From the black flag of Emir Habibullah Khan to the white flag of the Taliban, Afghanistan’s national flag has undergone 12 changes in the past 105 years. Before Afghanistan’s independence, the national flag was black, featuring a mihrab and minbar. The most recent change occurred nearly three years ago, on August 15, 2021, when the Taliban seized power.
The latest flag change took place in August, a month significant for Afghanistan. The previous government, led by President Ashraf Ghani, celebrated National Flag Day on August 7, and Independence Day on August 19. The roots of Afghanistan’s tricolor flag date back to the country’s independence and the era of King Amanullah Khan.
Timeline of Afghanistan’s Flags (1919 – 2024):
- Emir Habibullah Khan Era:
1919 – Pre-independence, the black flag with mihrab and minbar.
- King Amanullah Khan Era:
1928 – The black flag was changed to a tricolor (black, red, green) representing freedom, with symbols of Islam, wheat, and the sun.
- Emir Habibullah Kalakani Era:
1929 – The tricolor flag’s green was changed to white, though no official records exist.
- King Nader Shah Era:
1929 – Reverted to the tricolor with a new emblem, later adding mihrab, minbar, wheat, and the name of Afghanistan.
- King Mohammad Zahir Shah Era:
1929-1973 – The tricolor flag remained with slight modifications.
- Republic of Mohammad Daoud Era:
1973-1978 – The tricolor flag’s colors changed to horizontal stripes with a new emblem featuring an eagle.
- Democratic Republic Era (Nur Mohammad Taraki and Hafizullah Amin):
1978-1979 – The flag was changed to red with the Democratic Party emblem.
- Democratic Republic Era (Babrak Karmal and Najibullah):
1979-1992 – The tricolor flag returned with horizontal stripes and a new emblem.
- Mujahideen Era (Sibghatullah Mojaddedi and Burhanuddin Rabbani):
1992-2001 – The flag colors changed to black, white, and green.
- First Taliban Era:
1996-2001 – Afghanistan had two flags: the Taliban’s white flag and the Mujahideen’s tricolor flag. The United Nations recognized the Mujahideen’s flag.
- Republic Era (Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani):
2001-2021 – The tricolor flag from King Amanullah Khan’s era was reinstated with minor changes.
- Second Taliban Era:
2021-present – The tricolor flag was replaced with the white Taliban flag, though the United Nations still recognizes the tricolor flag.
Afghanistan’s flag history reflects the nation’s turbulent political changes. The tricolor flag, associated with the country’s independence, remains a symbol of national identity for many Afghans. Despite the Taliban’s imposition of their white flag, international bodies like the United Nations continue to recognize the tricolor flag.
Nasrullah Stanikzai, a university professor, remarked, “In the past hundred years, Afghanistan’s flag has undergone ideological changes during three major periods: the red flag of the Khalqi regime, the black, white, and green flag of the Mujahideen, and the white flag of the Taliban, reflecting their ideological impositions without legal legitimacy.”
As of now, the tricolor flag may only be officially recognized outside its homeland, flown at international events such as the Olympics and by the United Nations.
