Afghan Mellat Party

The Afghan Social Democratic Party (, Âfgan-e Tevâlnupal-e Vâlsuakâiz-e Gund), more commonly known as the Afghan Mellat Party ( – Afğān Mellat Gund; "Afghan Nation Party") or simply the Afghan Mellat, is a Pashtun nationalistAmin Saikal, "Modern Afghanistan: A History Of Struggle And Survival", p. 166Gilles Dorronsoro, "Afghanistan: Revolution Unending, 1979–2002", CERI series in comparative politics and international studies, C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2005, p. 71. Google-Books political party in Afghanistan. The party's leadership describes it as social democratic, although it has been historically described as 'ethno fascist' by observers.Socialist affairs and Women & politics, Socialist International and Socialist International Women, 1990. "The Afghan Social Democratic Party, ASDP, celebrated its 25th anniversary in Peshawar, Pakistan, on 8 March 1991. The ASDP is the oldest social democratic party..." (pg. 27) The party's current leader is Stanagul Sherzad, who became the new leader after the 6th party congress on October 3, 2012.

History Afghan Social Democratic Party was founded on March 8, 1966, by a group of influential bureaucrats associated with the ruling elites. However, it was officially declared on March 27 of that year.Emadi, Hafizullah. Politics of the Dispossessed Superpowers and Developments in the Middle East. New York: Praeger, 2001. p. 28.

Ghulam Mohammad Farhad, a German educated Pashtun intellectual, served as the first President of the party. Farhad had studied in Nazi Germany and was fascinated by some aspects of Nazism.Th. Ruttig, "Afghanistan's Political Parties and where they come from (1902-2006)", Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Germany; with references to Abdulhamid Mubarez, Tahlil-e waqe’at.e siasi-ye Afghanistan 1919-1996, Kabul, 1996: "... In 1948, Farhad was the first elected mayor of Kabul. From 1934, he had studied in Nazi Germany and was fascinated by some aspects of its policy. ..."; (PDF ) Afghan Mellat looks after the interests of the Pashtun ethnic group and has its support only from them.Zalmay Khalilzad, "The Security of Southwest Asia", University of Michigan, 2006, The party favors the ideas of Pashtunization of Afghanistan and a Greater Afghanistan (i.e. it claims the Pashtun-speaking parts of Pakistan for Afghanistan). This has led the Afghan Mellat to be referred to as 'ethno fascist' by observers however the party maintains that it is social democratic.

In the 1969 parliamentary elections, Farhad was elected to the parliament.Ruttig, Thomas (November 2006) "Islamists, Leftists – and a Void in the Center. Afghanistan's Political Parties and where they come from (1902–2006)" Konrad Adenauer Foundation

After the Saur Revolution in 1978, the party was banned. Farhad was imprisoned, but released in 1980.

In exile in Pakistan, the party operated under the auspices of the National Islamic Front of Afghanistan.

In 1986–1987, dialogues took place between the government and the party and some leading party members were released from prison. However, the party chose to stay outside of the governing coalition. The relations with the government split the party into three factions; with one faction led by Shams-ul-Huda Shams, one by Qudratullah Hadad and the other by Mohammad Amin Wakman. It is Wakman faction that is currently led by Afghanistan's Finance Minister,"Who is Who of Afghanistan" Institute for Afghan Studies (IAS) Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady, the son-in-law of the NIFA leader Pir Gailani.

Wakman branch In 1995 Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady took over the Wakman branch. Under his leadership, the party toned down its Pashtun nationalist profile and sought support amongst non-Pashtuns."Political Parties: 10. Afghan Nation aka Afghan Social Democratic Party (Afghan Mellat)" Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty; from Internet Archive The Wakman branch of the party is recognized by the Afghan government as the "Afghan Millat Party""New Afghan party sets agenda, backs talks with insurgents" May 30, 2007 BBC Monitoring, South Asia – Political, Text of report by Mashhad Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran External Service on May 29, 2007

After the fall of the Taliban government, the party leader Ahady has been included in the government as Finance Minister. The party supported Hamid Karzai in the presidential election and receives support from Karzai. The party has around 10 MPs. The party officially registered themselves in Afghanistan on May 16, 2004.

Shams branch Shams-ul-Huda Shams applied for recognition of his party in 2004, but it was under Ajmal Shams, his son, that it achieved official recognition in May 2007 as "Afghan Mellat Milli Motaraqi Gwand – افغان ملت ملي مترقي ګوند" (Afghan National People's Progressive Party).National Afghanistan TV, Kabul, in Dari, 1430 GMT May 22, 2007, as reported by BBC Monitoring South Asia

History of leaders # Picture Leader From To Death Notes 1 Ghulam Mohammad Farhad March 8, 1966 1984 1984 – 2 Mohammad Amin Wakman 1987 1995 – – 3 Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady 1995 – – – 4 Shams-ul-Huda Shams 1987 2005 2005 Shams led his own faction of Afghan Mellat Party

Afghan Mellat Party

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