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Afghanistan

by zeljko heimer 17-FEB-1996

Past flags
Explanation of the flag

Past flags

Afghanistan has been deemed the winner of "the most frequent flag changes in the twentieth century" contest.

1901-1919 Black field with central white emblem of mosque, flags and wreath
1919-1928 Same, except central emblem surrounded by eight pointed sunburst.
1928-1929 Vertical Black, red, green. Central white emblem of mountains, sun, wreath, topped by a star.
1929 Same three-striped field, but using earlier emblem surrounded by sunburst.
1930-1974 Same three-striped field, Central white emblem of mosque, flags, and wreath.
1974-1978 Horizontal field, lower half green, upper half is black over red. Emblem in upper hoist of eagle, pulpit, wreath, sunburst.
1978-1980 Red Field with gold emblem in upper hoist consisting of script characters (I believe it says "Flag Party") wreath, and star.
1980-1987 Three equal horizontal stripes of black over red over green. Multicolor emblem in upper hoist of pulpit, book, wreath, sunburst, topped by cogwheel and red star.
1987-1992 Same as previous, but emblem lacks book and red star. Also the cogwheel was relocated to the bottom and the green "horizon" below the sunburst is now curved.
1992-1994 Three equal horizontal stripes of green, white, black with white text on green stripe and black text on white stripe.
1994- Same three stripes, but golden emblem centered on the flag.

Chronology by nick artimovich 19-MAR-1996

Explanation of the flag

The official flag is three horizontal stripes of green, white, black with the coat of arms over all in the centre. The arms are based on previous pre-Communist models and contain a representation of a mosque within a wreath of wheat-ears. Above the wreath is the shahada, the Moslem confessionof faith, and also (in very small letters) the slogan Allahu Aqbar (God is Great). Beneath is the date 1371 is the Islamic calendar (=1992CE) and the name 'Islamic State of Afghanistan' all in gold. Around all this are two curved sabres. The flag dates from 2 December 1992. Prior to this there was a provisional version with the slogans (the shahada and Allahu Aqbar) in white letters on the green stripe and black letters on the white stripe. Old versions of the flag tend to linger on: at the UN HQ which I visited in 1992 they still had the pre-1987 flag flying.
william crampton

Wheat is not only the heritage of communism, but is also a reminder of the legend that the first Aryan king Yama, and the first Afghani king Ahmed-shah were crowned with it.
zeljko heimer 17-FEB-1996