Babrak Karmal
In office December 27, 1979 – November 24, 1986
Preceded by	Hafizullah Amin
Succeeded by	Haji Mohammad Chamkani
Born	January 6, 1929 Kamari, Afghanistan
Died	December 3, 1996 Moscow, Russia
Political party	People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan

Babrak Karmal (January 6, 1929 - December 3, 1996) was the third President of Afghanistan (1979 - 1986) during the period of the communist Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. He was an elegant actor, an expert propagandist, and the best known of the Marxist leadership. Image File history File links Karmal_2. ... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (362nd in leap years). ... For the song by The Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ... November 24 is the 328th day (329th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 359 days (360 in leap years) remaining. ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Location Position of Moscow in Europe Government Country District Subdivision Russia Central Federal District Federal City Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov Geographical characteristics Area  - City 1,081 km² Population  - City (2007)    - Density 10,469,000   8537. ... The Peoples Democratic Party of Afghanistan (in Persian: حزب دموکراتيک خلق افغانستان, in Pashto: د افغانستان د خلق دموکراټیک ګوند, PDPA) was a Soviet-aligned Revisionist party that ruled Afghanistan from 1978 to 1991 with the help of 12000 Russian troops. ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 359 days (360 in leap years) remaining. ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... For the song by The Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about Communist rule in Afghanistan (1978-1992), which is separate, although slightly so, from the Soviet war in Afghanistan. ... Marxism is the political practice and social theory based on the works of Karl Marx, a 19th century philosopher, economist, journalist, and revolutionary, along with Friedrich Engels. ...

Having been restored to power with Soviet support, he was unable to consolidate his power and, in 1986, he was replaced by Dr. Mohammad Najibullah. He left Afghanistan for Moscow, but returned to Kabul in 1989. He died in Moscow. Soviet redirects here. ... Dr. Mohammad Najibullah (Pashto: دوکتور نجيب الله; born 1947, died September 27, 1996) was the fourth and last President of the communist Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. ... Location Position of Moscow in Europe Government Country District Subdivision Russia Central Federal District Federal City Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov Geographical characteristics Area  - City 1,081 km² Population  - City (2007)    - Density 10,469,000   8537. ... For other places with the same name, see Kabul (disambiguation). ... Location Position of Moscow in Europe Government Country District Subdivision Russia Central Federal District Federal City Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov Geographical characteristics Area  - City 1,081 km² Population  - City (2007)    - Density 10,469,000   8537. ...

[edit] Early years

The son of a well-connected army general, although born into a wealthy family of Kashmiri origin in the village of Kamari (east of Kabul), Babrak Karmal lived in hardship following the death of his mother. Kashmir (or Cashmere) may refer to: Kashmir region, the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent India, Kashmir conflict, the territorial dispute between India, Pakistan, and the China over the Kashmir region. ... For other places with the same name, see Kabul (disambiguation). ...

He was an indifferent student in high school and in the law school of Kabul University, quickly gained a reputation as an orator and activist in the university’s student union in 1951. He became involved in Marxist political activities while a student at Kabul University, and was imprisoned for five years as a result. Kabul University is located in Kabul, Afghanistan and was founded 1931, opened 1932 and formally established in 1947. ... Kabul University is located in Kabul, Afghanistan and was founded 1931, opened 1932 and formally established in 1947. ...

In prison, Karmal was befriended by a fellow inmate, Mier Akbar Khybar. A third inmate, Mier Mohammad Siddiq Farhang, initiated both to pro-Moscow leftist views. After graduation he entered the Ministry of Planning, keeping in close touch with those who had special knowledge on communism, among them Mier Mohammad Siddiq Farhang and Ali Mohammad Zahma', a professor at Kabul University.

[edit] Political career

On January 1, 1965 the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan was founded in Kabul, with Karmal serving as one of its twenty-eight founding members in its founding congress. Karmal was appointed its Secretary. As a result, he was elected and served in the National Assembly from 1965 until 1973. January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... The Peoples Democratic Party of Afghanistan (in Persian: حزب دموکراتيک خلق افغانستان, in Pashto: د افغانستان د خلق دموکراټیک ګوند, PDPA) was a Soviet-aligned Revisionist party that ruled Afghanistan from 1978 to 1991 with the help of 12000 Russian troops. ...

In 1967, when the party split into the Khalq and the Parcham factions, Karmal became the leader of the more moderate Parcham faction. When Mohammed Daoud Khan overthrew the monarchy and instituted the Republic, Karmal’s faction shared power with him, although Karmal himself did not hold an official position. However, once President Daoud felt secure in his position, dismissed Parchamis from the presidential cabinet and tried to distance Afghanistan from the Soviet Union. 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... Khalq (Masses) was a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party of Afghanistan. ... A communist group in Afghanistan formed in 1967 by USSRs help. ... Sardar Mohammed Daoud Khan[1] (July 18, 1909 – April 28, 1978), son of Sardar Mohammed Aziz Khan and grandson of Sardar Mohammed Yusuf Khan was an Afghan statesman and President of the Republic of Afghanistan from 1973 until his assassination in 1978 as a result of a revolution led by... Places where monarchies maintain rule appear in blue. ... A communist group in Afghanistan formed in 1967 by USSRs help. ...

The factions reunited in 1977, and in April 1978 seized control of Afghanistan. Karmal was initially deputy prime minister but following the rise of the rival Khalq faction he was soon 'exiled' as ambassador to Prague. For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... Nickname: City of a Hundred Spires Motto: Praga Caput Rei publicae Location within the Czech Republic Coordinates: Country Czech Republic Region Capital City of Prague Founded 9th century  - Mayor Pavel Bém Area    - City 496 km²  (191. ...

The PDPA was attempting to modernize the country in line with socialist ideas, but there was major unrest. In December 1979 the Soviets invaded Afghanistan and Soviet commandos killed the then leader Hafizullah Amin. The Soviets brought Karmal back to be President of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Babrak Karmal, exiled leader of the Parcham faction of the PDPA was installed by the Soviets as Afghanistan's new head of government. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

[edit] President of the Republic

Flag of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan during Babrak Karmal's rule. The flag was changed in order to reflect a more "Islamic" and popular design, restoring the historical colors that the was common in previous flags.

In his first radio broadcasts Karmal gave hopeful promises. He said that henceforth there would be no executions and that a new constitution would be drawn up providing for the democratic election of national and local assemblies. He also promised that political parties would function freely and that both personal property and individual freedom would be safeguarded. In particular, he stressed that soon a government representing a united national front would be set up and that it would not pursue socialism. Image File history File links AfghanFlag1980. ... Image File history File links AfghanFlag1980. ... Democracy (literally rule by the people, from the Greek demos, people, and kratos, rule[1]) is a form of government. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

He managed to fulfill some of his promises: the release of some political prisoners; the promulgation of the Fundamental Principles of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan; the change of the red, Soviet-style banner of the Khalq period to the more orthodox one of black, red, and green; the granting of concessions to religious leaders; and the conditional restoration of confiscated property. This article is about Communist rule in Afghanistan (1978-1992), which is separate, although slightly so, from the Soviet war in Afghanistan. ... Khalq (Masses) was a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party of Afghanistan. ...

However, his Government didn't enjoy International support from the beginning. The United Nations General Assembly voted by 104 to 18 with 18 abstentions for a resolution which "strongly deplored" the "recent armed intervention" in Afghanistan and called for the "total withdrawal of foreign troops" from the country. The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ...

Immediate problems also were within the party. He was the chosen man of the Kremlin, and no one within the party could openly oppose him. However, scheming men devise ways to oppose even under the strictest of circumstances. No attempt was made to televise the process by which, even within the official party and the Revolutionary Council, Karmal was elected head of the party and of the state. Moscow Kremlin in the 19th century. ...

Karmal’s poor performance in interviews with foreign journalists also failed to help his public image. In the first and last televised interview of his life, held before a large number of foreign and Afghan journalists after he was raised to power, Karmal divided the journalists on the basis of the Cold War line distinguishing between the imperialist bloc and the socialist bloc countries. For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ...

Thus, the civil war in Afghanistan started. This was a different type of war, however, since it was a guerrilla warfare and a war of attrition between the PDPA-Communist controlled regime and the mujahidin; it cost both sides a great deal. Many Afghans, perhaps as many as five million, or one-quarter of the country's population, fled to Pakistan and Iran where they organized into guerrilla groups to strike Soviet and government forces inside Afghanistan. Mujahideen (مجاهدين; also transliterated as mujāhidīn, mujahedeen, mujahedin, mujahidin, mujaheddin, etc. ...

Others remained in Afghanistan and also formed fighting groups. These various groups were supplied with funds to purchase arms, principally from the United States, Saudi Arabia, the People's Republic of China, and Egypt.

[edit] Fall from power

The regime ruled only the city of Kabul, the provincial capitals, and those strategic areas where the Soviets and the Afghan Military had stationed military contingents and militia units. Despite high casualties on both sides, pressure continued to mount on the Soviet Union, especially after the United States brought in Stinger anti-aircraft missiles which severely reduced the effectiveness of Soviet air cover. Type MANPADS Nationality United States Era Cold War/modern Launch platform Man portable Target aircraft History Builder Raytheon Missile Systems Date of design 1967 Production period Service duration 1981-present Operators Britain, Germany, Israel, Iran, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Pakistan, Switzerland, United States Variants Number built Approx. ... American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft, or air defense, is any method of combating military aircraft from the ground. ...

Moscow came to regard Karmal as a failure and blamed him for the problems. Years later, when Karmal’s inability to consolidate his government had become obvious, Mikhail Gorbachev, then General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party, said: Location Position of Moscow in Europe Government Country District Subdivision Russia Central Federal District Federal City Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov Geographical characteristics Area  - City 1,081 km² Population  - City (2007)    - Density 10,469,000   8537. ... Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachyov ( , IPA: , commonly written as Mikhail Gorbachev; born March 2, 1931) was the last leader of the Soviet Union, serving from 1985 until its collapse in 1991. ... The Communist Party of the Soviet Union ( Russian: Коммунисти́ческая Па́ртия Сове́тского Сою́за = &#1050...

Not only that, but some Afghan troops who had fought for the Communist Government began to defect. In May 1986 he was replaced as party leader by Mohammad Najibullah, and six months later he was relieved of the presidency. Karmal moved to Moscow, where the Soviets could protect him from foes in Afghanistan. He remained there until his death. 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dr. Mohammad Najibullah (Pashto: دوکتور نجيب الله; born 1947, died September 27, 1996) was the fourth and last President of the communist Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. ...

[edit] Death

Karmal died in Moscow's Central Clinical Hospital from liver cancer on December 3, 1996. On December 5, about 200 members of the Afghan community in Moscow attended a memorial service at the Hospital. Most of those in attendance had served in Karmal's Afghan government. Karmal's body was then flown the following day by a Russian military airplane to Mazari Sharif, Afghanistan for burial. He was exhumed from his grave by the Taliban when they conquered Hayratan and was thrown into the Amu Darya. Hepatic tumors are tumors or growths on or in the liver (medical terms pertaining to the liver often start in hepato- or hepatic from the Greek word for liver, hepar). ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Mazari Sharif, also known as Mazar-e-Sharif, Mazar-i Sharif, Mazār-e Sharīf and Mazar-i-Sharif (Persian: مزار شریف), is the fourth largest city of Afghanistan, with population of 183,000 people (2002 official estimate). ... Flag flown by the Taliban. ... The Amu Darya (Darya means river) rises in the Pamirs and flows mainly north-west through the Hindu Kush, Uzbekistan to join the Aral Sea in a large delta. ...

This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The President of Afghanistan is Afghanistans head of state, head of government, and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Prime Minister of Afghanistan is a currently a defunct post in the Afghan Government. ... Sultan Ali Keshtmand (b. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Peoples Democratic Party of Afghanistan (in Persian: حزب دموکراتيک خلق افغانستان, in Pashto: د افغانستان د خلق دموکراټیک ګوند, PDPA) was a Soviet-aligned Revisionist party that ruled Afghanistan from 1978 to 1991 with the help of 12000 Russian troops. ... Dr. Mohammad Najibullah (Pashto: دوکتور نجيب الله; born 1947, died September 27, 1996) was the fourth and last President of the communist Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. ...

[edit] See also

• Biography of President Karmal - Afghani.com