined effort made against them.[11]
The Saqqawist government celebratedAfghan Independence Day for five days (instead of the usual eight) starting on 19 August 1929. Kalakani spent 60,000 Afghan rupees on the celebrations, and hoped he could use the occasion to try to win over the Afghan populace. Kalakani gave a speech on 19 August – the contents of the speech are unknown, but Fayz Muhammed remarked that Kalakani "stood there telling lie after lie about the way things really were."[12]
Despite taking control of Kabul, the Saqqawist government of Afghanistan was unable to obtain any diplomatic recognition.[13] Nonetheless, the Saqqawists allied themselves with theBasmachi movement, allowing them to operate in Northern Afghanistan. and revoking the "Pact of Neutrality and Non-Aggression" that Afghanistan had signed with theSoviet Union following the end of theUrtatagai conflict, which obligated Afghanistan to restrain Basmachi border raids.[14]
On 6 August 1929, Kalakani announced his intention of despatching a mission to visit certain European countries with a view to obtaining recognition and requested the government ofBritish India to grant transit facilities. In reply, the Raj pointed out that their declared policy of neutrality and non-intervention precluded them from regarding the status of the party while on British territory as other than that of private individuals, and that no assurance could be given as regards their reception at the Foreign Office. The matter was then dropped.[15]
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