Daoud Khan overthrows the monarchy

👉 Daoud Khan overthrows the monarchy Current

17 July 1973

Mohammed Daoud Khan seized power in a coup while King Zahir Shah was abroad, ending the monarchy and proclaiming a republic. This domestic power shift preceded the later conflict, but it should not be...

Saur Revolution brings the PDPA to power

27 April 1978

Military officers aligned with the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) overthrew Daoud’s government. The new leadership launched sweeping reforms and state repression. The political...

Herat uprising challenges the PDPA government

15 March 1979

An uprising in Herat, involving soldiers and civilians, exposed the government’s fragile authority. The government’s violent response and fears of spreading revolt intensified the crisis. The...

U.S. authorizes covert aid to Afghan opposition

3 July 1979

President Jimmy Carter signed a finding authorizing covert support to opponents of the PDPA government, months before Soviet forces entered Afghanistan. The initial program was limited and non-lethal;...

Soviet forces begin entering Afghanistan

24 December 1979

The Soviet Union began a large military deployment into Afghanistan amid the Afghan government’s internal crisis and insurgency. Moscow presented the action as assistance to an allied government; it...

Soviet forces seize key sites in Kabul

27 December 1979

Soviet forces carried out Operation Storm-333, killing President Hafizullah Amin and installing Babrak Karmal. Afghan political agency was constrained by an outside power deciding who would govern,...

Daoud Khan overthrows the monarchy

People in this event

Mohammed Daoud Khan

Zahir Shah

Organizations in this Event

Afghan Army

Republic of Afghanistan

Related Events

Which event ended Afghanistan’s monarchy in 1973?

Daoud Khan’s 1973 coup ended the Afghan monarchy.