KABUL (Pajhwok): The Afghan government declared Thursday, April 28, a public holiday to celebrate the victory of Afghan Jihad against Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
InamullahSamangani, deputy government spokesman, wrote on his Twitter account, quoting the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, “Thursday, April 28, will be national holiday to mark the victory of holy Jihad of Afghan people against former Soviet Union.”
He wrote that based to article 41 of the country’s labor law, April 28 is a public holiday throughout the country.
The People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) staged a coup and overthrew the then-President Mohammad Daud on April 27, 1992.
The PDPA government soon witnessed uprisings against it in various parts of the country and the regime embarked on purges of opponents until the Soviet Union intervened in Dec 1979 and so the conflict escalated.
The rebels continued resisting the Russian and Afghan government forces for nine years, eventually forcing the Soviet Union to withdraw forces from Afghanistan in Feb 1989.
No clear figures of Afghans killed in the conflict are available, but it is said nearly two million Afghans were either killed or wounded and more than five million others forced to migrate to foreign countries.
On April 27, 1992, mujhideen entered Kabul and took over from Russia-backed Afghan president, Dr. Najibullah. But soon rival jihadi leaders entered a power struggle that sparked bloody clashes between mujahideen groups. More than 60,000 people were reportedly killed in these internal fights in Kabul alone.
Besides huge casualties, most parts of Kabul were turned into ruins during the conflict.
mds/ma
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