THE DEMAND FOR PASHTUNISTAN
From around 1950, paved roads were
constructed, airports and apartment blocks were built, and irrigation
projects established. At the same time the idea of a shared Afghan
identity spread among the educated elite. In Kabul's state boarding
schools for secondary education, romantic ideas of nation and people were
being closely associated with Pashto culture. The boarding schools
recruited their pupils from both Afghan and Pakistani Pashtun, and when
Pakistan was established in 1947, Afghanistan demanded a referendum for
the Pashtun in Pakistan. They should be allowed to establish their own
country, Pashtunistan, or join the Afghan state.
EMBARGOES ON TRADE
As a reaction to the Afghan Pashtunistan
policy, Pakistan repeatedly closed its borders to Afghanistan. Trade
embargoes and US military aid to Pakistan affected the Afghan economy and
forced the Afghans to increase their trade with the Soviet Union.
When the Pakistan border was closed from 1961 to 1963, King Zahir Shah
wanted to ease the strained relationship with Pakistan. Therefore, the
king dismissed his cousin, Prime Minister Daoud, who was very aggressive
in formulating political demands to Pakistan.
The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan cuts
right across the Pashtun tribal area (shown in red). The border
(Durand line) marks the limit of British expansion to the west in
the late 1800s. The antagonism between Pakistan and Afghanistan has
repeatedly led Pakistan to close their shared border.
COUP AGAINST THE KING
In 1964, the king introduced a new
constitution permitting free political debate and curtailing the royal
family monopoly on important offices of state. At the same time,
Afghanistan was given a new administrative structure. The government tried
to reduce the influence of ethnic and local groups through a new division
of provinces cutting across these concentrations. However, leftist
officers were still dissatisfied with the slow pace of change. In 1973
they assisted Daoud in dethroning King Zahir Shah. Daoud abolished the
Afghan monarchy and proclaimed himself president of The Republic of
Afghanistan.
