Emirate of Afghanistan (1929)

Emirate of Afghanistan
1929–1929
Flag Coat of arms
Saqqawist-held territories at their greatest extent on 31 July 1929   Other territories held by the Saqqawists on at least one point
Status	Emirate
Capital	Kabul
Religion	Islam (official)[1]
Government	Monarchy
Emir
• 1929	Habibullāh Kalakāni
History
• Established	18 January 1929
• Fall of Kalakani	13 October 1929
Currency	Afghan rupee
Preceded by Succeeded by Kingdom of Afghanistan Kingdom of Afghanistan
Today part of	Afghanistan

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The Emirate of Afghanistan was an unrecognized state ruled by the Saqqawists that existed from January to October 1929. Habibullāh Kalakāni became the state's only emir on 18 January 1929.^[2] After the fall of Kalakani on 13 October 1929, the Emirate ended.

History[]

Administrative divisions[]

Provinces of Afghanistan in 1929.

Government[]

Once in power, the Saqqawists abolished conscription and taxation, and closed down schools.^[3]

Officeholders[]

After taking over Kabul, Kalakani appointed a number of people into office, including:^[4]

• , former cavalry commander, as Minister of Court.
• as foreign minister.
• , son of of the Safi tribe, as Minister of the interior.
• as governor-general of the .
• as Minister of Defense.
• Purdil Khan as field marshal of the Army.
• as field marshal of the Army alongside Purdil Khan.
• as "honorary sardar".
• as commander of the Arg.
• as minister of finance.
• as war minister.
• of the Kacharlu clan as governor of Hazarahjat (centered on Bihsud).
• as governor of Ghazni.
• as governor of Mazar-i-Sharif.
• of governor of Tagab.
• as governor of Charikar.
• as governor of Jaghuri and Malistan.

Freedom of movement[]

On 9 May 1929, Kalakani 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.^[5]

Economy[]

For a while, Kalakani relied on the royal treasury to pay his army, without levying taxes. However, when the treasury ran out, taxation was reinstated. Taxation was collected by grabbing people's wealth in order to cover the expenses of his army. Revenue was also collected by forcing wealthy Tajik merchants to contribute to his treasury.^[3]

Military[]

The Saqqawists maintained a military during their period of control. On 14 April 1929, Fayz Muhammad estimated the Saqqawists to number 20,000.^[6]

Culture[]

The Saqqawist government celebrated Afghan 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."^[7]

International relations[]

Despite taking control of Kabul, The Saqqawist government of Afghanistan was unable to obtain any diplomatic recognition.^[8] Nonetheless, the Saqqawists allied themselves with the Basmachi movement, allowing them to operate in Northern Afghanistan. and revoking the "Pact of Neutrality and Non-Aggression" that Afghanistan had signed with the Soviet Union following the end of the Urtatagai conflict, which obligated Afghanistan to restrain Basmachi border raids.^[9]

References[]