List of Afghan flags
Appearance
This is a list of flags associated with Afghanistan.
National flag
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
De facto (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) | |||
15 August 2021–present |
|||
De jure (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) | |||
19 August 2013–present |
National flag |
Three vertical bands of black, red and green with the National Emblem in white centered on the red band and then slightly overlapping the black and green bands.
| |
National flag (variant)
|
Standards of the head of state
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
former
| |||
2004–2021 |
A black flag with a red circle with a white contour drawing of the national emblem in 2004 version.
| ||
2004 |
A black flag with a red circle with a white contour drawing of the national emblem in 1990s version.
| ||
1974–1978 |
Standard of the President of Afghanistan under Mohammad Daoud Khan. |
A red flag with a black circle with a red drawing of the national emblem.
| |
1933–1973 |
Standard of the King of Afghanistan under Mohammad Zahir Shah (obverse and reverse). |
National emblem on a red background on the obverse and royal tughra on the reverse.
| |
1931–1933 |
Standard of the King of Afghanistan under Mohammad Nadir Shah (obverse and reverse).
| ||
1926–1929 |
Standard of the King of Afghanistan under Amanullah Khan (obverse and reverse). |
Amanullah Khan's emblem on a red background on the obverse and royal tughra on the reverse. The emblem consists of two crossed swords, a headdress called kolah and a star, and all these elements were removed from the national emblem around the coronation of Amarullah as the first king of Afghanistan.
|
Loya Jirga
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
former
| |||
2003 |
Flag of the 2003 loya jirga. |
White flag with emblem. In the green border there are three silhouettes of human heads, turned to the right and imitating the Afghan national colors. Above the profiles is the Arabic Shahada in black, while below is an open book. The profiles are surrounded by a wreath of wheat ears taken from the national emblem.
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Military flags
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
current
| |||
2021–present |
Flag of the Ministry of Defense of Afghanistan |
White flag with the emblem of the Ministry of Defense.
| |
former
| |||
?–2021 |
Flag of the Ministry of Defense of Afghanistan |
Red flag with the emblem of the Ministry of Defense in a monochrome gold version.
| |
2015–2021 |
Flag of the Resolute Support Mission |
A green flag with the official mission logo.
| |
2001–2014 |
Flags of the International Security Assistance Force |
A flags with the official mission logo.
|
Army
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
current
| |||
2021–present |
Flag of the Afghan Army |
||
former
| |||
1987–1992 |
Flag of the Afghan Army |
||
1974–1980 |
|||
c. 1961—? |
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?–1973 |
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1920s |
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Corps
| |||
2007–2021 |
Flag of the Afghan National Army Commando Corps |
||
?–2021 |
Flag of the 209th Corps |
||
Flag of the 205th Corps |
|||
Flag of the 207th Corps |
Air Force
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
current
| |||
2021–present |
Flag of the Afghan Air Force[1] |
||
former
| |||
2010–2021 |
Flag of the Afghan Air Force |
Law enforcement
[edit]Police
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
current
| |||
2021–present |
|||
former
| |||
2001–2021 |
Flag of the Afghan National Police |
Customs Department
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
current
| |||
Link to file | c 2024–present |
Flag of the Afghanistan Customs Department |
|
former
| |||
2021–c 2024 |
Flag of the Customs service of Afghanistan |
||
?–2021 |
Flag of the Customs service of Afghanistan |
Supreme Audit Office
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
current
| |||
2020–present |
Flag of the Supreme Audit Office of Afghanistan |
Ministries
[edit]Olympic Committee
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
current
| |||
2021–present? |
A white flag with the national flag, the inscription "Afghanistan" and the Olympic rings.
| ||
former
| |||
?–2021 |
Flag of the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan |
A white flag with the Olympic rings and inscription "National Olympic Committee of Afghanistan".
| |
1930s |
Flag of the National Olympic Committee of the Kingdom of Afghanistan |
A flag of unknown colors used at the Berlin Olympics contains a kolah and Olympic rings.
|
Historical flags
[edit]Flag | Date | Regime | Description |
---|---|---|---|
National flags
| |||
2002–2004 |
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2002 |
|||
2001–2002 |
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1997–2001 |
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (variant) |
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1996–1997 |
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1992–2001 |
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1992 |
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1987–1992 |
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1980–1987 |
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1978–1980 |
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1978 |
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1974–1978 |
|||
1973–1974 |
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1931–1973 |
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1929–1930 |
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1929 |
|||
1929–1931 |
Emirate of Afghanistan, used in Herat |
||
1929 |
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1929 and 1926–1928 |
|||
1928-1929 |
Kingdom of Afghanistan (possible appearance) |
||
1928 |
|||
1921–1926/29 |
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1919–1921 |
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1901–1919 |
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1880–1901 |
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1818–1855 |
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1709–1738 |
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1856–1919 |
Flag of the United Kingdom used to represent the Emirate of Afghanistan abroad |
||
Local national flags
| |||
1996 |
|||
1991 |
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1818–1842 |
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1830s |
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Other
| |||
c. 1842 |
Pashtun banner captured at Jellalabad |
An example of a Pashtun tribal battle flag. Red triangular banner with Shahada and green frame, woven red and yellow fringes were also present on the edges.[8]
| |
c. 1839 |
Pashtun banner captured at Ghazni |
Political flags
[edit]Political parties flags
[edit]Flag | Date | Party | Description |
---|---|---|---|
current
| |||
2005–present |
Green field with yellow Arabic calligraphy arranged in an arc. The inscription "In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful". Under the arc is also the name of the organization written in white.
| ||
2004–present |
Red flag with a yellow star in the canton.
| ||
2004–present |
|||
Link to file | 2003–present |
Party emblem on blue background.
| |
1997–present |
Party emblem on blue background.
| ||
Link to file | 1992–present |
National flag from 1974-1978 with the party emblem instead of the national emblem.
| |
1989–present |
Party emblem on blue background.
| ||
1979–present |
A black flag with a gold emblem in the canton. The emblem consists of crossed swords, a wreath of wheat and Takbir.
| ||
1972–present |
Green flag with a white emblem.
| ||
1976–present |
Green flag with a white emblem. The emblem contains many symbols of the national emblem, to which the open Quran adds. There is also Shahada under the emblem.
| ||
former
| |||
1975–1979 |
Green flag with a white emblem. The emblem contains many symbols of the national emblem, to which the open Quran adds.
| ||
1965–1992 |
Red flag with gold party emblem in the canton. The emblem consists of an ear of wheat superimposed on a gear wheel. The emblem consists of an ear of wheat placed on a gear wheel, symbolizing farmers and workers. Another variant of the party's flag served for a short time as the national flag.
| ||
1965–1992 |
Democratic Youth Organisation of Afghanistan, youth wing of the PDPA. |
A red flag with the emblem moved towards the mast. The emblem consisted of PDPA symbols, a clenched fist, schematic mountains and a red star.
|
Rebel groups flags
[edit]This table does not include flags derived from rebels that became national flags. Such cases occurred once during the Saqqawists period in 1929 and twice in connection with the Taliban takeovers in 1996 and 2021.
Flag | Date | Group | Description |
---|---|---|---|
current
| |||
2022–present |
Red-blue-green tricolor with the white crescent moon and a star on a blue stripe. The star and crescent resembles the Kök Bayraq flag.
| ||
2021–present |
National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, used together with the flags of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Islamic State of Afghanistan[10][11] |
A variant of the 1990s of the national flag used by Northern Alliance.
| |
2021–present
|
The front announced its existence in October 2021. It operates mainly in the provinces of Maidan Wardak and Ghazni. It is composed exclusively of Hazaras, both ex-military and civilians. A spokesman for the front announced in a video released in October that the group's goal is to fight the Taliban and the ISKP throughout Hazarajat.[12]
| ||
2015–present |
Variant of the Jihadist flag used in Afghanistan by Islamic State – Khorasan Province[13][14][15][16] and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan
(splinter faction)
|
The flag consists of the Black Standard with a white text of the Shahada emblazoned across it in depicts the second phrase of the shahada in the form of a depiction of the supposedly historical seal of Muhammad.[17]
| |
2014–present |
Two-color white and blue flag divided into 1/3 of its length with a wavy pattern
| ||
2006–present
|
|||
1996–present |
The flag is divided into two horizontal sections, where the upper section consists of six equal horizontal black and white stripes. The lower section is red and has a black and white Arabic inscription "We will destroy the infidels". Below the writing is a stylized sword.
| ||
1988–present |
White text of the Shahada above a white crescent moon and a star on a blue background. The star and crescent comes from the Kök Bayraq flag, while the Shahada symbolizes Islam.
| ||
1979–present |
Variant of the Jihadist flag used in Afghanistan by
:
|
The flag consists of the Black Standard with a white text of the Shahada emblazoned across it in calligraphy style writing.
| |
Link to file | 1970s–present |
A red flag with three raised hands, holding a hammer, a sickle and a gun respectively.
| |
former
| |||
Link to file | 1987–1989 |
||
1979 |
Flag associated with the Herat insurgents in 1979. |
A green flag with white Takbir inscription.
| |
1916–1934 |
Flag of the Basmachi movement. |
Red and white horizontal stripes, on the hoist side there is an orange rectangle with a white crescent moon and five-pointed star symbol. The whole is surrounded by a thin blue border.
|
Other
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
2014 |
Yellow-red-violet tricolor with the inscription "new Khorosan".
|
Red Crescent Society
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1934–present |
Flags of the Afghan Red Crescent Society |
Red Crescent surrounded by the association's names written in black in Pashto at the top and Dari at the bottom.
| |
1935 |
Rejected red Mehrab-e-Ahmar project to replace the red crescent[22] |
A red mosque similar to the national emblem on a white background
|
Corporations
[edit]Airlines
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1965–present |
Flag of Ariana Afghan Airlines |
The flag features a blue Afghan swallow bird from logo on white field. Blue representing precious lapis lazuli stones.[23]
|
Banks
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
?–present |
Flag of Da Afghanistan Bank[24] |
Emblem of Da Afghanistan Bank on a light blue background. In the center of the emblem there are stylized riders on horses, cornucopias full of coins. The whole is surrounded by a circle with the name of the bank in Dari and the year 1939, in which the bank was founded.
|
Ethnic groups flags
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
2013–present |
|||
1947–present |
|||
?–present |
Flag of Pashayi people |
Unknown flags
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
early 19th century |
Flags from the Afghanistan Military school at the time of Amir Habibullah Khan |
Misattributed flags
[edit]Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1969–present |
Attributed flag of Ghaznavids, designed by Akib Öbek in 1969 as part of concept of 16 Great Turkic Empires |
Green glag with a grey crescent in canton and a peacock. It can appear in many artistic variants.[30]
| |
?–present |
A fictitious flag of Ghaznavids spread on the Internet |
A black field with a golden full moon.
| |
1969–present |
Attributed flag of Hephthalites, designed by Akib Öbek in 1969 as part of concept of 16 Great Turkic Empires |
White flag with three yellow stars placed vertically in upper hoist. White may refer to the White Huns, which was one of the terms for the Hephthalites.[30]
| |
? |
Alleged alternative variant of the flag of Democratic Republic of Afghanistan |
National flag from 1978–1980 in green instead of red.[31]
|
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flags of Afghanistan.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "One Year on: The Taliban Air Force".
- ^ "صفحه اصلی | وزارت امور داخله". moi.gov.af. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Islamic-emirate-of-Afghanistan-Police". ImgBB. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ a b "Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Afghanistan". crwflags.com. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ "Afghanistan - Ministry of Mines and Petroleum". crwflags.com. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Afghanistan - Ministry of Public Health". crwflags.com. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Afghanistan - Ministry of Urban Development and Land". crwflags.com. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Afghan Military Flags | Maiwand Day".
- ^ "Afghanistan's Security Challenges under the Taliban". crisisgroup.org. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ "Opinion: The mujahideen resistance to the Taliban begins now. But we need help". The Washington Post.
- ^ "'Panjshir stands strong': Afghanistan's last holdout against the Taliban". The Guardian. 18 August 2021.
- ^ a b Garofalo, Daniele. "Resistance movements in Afghanistan are unanimous in overthrowing the Taliban and creating a democratic State". danielegarofalo.substack.com. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ "Who are the Islamic State-Khorasan, group responsible for Kabul airport bombing?". 27 August 2021.
- ^ "Taliban Provincial Governor Vows To Fight ISIS".
- ^ Rehman, Zia Ur (15 September 2021). "Afghan chaos mounts as ISIS-K tries to tarnish Taliban triumph". Nikkei Asia.
- ^ "Afghanistan: Several dead as blasts rock Jalalabad and Kabul". Al Jazeera. 18 September 2021.
- ^ The SITE (Search for International Terrorist Entities) website on 23 January 2007 stated: "The Islamic State of Iraq issued a document titled: 'The Legality of the Flag in Islam,' which contains the image of its flag and information to its symbolism, today, Tuesday, January 23, 2007. Text on the flag reading, 'No God, but Allah, and Muhammad is Allah's Messenger,' are the words contained on the flag of the Prophet Muhammad that he carried into battle and handed to generations of bearers. The Islamic State provides evidence and legitimacy for this banner from Islamic scholars, and goes into detail regarding opinions of the flag's material, title, and significance. According to the group the circular shape matches the ring stamp of the Prophet found on many scripts, and the order of the words are to indicate the supremacy of Allah over the Messenger." Cited by Ivan Sache at Flags of the World on 18 February 2007.[1]
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=741084109289303&set=pb.100068410684021.-2207520000
- ^ Some analyzes indicate that the group no longer exists.
- ^ The changing ideology of Hezbollah. OCLC 1141519495.
- ^ "خراسانیان آزاده، فصل بیرق سوزان است!".
- ^ "Red Cross".
- ^ "History".
- ^ "Da Afghanistan Bank". crwflags.com. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Flag of Hazaristan on the Cover of the Anthology Poems for the Hazara". Hazara Rights. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ "Flag of Hazaristan". Hazara International Network. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "Flag of Hazaristan". Kamran Mir Hazar. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "بیرقی برای هزارستان". Kabul Press. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "Hazaristan". The CRW Flags. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Turkey: The Sixteen Great Turkish Empires".
- ^ "Afghanistan October 1978 - April 1980".