The Emirate of Afghanistan was an unrecognized state ruled by the

Saqqawists The Saqqawists (Pashto:سقاویان prs, سقاوی‌ها ''Saqāwīhā'') were an armed group in the Kingdom of Afghanistan who were active from 1924 to 1931. They were led by Habibullāh Kalakāni, and in January 1929, they managed to take ...

that existed from January to October 1929.

Habibullāh Kalakāni Habibullah Kalakani ( prs, , 19 January 1891 – 1 November 1929), also known by his nickname "Bacha-ye Saqao" (also romanized Bachai Sakao; literally ''son of the water carrier'') was the ruler of Afghanistan from 17 January to 13 October 1929 ...

became the state's only

emir Emir (; ar, أمير ' ), sometimes transliterated amir, amier, or ameer, is a word of Arabic origin that can refer to a male monarch, aristocrat, holder of high-ranking military or political office, or other person possessing actual or cer ...

on 18 January 1929. After the fall of Kalakani on 13 October 1929, the Emirate ended. Their rule over Afghanistan is known in the

history of Afghanistan The history of Afghanistan as a state began in 1823 as the Emirate of Afghanistan after the exile of the Sadozai monarchy to Herat. The Sadozai monarchy ruled the Afghan Durrani Empire, considered the founding state of modern Afghanistan. The ...

as the Saqqawist period.

History

Administrative divisions

Government

Once in power, the Saqqawists abolished conscription and taxation, and closed down schools.

Officeholders

After taking over Kabul, Kalakani appointed a number of people into office, including: * Shayr Jan, former cavalry commander, as Minister of Court. * Ata al-Haqq as foreign minister. * Abd al-Ghafur Khan, son of Muhammad Shah Tarabi of the Safi tribe, as Minister of the interior. * Malik Muhsin as governor-general of the Central Province. * Sayyid Husayn as Minister of Defense. * Purdil Khan as field marshal of the Army. * Abd al-Wakil Khan as field marshal of the Army alongside Purdil Khan. * Hamid Allah as "honorary sardar". * Sayyid Muhammad as commander of the Arg. * Mirza Mujtaba Khan as minister of finance. * Muhammad Mahfuz as war minister. * Kaka Muhsin of the Kacharlu clan as governor of Hazarahjat (centered on Bihsud). * Muhammad Karim Khan as governor of

Ghazni Ghazni ( prs, غزنی, ps, غزني), historically known as Ghaznain () or Ghazna (), also transliterated as Ghuznee, and anciently known as Alexandria in Opiana ( gr, Αλεξάνδρεια Ωπιανή), is a city in southeastern Afghanistan ...

. * Khwajah Mir Alam as governor of Mazar-i-Sharif. *

Ghulam Muhammad Khan Al-Haj Nawab Ghulam Muhammad Khan Bahadur (11 July 1763 – 1828) was briefly Nawab of Rampur from 1793 to 1794. The younger son of Faizullah Khan, Ghulam Muhammad became Nawab in 1793 after deposing his elder brother, Muhammad Ali Khan Bahadur. ...

of governor of Tagab. * Chighil Khan as governor of Charikar. * Nadir Ali as governor of Jaghuri and Malistan.

Freedom of movement

On 9 May 1929, Kalakani passed a decree in Kabul which forbade citizens of Kabul from moving out of the city without permission, even into the government-controlled Bandar-i Arghandah, Charasya, Bini Hisar, Butkhak, Kutal-i Pay Manar, Kutal-i Khayr Khanah, Maydan, Jalriz, Logar, Khurd Kabul, Tangi Gharu or Dih Sabz.

Economy

For a while, Kalakani relied on the royal treasury to pay his army, without levying taxes. However, when the treasury ran out, taxation was reinstated in order to cover the expenses of his army. Revenue was also collected by forcing wealthy Tajik merchants to contribute to his treasury.

Military

The Saqqawists maintained a military during their period of control. On 14 April 1929, Fayz Muhammad estimated the Saqqawists to number 20,000.

Culture

The Saqqawist government celebrated Afghan Independence Day for five days (instead of the usual eight) starting on 19 August 1929. Kalakani spent 60,000 Afghan rupees on the celebrations, and hoped he could use the occasion to try to win over the Afghan populace. Kalakani gave a speech on 19 August – the contents of the speech are unknown, but Fayz Muhammed remarked that Kalakani "stood there telling lie after lie about the way things really were."

International relations

Despite taking control of Kabul, The Saqqawist government of Afghanistan was unable to obtain any diplomatic recognition. Nonetheless, the Saqqawists allied themselves with the

Basmachi movement The Basmachi movement (russian: Басмачество, ''Basmachestvo'', derived from Uzbek: "Basmachi" meaning "bandits") was an uprising against Russian Imperial and Soviet rule by the Muslim peoples of Central Asia. The movement's roots ...

, allowing them to operate in Northern Afghanistan. and revoking the "Pact of Neutrality and Non-Aggression" that Afghanistan had signed with the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

following the end of the Urtatagai conflict, which obligated Afghanistan to restrain Basmachi border raids.

References

{{Authority control Former political entities in Afghanistan Modern history of Afghanistan Former countries in South Asia Former countries in Central Asia Former countries of the interwar period Former emirates States and territories established in 1929 States and territories disestablished in 1929 1929 establishments in Afghanistan 1929 disestablishments in Afghanistan

Emirate of Afghanistan The Emirate of Afghanistan also referred to as the Emirate of Kabul (until 1855) ) was an emirate between Central Asia and South Asia that is now today's Afghanistan and some parts of today's Pakistan (before 1893). The emirate emerged from t ...

Afghan Civil War (1928–1929)