There has never been a peaceful transition of power in Afghanistan’s history. It has always been the bloody coups and takeovers, or family rifts that had been the dominant factor in deciding who should rule the country. Though very changed in nature from the previous bloody transfers of power, the regime of Dawood Khan was also toppled in a military coup led by the Peoples’ Democratic Party of Afghanistan.

This was not just a takeover and regime change, but a day that would start an ideological battle and bring the cold war in Afghanistan, followed by the collapse of Soviet Union and Afghanistan going deep into a bloody war that took three and half decades and yet it is fought on this soil with an unknown fate.

When Dawood’s regime was overthrown by the Khalqis, it started a new chapter of violent-politics that led the bloodshed for decades. Though the communists’ takeover stepped the country into the bloodiest period of its history, but there have always been some neglected optimistic aspects of that initial period. Educational reforms and social justice introduced during this period were first of their kinds in the country.

8th Saur is celebrated as the victory day for Mujahideen when they overthrew the Soviet remnants in 1992. But that victory, unfortunately, was another transition into dark era of the civil war among Mujahideen factions that cost lives of thousands and made Afghans the largest refugee Diaspora in the world.

Then it took all the glories of resistance against the Soviet Union into a shameful myth due to the bloodbath of civil war in 90s that took lives of thousands, followed by the darkest period of our history with emergence of Taliban when the country was taken to the verge of disintegration with a polarized fascistic ideological war.

The bulk of US and NATO troops will withdraw Afghanistan next year. Other than internal rifts and failure of Mujahideen leaders, another reason for the start of civil war was that the international community, particularly the US, left Afghanistan on its own after the collapse of Soviet Union.

Thus different factions indulged in civil war with emergence of Taliban. The lesson of that bloody chapter of history for today is that no ideology or power-seeking group can cling to power by force, and a smooth transfer of power in a free, fair and transparent election is the only way forward.