The following lists events that happened during 1975 in the

Republic of Afghanistan A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...

Incumbents

* President: Mohammed Daoud Khan

Events

Domestically, many of the economic difficulties of the previous year continue in areas remote from the capital, with the result that the gap in living standards between Kabul and the more distant provinces widening. Under the energetic guidance of Mohammed Daoud Khan, considerable external help was secured for the construction of

oil refineries An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where petroleum (crude oil) is transformed and refined into useful products such as gasoline (petrol), diesel fuel, asphalt base, fuel oils, heating oil, kerosene, liquefie ...

, fertilizer factories, and various

agricultural Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating Plant, plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of Sedentism, sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of Domestication, domesticated species created food ...

projects envisaged in the then current five-year plan, both

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

and the Soviet Union having contributed interest-free loans and technical aid. There were no serious challenges to the president's authority, supported by a regular army equipped with Soviet weaponry, although some spasmodic discontent with the prevalent economic stringency finds expression during the year. In foreign affairs, the government adheres firmly to the traditional policy of accepting external aid but refusing entangling alliances. Improved terms are secured from the Soviet Union for the sale of Afghanistan's natural gas, but this does not prevent equally friendly relations with China. Pakistan's actions against insurgents in

Baluchistan Balochistan ( ; bal, بلۏچستان; also romanised as Baluchistan and Baluchestan) is a historical region in Western and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. ...

and the North-West Frontier Province are bitterly criticized by the government and press in Kabul. The proscription by Pakistan of the National Awami Party, whose activities in Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier Province were favoured by Afghanistan, further worsens relations between the two countries. Daoud Khan's efforts to mobilize international opinion against Pakistan's action meets with a cool reception, however, they also could choose between parliament or the king.

April

In April 1975, Daoud paid a visit to Iran, and returned with a credit extension of $2 billion. The majority of the sum - $1.7 billion - was expected to be used to fund the construction of a rail system connecting Herat, Kandahar and Kabul to the Iranian rail system, which could provide access to the Persian Gulf. The project was not realized due to oil price collapse and the subsequent ousting of the Iranian Shah.

References

{{Year in Asia, 1975 Afghanistan Years of the 20th century in Afghanistan Afghanistan 1970s in Afghanistan