Afghanistan November 1987 - August 1992

Republic of Afghanistan, Da Afghanistan Jamhuri Dawlat

Last modified: 2013-11-16 by ian macdonald
Keywords: afghanistan | mihrab (white) | minbar (white) | book (white) | wreath: wheat (yellow) | sun: rising (white) | star (red) | cogwheel (grey) |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

image by Mark Sensen

• Description

See also:

• Historical Flags (Afghanistan)
• Afghanistan
• Afghanistan: Index of all pages

Description

Same as previous [1980-1987 flag], but emblem lacks book and red star. Also the cogwheel was relocated to the bottom and the green "horizon" below the sunburst is now curved.
Nick Artimovich, 19 March 1996

According to Baert 2001, on 30 November 1987 the Democratic Republic was abolished and a new flag was prescribed. The three horizontal stripes of the former flag were kept but a new emblem was placed on it.
The official meaning of the colours was also altered. Black recalled the Rayt-u-Zill, the Flag of Shadow used by the Abassid caliphs and the standard used by Abu Muslim during the Khorasan uprising from 15 May 747. Red recalled the banner of Sultan Hahmud Ghazni (997-1030), who annexed Khorasan. Green symbolized Islam, fertility of the country and happiness of the people.
The new emblem showed on a green background a mihrab including a minbar, to symbolize the Islamic faith as usual. The shining sun referred to the former name of the country, Khorasan (Land of the Rising Sun) and showed the way to peace and the end of oppression. The wheat spikes and the cogwheel symbolized the development of the country.
The image in Baert 2001 is similar to the one above. On Baert 2001's image, the horizon of the emblem is placed exactly on the border between the black and red stripes.
On 27 April 1992, the pro-Soviet regime collapsed and a confused situation followed.
Ivan Sache, 12 April 2002