Afghan Civil War (1928–1929)

The Afghan Civil War was a war from 14 November 1928 to 13 October 1929. The Saqqawists group and the Soviet Union decided to invade the Kingdom of Afghanistan but were eventually defeated.

Beginning of war
On 14 November 1928, the civil war started with the Shinwari Revolt in which Pashtun tribesmen from the Shinwari tribe started a siege of Jalalabad.  Telegraph wires were also cut, and a manifesto had a list of or complaints that included changing the status of women.

Siege of Jabal al-Siraj

Forces led by a Tajik leader, Habibullah Kalakani, were moving toward Kabul from the north. Kalakani was a native of Kalakan, a village 30 km north of Kabul. In late November, they put siege to Jabal al-Siraj, north of Kabul, and on 11 or 12 December, after 18 days of siege, Ahmad Ali Lodi surrendered the citadel and handed over all government funds, 18 machine guns, and some heavy weapons and rifles.

After Amanullah's loss of power (January 1929)
 Rule by Kalakani and Saqqawist offensives (February – August 1929) 
Kalakani became King of Afghanistan.

Ali Ahmad Khan was captured; his reign ended on 9 February.

Kalakan's forces did fight anti-Saqqawist tribes.

 Saqqawist collapse and end of war (August – October 1929) 

On 8 August, an anti-Saqqawist uprising took place in Bamyan, Ghuri and Baghlan, blocking Kalakani's force's route to Turkistan and forcing them to retreat to Ghurband. On 21 August, the Sayyid of Shaykh Ali started an offensive (or attack) against Kalakani that advanced as far as Khanabad, Andarab and Ghurband. On 26 August, there were rumours in Kabul that Hazara settlers successfully attacked Mazar-i Sharif.

In early September, the Saqqawists won their last victory by taking Jalalabad. On 23 September, a pro-Nadir uprising in Kandahar succeeded at driving out Kalakani's forces from the city. On 29 September, a pro-Nadir force under Shah Wali crossed the Durand Line and occupied Khushi. On 30 September, he sent a 1000-man force ahead to Tangi Waghjan, the gorge on the road to the Logar Valley.

On 3 October, after an intense battle, anti-Saqqawist forces captured the town of Muhammad Aghah and pllaced themselves within striking distance of Kabul. Kalakani himself took part in this battle in an attempt to lift his soldiers' spirit, but anti-Saqqawist forces continued to slowly push towards Kabul and seized Charasya, Chihil Tan and Chihil Sutun on 5 October.

By 7 October, Kalakani's forces had retreated from almost all of their territory outside Kabul and prepared for their last stand. 

On 9 October, after dozens of hours of street fighting in Kabul, the Arg was put under siege. On 13 October, after several days of bombardment, Nadir's forces entered the Arg. After a battle, the Arg was captured, and the civil war ended.

Related pages

List of civil wars in Afghanistan

References

Category:20th century in Afghanistan
Category:Civil wars involving Asia
Category:1920s conflicts
Category:1920s in Asia