Hafizullah Amin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hafizullah Amin
حفيظ الله امين
Amin c. 1979
General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
In office 14 September 1979 – 27 December 1979
Preceded by	Nur Muhammad Taraki
Succeeded by	Babrak Karmal
Chairman of the Revolutionary Council
In office 14 September 1979 – 27 December 1979
Preceded by	Nur Muhammad Taraki
Succeeded by	Babrak Karmal
Minister of National Defence
In office 28 July 1979 – 27 December 1979
Prime Minister	Nur Muhammad Taraki Himself
Preceded by	Mohammad Aslam Watanjar
Succeeded by	Mohammed Rafie
Chairman of the Council of Ministers
In office 27 March 1979 – 27 December 1979
Leader	Nur Muhammad Taraki Himself
Preceded by	Nur Muhammad Taraki
Succeeded by	Babrak Karmal
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 1 May 1978 – 28 July 1979
Prime Minister	Nur Muhammad Taraki Himself
Preceded by	Mohammed Daoud Khan
Succeeded by	Shah Wali
Personal details
Born	(1929-08-01)1 August 1929 Paghman, Kingdom of Afghanistan
Died	27 December 1979(1979-12-27) (aged 50) Tajbeg Palace, Kabul, Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
Cause of death	Ballistic Trauma
Resting place	Tajbeg Palace Grounds
Political party	People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (Khalq)
Spouse	Patmanah
Children	24 (included Abdur Rahman one daughter).
Education	Columbia University (MA)
Profession	Teacher, civil servant

Hafizullah Amin (born August 1, 1929 – died December 27, 1979) was an important Afghan politician and teacher. He helped start the Saur Revolution in 1978. This revolution led to the creation of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Amin became the leader of Afghanistan in September 1979. He was the General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party until his death in December 1979.

Amin was born in Paghman, a town in Kabul Province. He studied at Kabul University and worked as a teacher. He later went to the United States for more studies. There, he became interested in Marxism, a political and economic idea. When he returned to Afghanistan, he taught students about socialist ideas. He joined the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), a new political group.

Amin was a key organizer of the 1978 Saur Revolution. This event overthrew the government and created a new state. Amin quickly became a powerful figure in the new government. He was known for his harsh actions against those who disagreed with the government. A power struggle with the main leader, Nur Muhammad Taraki, led to Amin taking over. On September 16, 1979, Amin became the head of government and state. He also became the supreme leader of the PDPA.

Amin's time as leader was very short and full of problems. The people of Afghanistan were unhappy with the government. Many soldiers left the army. Amin tried to improve relations with Pakistan and the United States. However, many Afghans blamed him for the government's harsh policies. Thousands of people were arrested or disappeared during his rule. The Soviet Union did not trust Amin. They decided to send troops into Afghanistan. Soviet agents killed Amin on December 27, 1979. This event started the 10-year Soviet–Afghan War. Amin had been in power for just over three months.

Early Life and Education

Hafizullah Amin was born on August 1, 1929. His family was Pashtun and lived in the village of Qazi Khel in Paghman. His father worked for the government and died when Amin was eight years old. Thanks to his brother, who was a teacher, Amin could go to school.

He attended Kabul University and studied mathematics. He also graduated from a teachers' college in Kabul. Amin then became a teacher himself. Later, he became a vice-principal and then a principal at important schools.

In 1957, Amin traveled to New York City to study at Columbia University. He earned a master's degree in education. While there, he became interested in Marxism. In 1958, he joined a Socialist Progressive Club at the university. After returning to Afghanistan, he taught at Kabul University. He also became a principal again. During this time, he met Nur Muhammad Taraki, another person interested in communist ideas.

Some say Amin became even more radical during his second trip to the United States in 1962. He studied at the University of Wisconsin. He spent more time on politics than his studies. In 1963, he led the Afghan students' association at his college.

When he returned to Afghanistan in the mid-1960s, the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) had already been formed. Amin ran in the 1965 election but did not win. However, in the 1969 election, he was the only member of his group, the Khalq faction, to be elected to parliament. This made him more important within the party.

When the PDPA split into two groups in 1967, Amin joined the Khalq group. As a member of parliament, he tried to gain support from soldiers. He used his position to speak out against what he saw as unfair systems. He believed in fighting for the working class.

Working with Taraki

From 1973 until the PDPA reunited in 1977, Amin was the second most important person in the Khalq group, after Taraki. Their relationship was often described as a student following his teacher. However, it was more of a working partnership. Taraki needed Amin's skills in planning. Amin likely stayed with Taraki to protect his own position. Amin had made many political rivals, especially Babrak Karmal.

When Mohammed Daoud Khan took power in 1973, the Khalq group offered to support his new government. The other PDPA group, the Parchamites, had already allied with Daoud. This made the Khalq group seem more independent. Some military officers who were unhappy with Daoud's government turned to the Khalq group.

Amin was in charge of organizing the party's work within the Afghan military. He found many military officers who were unhappy with the government. These officers became important for the 1978 coup, known as the Saur Revolution.

Relations between the Parchamite and Khalqist groups were very bad. In 1973, there were rumors that the Parchamites planned to kill the Khalqist leaders. The Khalqists found out about the plan, and it failed. This event made Amin push for the Khalqist PDPA to take power in 1976. Most of the party leaders voted against it.

In 1977, the two groups, Parchamites and Khalqists, officially came back together. The PDPA was unified. This happened partly because other communist parties around the world encouraged them to unite.

The Saur Revolution

On April 18, 1978, Mir Akbar Khyber, an important Parcham leader, was killed. Many believed the government killed him. This event started a series of actions that led to the PDPA taking power on April 27. Khyber's funeral became a large protest against the government.

The government, led by Daoud, began arresting PDPA members. Amin, who was organizing the revolution, was one of the last leaders arrested. His arrest showed that the government did not fully understand how important he was. Taraki's arrest was the signal for the revolution to begin. When Amin learned of Taraki's arrest, he ordered the revolution to start.

Amin was placed under house arrest, not in prison. His son could still move freely. The revolution succeeded because of strong support from the Afghan military. Key military leaders supported it.

PDPA Government

Khalq and Parcham Split

After the Saur Revolution, Taraki became the head of the Revolutionary Council and Prime Minister. He also remained the PDPA general secretary. Taraki first formed a government with both Khalqists and Parchamites. Karmal became Deputy Chairman of the Revolutionary Council. Amin became Minister of Foreign Affairs and a Deputy Prime Minister.

A conflict started when the Khalqists wanted to give important party positions to the military officers who helped in the revolution. Amin, who had been against this before, now supported it. The Khalqists won the vote. They made the Parchamites seem like they were not truly part of the revolution.

On June 27, 1978, Amin outmaneuvered the Parchamites. A meeting decided that only Khalqists could make and decide policies. This left the Parchamites powerless. Karmal was sent away from the country. A plan to overthrow Amin was made for September. However, the plan failed when the Afghan ambassador to India told the government about it. Many Parchamite ambassadors were called back to Afghanistan. Few returned, including Karmal.

Amin and Taraki's Conflict

The Afghan people began to protest against the PDPA government. This happened when the government introduced new socialist changes, like land reforms. By early 1979, many parts of Afghanistan were unsafe due to armed resistance. The Herat uprising in March 1979 turned the protests into an open war. During this time, Amin became a very powerful figure in Kabul.

After the Herat uprising was stopped, the government met to discuss new plans. These included a Five-Year Plan and a friendship treaty with the Soviet Union. They also discussed changing the government structure.

Some Soviet officials and Afghan politicians tried to convince Taraki to remove Amin from his position. It is not known if Amin knew about this plan. However, after the government changes, he expressed his unhappiness. On March 26, the PDPA leaders approved giving more power to Taraki as Chairman of the Revolutionary Council. This reduced the power of the Prime Minister, a role Amin held.

Amin's power was further weakened. He lost control over important ministries like defense and interior. However, Amin still had allies in key positions. For example, his brother-in-law was a security chief.

The Soviet Union became worried about Amin's control over the Afghan military. A Soviet general visited Kabul but only met with Taraki, not Amin. This showed growing Soviet concern about Amin.

Amin tried to gain support by presenting himself as a good Muslim. He ordered the repair of mosques and promised religious freedom. He even said the Saur Revolution was based on Islamic principles. However, many Afghans still blamed him for the government's harsh actions.

Amin also tried to improve relations with tribal groups. He even wore traditional Pashtun clothes in an official biography. He promised to create a collective leadership, not a one-man government.

Amin Takes Power

In mid-July, the Soviet Union made it clear they did not want Amin to lead Afghanistan. This led to a political crisis. Amin began a policy of very strong repression. This became a major reason for the later Soviet intervention. On July 28, the PDPA leaders voted to create a collective leadership. This was a setback for Taraki. Many of Taraki's supporters were replaced by Amin's supporters.

A Soviet general visited Kabul in August to study the situation. Amin gave a speech soon after, saying he wanted closer ties with China. He also hinted that he had concerns about Soviet involvement in Afghanistan.

On September 9, Taraki met with the Soviet Foreign Minister in Havana. Amin's supporter, the Foreign Minister, was not at the meeting. This suggested that a plan against Amin was being made. Soviet leaders urged Taraki to remove Amin from power. They believed Amin was dangerous.

Amin's trusted aide told him about the meeting and the Soviet plan. In Kabul, Taraki's aides, known as the "Gang of Four," planned to kill Amin. But Amin was warned about their plot.

On September 11, Taraki returned to Kabul and tried to fire Amin as Prime Minister. Amin refused, demanding the "Gang of Four" be removed instead. Amin shouted, "You are the one who should quit!"

On September 13, Taraki invited Amin to the presidential palace for lunch. Amin refused, saying he wanted the "Gang of Four" to resign. The Soviet ambassador convinced Amin to visit the palace with his aides. On September 14, bodyguards at the palace opened fire. Amin's aide was killed, but Amin was only injured and escaped.

Amin drove to the Ministry of Defense, put the army on high alert, and ordered Taraki's arrest. Tanks entered the city. Soon after, Amin returned to the palace with soldiers and arrested Taraki. The "Gang of Four" escaped to the Soviet Embassy.

The Soviets tried to rescue Taraki, but Amin's forces were too strong. Amin ignored Soviet requests not to punish Taraki. He reportedly discussed the situation with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. Amin believed he had Soviet support and ordered Taraki's death. The Afghan media reported that Taraki had died from illness, not mentioning his murder. Brezhnev was shocked and upset by Taraki's death.

Amin's Leadership

Domestic Policies

After Taraki's fall, Amin was chosen as the new leader of Afghanistan. He became Chairman of the Revolutionary Council and General Secretary of the PDPA. All cabinet members supported him. Amin tried to calm the Afghan people. He wanted to show that the government was not against Islam.

His government began to repair mosques. He also promised freedom of religion. Religious groups received copies of the Quran. Amin often mentioned Allah in his speeches. He even claimed the Saur Revolution was based on Islamic principles. However, this campaign did not fully succeed. Many Afghans still blamed Amin for the government's harsh actions.

Amin also tried to gain popularity with tribal groups. He was committed to having a collective leadership, not just one person in charge. He promised, "from now on there will be no one-man government."

To try and calm the public, Amin released a list of 18,000 people who had been executed. He blamed these deaths on Taraki. The total number of people arrested during both Taraki's and Amin's rule was very high.

Amin was not popular with the Afghan people. During his rule, opposition to the government grew. The government lost control of many rural areas. The Afghan army also became weaker. Many soldiers left, reducing its size significantly. Another problem was that the Soviet secret police (KGB) had many agents within the Afghan government and military.

While Amin's position in Afghanistan became more dangerous, his enemies in the Soviet Union pushed for his removal. Babrak Karmal and the "Gang of Four" wanted revenge on Amin.

Foreign Relations

When Amin became leader, he tried to make Afghanistan less dependent on the Soviet Union. He wanted to improve relations with Pakistan and Iran. The Soviets were concerned when they heard Amin had met with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a leading anti-communist in Afghanistan. Amin's lack of trust and unpopularity made it hard for him to find new foreign allies.

Amin's involvement in the death of the American Ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, hurt his relations with the United States. He tried to improve ties by meeting with American officials. But this did not change the US government's view of Afghanistan.

In early December 1979, Amin's government suggested a meeting with the President of Pakistan. Pakistan agreed to send its foreign minister for talks. However, Pakistan's secret police continued to train fighters who opposed the communist government.

Afghan-Soviet Relations

The Soviet leaders, including Leonid Brezhnev, were not eager to send troops to Afghanistan. A special group of top Soviet officials guided decisions on Afghanistan. This group was against Taraki's removal and his murder. Brezhnev said that events in Afghanistan happened so fast that they could not interfere much. Their goal was to keep their influence in Afghanistan.

Even though relations were getting worse, Amin was invited to Moscow for an official visit. However, Soviet officials were worried about Amin's control and his policies. They feared Amin might shift Afghanistan's foreign policy away from the Soviet Union towards the United States. By mid-December 1979, the Soviet leaders had formed an alliance with Babrak Karmal and Assadullah Sarwari.

Amin kept a picture of Joseph Stalin on his desk. When Soviet officials criticized his harshness, Amin reportedly said, "Comrade Stalin showed us how to build socialism in a backward country."

The relationship between the Soviet ambassador and Amin broke down. Amin started a campaign to discredit the ambassador. This led to an attempt to kill Amin, in which the ambassador was involved. The KGB accused Amin of misrepresenting the Soviet position. They also noted an increase in anti-Soviet feelings in Afghanistan under Amin.

A group of Soviet politicians told their leaders that they needed to do "everything possible" to prevent Afghanistan from changing its political direction. However, they did not suggest military action at this time. Instead, they wanted to increase their influence over Amin to understand his "true intentions." Soviet leaders described Amin as "a power-hungry leader who is distinguished by brutality and treachery." They accused him of being dishonest with the Soviet Union, making false accusations against opponents, and favoring his family.

By the end of October, the Soviet special commission wanted to end the idea that they supported Amin's leadership. The KGB was ordered to deal with the situation in Afghanistan. A top KGB official argued for Soviet intervention. He told Brezhnev that Amin's policies had weakened the military and government. The plan was to send a small force to remove Amin and replace him with Karmal.

The Soviet Union announced its plan to intervene in Afghanistan on December 12, 1979. Large numbers of Soviet airborne troops landed in Kabul on December 25. Amin approved their arrival, misjudging their true intentions. The Soviets began their main operation to remove Amin on December 27, 1979.

Attempted Poisoning

The Soviet leadership did not want Amin to stay alive. A Soviet general suggested that Amin's chef should poison him during a dinner. However, Amin survived the poisoning. Doctors from the Soviet embassy treated him, not knowing that Soviet agents were trying to kill him. Since Amin survived two attempts on his life approved by the Soviet Union, they decided to remove him by force.

Death of Amin

The Tajbeg Palace on December 27, 1979, where Amin was killed.

Amin trusted the Soviet Union until the very end. He did not realize that Moscow had turned against him after he ordered Taraki's death. When Afghan intelligence told Amin that the Soviet Union would invade and overthrow him, Amin dismissed it as false. He believed the Soviets were sending troops to help his government.

On December 20, Amin moved from the Presidential Palace to the Tajbeg Palace for safety. The palace was very strong, with thick walls and good defenses. Roads to the palace were mined, except for one heavily guarded path. There was also a second line of defense with seven posts. The Presidential Guard, with 2,500 troops and tanks, protected the palace. Some Soviet commanders thought attacking the palace was "crazy." Many Soviet soldiers found it hard to believe that Amin, their ally, was a "CIA agent." Despite objections, the plan to kill Amin went ahead.

Before the attack, the Soviets tried to poison Amin again on December 27. Amin had organized a lunch for party members to show off his palace. During the meal, Amin and some guests lost consciousness because they had been poisoned. Amin survived because the carbonation in his Coca-Cola diluted the poison. A KGB agent was responsible for the poisoning.

The attack on the palace began shortly after. During the attack, Amin still believed the Soviet Union was on his side. He told his aide, "The Soviets will help us." The aide replied that it was the Soviets who were attacking them. Amin first thought this was a lie. Only after he failed to contact his military chief did he realize, "I guessed it. It's all true."

There are different stories about how Amin died. He was either killed on purpose or by random gunfire. Amin's son was also fatally wounded and died soon after. His daughter was injured but survived. Amin's male family members were executed. The women, including his daughter, were imprisoned until 1992.

After Amin's death on December 27, 1979, Radio Kabul announced that "the torture machine of Amin has been smashed." Babrak Karmal was installed as the new leader by the Soviets. The Soviet army began its intervention in Afghanistan, which lasted for nine years.

After His Death

On January 2, 1980, the new leader, Karmal, called Amin a "conspirator, professional criminal and recognized spy of the U.S." This was reported in the Kabul New Times.

See also

In Spanish: Hafizullah Amín para niños