The Abortive ‘Saur Coup’ in Afghanistan

 A Political Disaster Engineered by Stalinists

- Rajesh Tyagi/ 1.6.2026

Afghanistan provides yet another tragic example of the many political disasters that have resulted in the last century, from sectarian, and nationally driven policy and program of Stalinists, in South Asia.

For about half a decade after the rise of the dictatorship of Prince Daoud who took to power through a palace coup in 1973, the Stalinist People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) had tailed behind it sheepishly. As Kremlin supported Daoud, so did its stooge- the Afghan PDPA.

Stalinist PDPA was deeply divided between the ‘Khalq’ and ‘Parcham’ factions, both of whom were closely bound up with Daoud regime in power, and vied each other for proximity to it.

But Daoud had other plans. By 1978, Daud had set out for a major purge of leftist influence and interference in his government. He started repression on PDPA leaders.