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Today in History: Hafizullah Amin seizes power, murders President Taraki

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 10:35 AM UTC · How we work

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Story summary

On 14 September 1979, Afghan leader Nur Muhammad Taraki—PDPA General Secretary and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council—was deposed and later executed on orders of his deputy Hafizullah Amin. Amin, who helped launch the 1978 Saur Revolution and co-founded the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, seized power as head of state.

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Story summary

On 14 September 1979, Afghan leader Nur Muhammad Taraki—PDPA General Secretary and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council—was deposed and later executed on orders of his deputy Hafizullah Amin. Amin, who helped launch the 1978 Saur Revolution and co-founded the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, seized power as head of state.