Khalq

Khalq, also known simply as Khalq, was one of the two principal factions of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), a communist political movement active in Afghanistan from the 1960s to the early 1990s. The name Khalq, Dari for "the masses" or "the people," contrasted with the Parcham faction ("the banner"). Khalq drew support chiefly from rural peasants in eastern and southern Afghanistan and adhered to Marxist-Leninist principles emphasizing radical social reform and state-led modernization.

Origins and ideology

Khalq emerged as a populist, agrarian-oriented strand within the PDPA, advocating rapid reform, secularization, and state-led modernization aimed at transforming Afghan society. Its base was more rural and traditional in contrast to the urban, reformist orientation of some Parcham elements.

Role in Afghan politics

During the Saur Revolution of 1978, Khalq-led PDPA overthrew Mohammed Daud Khan and established a socialist government under Nur Muhammad Taraki. The regime pursued sweeping reforms: land reform, nationalization of industry, secularization, and promotion of women’s rights. These measures provoked resistance from religious conservatives and traditional interests, resulting in widespread unrest and harsh state repression. In late 1979, a power struggle with the rival Parcham faction led to Hafizullah Amin seizing control, and Soviet intervention in December 1979 installed Babrak Karmal of Parcham as leader. Although Khalq remained a major force within the PDPA, the Soviet-backed government and the Parcham faction consolidated power, and Khalq’s influence diminished markedly during the 1980s. Many Khalq members and affiliates joined the resistance or were sidelined as the state pursued Moscow-aligned policies.

Legacy

By the late 1980s and into the 1990s, the Khalq faction ceased to function as a formal political force, and the PDPA dissolved amid internal rivalries. The term "Khalq" remains a historical designation for a faction within the PDPA, associated with radical reform efforts and the security campaigns of the late 1970s.