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The Afghan Social Democratic Party (Pashto: افغان ټولنپال ولسواکیز ګوند, Âfgan-e Tevâlnupal-e Vâlsuakâiz-e Gund), more commonly known as the Afghan Mellat Party (افغان ملت ګوند – Afğān Mellat Gund; "Afghan Nation Party") or simply the Afghan Mellat, is a Pashtun nationalist political party in Afghanistan. The party's leadership describes it as social democratic, although it has been historically described as 'ethno fascist' by observers. 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.

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. Afghan Mellat looks after the interests of the Pashtun ethnic group and has its support only from them. 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.

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, 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. The Wakman branch of the party is recognized by the Afghan government as the "Afghan Millat Party"

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).

History of leaders

#	Picture	Leader	From	To	Birth	Death	Notes
1		Ghulam Mohammad Farhad	March 8, 1966	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

References

1. Amin Saikal, "Modern Afghanistan: A History Of Struggle And Survival", p. 166
2. Gilles Dorronsoro, "Afghanistan: Revolution Unending, 1979–2002", CERI series in comparative politics and international studies, C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2005, p. 71. Google-Books
3. ^
4. 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)
5. Emadi, Hafizullah. Politics of the Dispossessed Superpowers and Developments in the Middle East. New York: Praeger, 2001. p. 28.
6. 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 Archived 2009-03-27 at the Wayback Machine)
7. ^ Zalmay Khalilzad, "The Security of Southwest Asia", University of Michigan, 2006, ISBN 0-566-00651-0
8. ^ Ruttig, Thomas (November 2006) "Islamists, Leftists – and a Void in the Center. Afghanistan's Political Parties and where they come from (1902–2006)" Archived May 24, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Konrad Adenauer Foundation
9. "Who is Who of Afghanistan" Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Institute for Afghan Studies (IAS)
10. "Political Parties: 10. Afghan Nation aka Afghan Social Democratic Party (Afghan Mellat)" Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty; from Internet Archive
11. "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
12. National Afghanistan TV, Kabul, in Dari, 1430 GMT May 22, 2007, as reported by BBC Monitoring South Asia

External links

• Official web site of Afghan Millat (Ahady Faction)
• Official web site of Afghan Millat (Shams Faction)
• Official web site of Afghan Millat (UK Jerga)
• Official web site of Afghan Millat (kabul)

• Nationalist parties in Afghanistan
• Political parties in Afghanistan
• Political parties established in 1966
• 1966 establishments in Afghanistan
• Pashtun nationalism
• Social democratic parties in Asia