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| 1949, July |
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| Formal abrogation of all treaties signed with Britain defining the Durand Line, which after 1947 had become the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghanistan had long coveted Pakistan's northwest border region, which was inhabited by Pashtun tribes. The Afghan government now demanded that Pakistan hold elections in the territory for self-determination. Afghan-Pakistani relations became further strained after Pakistani planes bombed the village of Mogholgai, just inside the border of Afghanistan. In August, Pashtun tribal leaders inside Pakistan declared the independent state of Pashtunistan, which was recognized by Afghanistan. Pashtunistan never came into existence, but the issue remained an irritant to Afghan-Pakistani relations for many years to come. | 1 |
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| 1953, Sept. 20 |
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| A PALACE COUP was carried out without bloodshed. MUHAMMAD DAOUD KHAN, former commander of the Central Forces in Kabul, became the new prime minister. His government ushered in a series of moderate social and economic reforms and drew the country away from a pro-Western foreign policy and toward neutrality. Among the major accomplishments during his tenure were the upgrading of the country's infrastructure (better communications, more roads and airfields) and the strengthening of the armed forces. | 2 |
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| 1955, Dec. 18 |
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| Signing of a ten-year extension to the Soviet-Afghan treaty of nonaggression. | 3 |
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| 1956, March |
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| Implementation of the first Afghan Five-Year Plan for economic development. | 4 |
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| 1959 |
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| A government decree made veiling optional for women. In practice, female employees in the state bureaucracy and female relatives of high government officials had to give up the custom. | 5 |
| Suppression of tribal revolts in eastern Afghanistan. | 6 |
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| 1960, Sept |
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| Entry of irregular Afghan troops into Pakistan to assist Pashtun tribesmen who were resisting government troops. Subsequently, escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan led to a break in relations (Sept. 6, 1961). Normal ties were not restored until May 29, 1963. | 7 |
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| 1963, March 9 |
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| Resignation of Prime Minister Muhammad Daoud. KING MUHAMMAD ZAHIR SHAH emerged as the leader of the government, in fact as well as in name, thereby ending some 30 years of rule by a succession of relatives in the office of prime minister. The king appointed Muhammad Yousef as the new premier. | 8 |
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| 1964, Oct. 2 |
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| Promulgation of a new constitution, which created a bicameral legislature responsible for appointing a cabinet. The king still retained extensive powers. One of the major innovations of the constitution was the enfranchisement of women. The first parliamentary elections were held Aug. 26–Sept. 24, 1965, and took place without the activities of political parties. | 9 |
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| 1965, Jan. 1 |
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| Founding of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, the first Communist political organization. Among its leading figures were Nur Muhammad Taraki and Babrak Karmal. | 10 |
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| Oct. 29 |
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| Appointment of Muhammad Hashim Maiwandwal as the new prime minister, replacing the outgoing premier, Muhammad Yousef. | 11 |
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