The 1928–1929 Afghan Civil War ended Amanullah Khan's reformist reign and brought Nadir Khan to power as King of Afghanistan.
Key Facts
- Duration
- 14 November 1928 – 13 October 1929
- Total combat deaths
- ~7500 deaths
- Kabul captured by Saqqawists
- 17 January 1929
- Kandahar captured by Saqqawists
- 3 June 1929
- Arg captured (war ends)
- 13 October 1929
- Nadir Khan assassinated
- 3 November 1933
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The war was triggered by the Shinwari tribe's revolt against Amanullah Khan's modernizing reforms, particularly measures affecting women's status and a military draft. A concurrent Saqqawist uprising in the north quickly gained momentum, capturing Jabal al-Siraj and then launching assaults on Kabul, exploiting widespread discontent with the pace and nature of social change in Afghanistan.
Saqqawist forces under Habibullah Kalakani captured Kabul on 17 January 1929, deposing Amanullah Khan and establishing a rival government. The Saqqawists extended control to Kandahar by June but were unable to defeat Nadir Khan in the Logar valley. After months of stalemate, Nadir's anti-Saqqawist forces forced the Saqqawists back into Kabul and captured the Arg on 13 October 1929, ending the civil war.
Nadir Khan was proclaimed King of Afghanistan following his victory, rather than restoring the throne to Amanullah. His refusal to return power to the former king sparked several subsequent rebellions. Nadir ruled until his assassination in 1933, and Saqqawist resistance persisted until 1931 with the fall of Herat. During World War II, Amanullah unsuccessfully attempted to regain the throne with Axis support.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Habibullah Kalakani.
Side B
2 belligerents
Mohammed Nadir Khan, Amanullah Khan, Ali Ahmad Khan.