The fall of Kabul on August 15, 2021, marked the dramatic return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan. Unlike the Taliban of the mid-1990s, the resurgent “Taliban 2.0” seemed to have realised the importance of visual symbolism in reshaping their political image for both domestic and international audiences. Since August 2021, the Taliban has introduced sweeping changes to redefine Afghanistan’s national identity. The iconography of the Taliban’s white flag, adorned with the Shahada (the Islamic declaration of faith in black lettering), has become a prominent symbol of the overthrow of the Ashraf Ghani regime but remains contentious since it is yet to be widely accepted across the country.
Notably, the flag with the white background now frequently appears in the background during formal engagements between Taliban representatives and foreign delegates (Figure 1). As a prominent member of the Taliban administration says, “when systems change, so do flags.” Flags are more than symbols of power and national identity; they also represent a nation’s history. Given Afghanistan’s long and eventful past, the current Taliban flag is neither the first nor will it be the final one, as officials from the Islamic Emirate hinted that while “Afghanistan’s flag is currently white [it] could be changed based on collective agreement at an appropriate time.”
Figure 1
The flag of Afghanistan from the 1900s until the present day has often changed. Its iconography and colours were never static. Instead, over the decades, the flag mirrored political transitions in this landlocked country—a transformation from an Emirate to a Kingdom to a Republic to a Socialist Republic to an Islamic State, and finally to an Islamic Emirate. These evolving flags reflect Afghanistan’s turbulent history amid internal strife and external pressures. The flags symbolise the country’s constant quest for identity and stability amidst a complex and ever-changing landscape. Afghanistan’s turbulent socio-political history is vividly reflected in the frequent changes to the symbols and colours of its flag under various regimes. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Afghanistan holds the distinction of having a flag that underwent the most changes throughout the 20th century.
According to vexillologists (specialists in the history and design of flags), the concept of flags and their usage dates back to a time before the formation of the modern nation-state. In that era, flags were primarily associated with empires, kingdoms, armies, religious institutions, etc. According to historians, the origins of Afghanistan’s first flag, “Darafsh-Aryana,” date back 5000 years to the reign of King Yama. Afghan folklore also mentions the use of various flags throughout its ancient history.
The Rise of the Modern Flag: 1901-1929
In the early 20th century, as Afghanistan navigated growing regional and colonial influences, its flag began to take shape as a symbol of sovereignty and national identity. Afghanistan’s flag has undergone as many as eighteen changes over the past century, each reflecting the political shifts and aspirations of its ruling elites. To begin with, between 1901 and 1928, the Emirate of Afghanistan had three flags, all featuring a black background with the design of a mosque. However, the design of swords beneath the mosque and the encircling wreath evolved as Afghanistan transitioned from an Emirate to a Kingdom (Figure 2), as examined below.
Figure 2: Flags of 1901, 1921, 1926
From Black to Tricolour: 1929-1973
In 1929, amid political instability, Afghanistan briefly reverted to being an Emirate under Habibullah Kalakani before an armed rebellion led by Mohammed Nadir Shah reinstated the Kingdom once again. A tricolour flag was introduced by the Emirate, initially resembling the one flown by Mongol invaders of the 13th century (Figure 3). This flag was later replaced by a black-red-green tricolour during the Kingdom, featuring a seal with a mosque, swords beneath it, and a sunburst design. The flag’s colours represented black for the historical past, red for the blood sacrificed for freedom, and green for prosperity (Figure 4).
Figure 3 Figure 4
For the next four decades, from 1930 to mid-1973, Afghanistan remained a monarchy under Nadir Shah and his successor, Zahir Shah. While the flag’s colour scheme remained consistent, the emblem underwent minor modifications to reflect political changes. For instance, Nadir Shah’s flag featured a mosque above the Hijri year, marking the start of his reign, surrounded by sheaves of wheat symbolising fertility (Figure 5). After Nadir’s assassination in 1933, Zahir Shah maintained this design, symbolising continuity and stability (Figure 5). However, following his overthrow in 1973 by Mohammed Daoud Khan, the monarchy was abolished, and the dynastic date was removed from the emblem, signalling the establishment of a republic (Figure 6).
Figure 5 Figure 6
The republican regime introduced significant changes to the Afghan flag. Notably, the flag’s colours were arranged horizontally, reflecting the political shift. The new emblem featured a wide-winged eagle with a mihrab (an arched niche in a mosque wall indicating the direction of Mecca for Muslim prayers) on its chest, symbolising faith and sovereign authority, surrounded by sheaves of wheat. Rays of the sun are depicted above the eagle’s head, symbolising the dawn of the Republican era (Figure 7).
Figure 7
The Communist Era: 1978-1992
The Republican era came to an abrupt end in April 1978 when the communists seized power through a bloody coup. The new regime adopted a red flag featuring a new emblem, which included a red star above the word Khalq (meaning ‘people’). The emblem was encircled by sheaves of wheat, with a ribbon below praising the coup (Figure 8). Later, in December 1979, when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to support the communist regime, the flag and its emblem were altered once again. The colour scheme returned to a tricolour design, and the new emblem featured a sun rising over a mihrab in a lush green field with an open book beneath it. A red star, symbolising communist ideology, and a cogwheel representing industry were placed above the rising sun, surrounded by sheaves of wheat (Figure 9). However, as the Mujahideen’s armed resistance against the Soviet occupation and the communist regime in Kabul grew, the flag’s emblem was modified. The communist symbols—namely the red star and the open book (which were seen as symbols of scientific and cultural revolution)—were removed in 1986 (Figure 10).
Figure 8 Figure 9
Figure 10
Mujahideen Era: 1980-1996
After the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan, the Afghan mujahideen overthrew the Moscow-backed regime of Mohammad Najibullah in 1992 and effected another change in the flag’s design. The new flag adopted a green, white, and black colour scheme, with an emblem featuring a mosque and the Islamic Shahada, surrounded by sheaves of wheat and a pair of cavalry swords symbolising the mujahideen’s victory (Figure 11). However, the brief peace was shattered with the emergence of the Taliban, who seized power in Kabul in 1996. The Taliban declared Afghanistan an Islamic Emirate and introduced a new white flag with the Islamic Shahada in black (Figure 12). The Taliban’s flag remained in use until November 2001.
Figure 11
Figure 12
The post-9/11 Flag: 2001-2021
The Taliban were toppled by the Northern Alliance following the 9/11 attacks. The 1992 flag was reinstated, with the added feature of the Shahada in blue lettering in the white stripe (Figure 13). After the Taliban’s withdrawal from Kabul, the Hamid Karzai-led transitional government was established to lead Afghanistan. The flag and emblem reverted to the vertical colour scheme of the Zahir Shah era (1933–1973), and the swords were removed from the design (Figure 14).
Figure 13
Figure 14
Later, with the October 2004 election, Hamid Karzai became president and declared Afghanistan an Islamic Republic. Towards the end of Karzai’s second term, in August 2013, the flag’s white emblem was enlarged, making its details more prominent (Figure 15).
Figure 15
The Return of the Taliban: 2021
In September 2014, Ashraf Ghani assumed the presidency of Afghanistan, serving until August 2021, when the resurgent Taliban seized power once again and declared Afghanistan an Islamic Emirate. The white flag was reinstated, symbolising the Taliban’s “strategic communication efforts” towards “re-establishing Shar’iah” (Islamic Law) across Afghanistan (Figure 16).
Figure 16
Analysts of the Taliban’s visual communication argue that contrary to Western perceptions, the group’s visual discourse is marked by its simplicity and straightforwardness, enabling it to resonate with a broader audience, particularly in rural areas. The effectiveness of the Taliban’s flag lies in its ability to embody and reinforce the precise, focused, and localised messages that resonate deeply with the Afghan people. Grounded in Islamic and Pashtun values, the flag serves as a powerful symbol of the Taliban’s narrative, which emphasises the defence of Islam, the homeland, and personal honour. The flag reflects themes of resilience and patience, portraying the Taliban as steadfast protectors engaged in a cosmic struggle between good and evil. By incorporating these deeply held cultural and religious ideals, the flag becomes a potent visual representation of its identity and mission, strengthening its connection with the population and solidifying its message of resistance.
Figure 17
That said, despite the Taliban’s frantic efforts to redefine the sights, symbols, and sounds of official Afghan nationalism, new arenas of resistance against its rule are emerging. For instance, the flags of the Dawlat-e Islâmî-ye Afghânistân (Islamic State of Afghanistan), which organised the anti-Taliban resistance in the 1990s, have become a powerful symbol of anti-Taliban resistance in Northern Afghanistan (Figure 17). The flags, known as the “resistance flag” or “mujahideen flag,” with their white, green, and black colours, represent the collective memories of war and the sacrifices made, particularly among the Tajik communities in northern and northeastern Afghanistan. This highlights that the struggle for power is fought not only through armed resistance but also through enduring visual symbols of defiance, i.e. flags.
