Banner Party

political party, Afghanistan

Also known as: Parcham Party

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July 16, 2026

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The Banner Party (Parcham) was a Marxist political party in Afghanistan. It was founded in 1965 as one of two factions of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). The other faction was known as the People's Party (Khalq).

The Banner Party, along with the People's Party, was instrumental in the 1973 coup that overthrew the monarchy and established the Republic of Afghanistan. In 1977, the two factions reunited and, in April 1978, orchestrated a coup that led to the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.12

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Afghanistan - Mohammad Zahir Shah (1933–73)
Afghanistan - The Republic of Afghanistan (1973–78)

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- Afghan War
  Insurgency against communist rule (1978–92)
  …People’s (Khalq) Party and the Banner (Parcham) Party, which had earlier emerged from a single organization, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan, and had reunited in an uneasy coalition shortly before the coup. The new government, which had little popular support, forged close ties with the Soviet Union, launched ruthless…
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  …People’s (Khalq) Party and the Banner (Parcham) Party, which had earlier emerged from a single organization, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan, and had reunited in an uneasy coalition shortly before the coup. The new government, which had little popular support, forged close ties with the Soviet Union, launched ruthless…
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- Afghanistan
  Mohammad Zahir Shah (1933–73)
  …as the People’s (Khalq) and Banner (Parcham) parties. Another was a conservative religious organization known as the Islamic Society (Jamʿiyyat-e Eslāmī), which was founded by a number of religiously minded individuals, including members of the University of Kabul faculty of religion, in 1971. The Islamists were highly influenced by the…
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  …as the People’s (Khalq) and Banner (Parcham) parties. Another was a conservative religious organization known as the Islamic Society (Jamʿiyyat-e Eslāmī), which was founded by a number of religiously minded individuals, including members of the University of Kabul faculty of religion, in 1971. The Islamists were highly influenced by the…
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Babrak Karmal
…the People’s (“Khalq”) and the Banner (“Parcham”) factions, Karmal became the leader of the more moderate, pro-Soviet Banner. The Banner supported the government of Mohammad Daud Khan following Daud’s 1973 coup overthrowing the monarchy, but relations between Daud and the political left soon soured. The two PDPA factions reunited in…
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…the People’s (“Khalq”) and the Banner (“Parcham”) factions, Karmal became the leader of the more moderate, pro-Soviet Banner. The Banner supported the government of Mohammad Daud Khan following Daud’s 1973 coup overthrowing the monarchy, but relations between Daud and the political left soon soured. The two PDPA factions reunited in…
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Najibullah
He joined the Banner (“Parcham”) faction of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) in 1965, and he was twice imprisoned for political activities. In 1978 the PDPA staged a successful coup, but the People’s (“Khalq”) faction soon gained supremacy over the Banner faction. Najibullah was named ambassador…
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He joined the Banner (“Parcham”) faction of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) in 1965, and he was twice imprisoned for political activities. In 1978 the PDPA staged a successful coup, but the People’s (“Khalq”) faction soon gained supremacy over the Banner faction. Najibullah was named ambassador…
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