Afghanistan: Details regarding the "Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Party" since 1980 and its connection, if any, to the Northern Alliance in present-day Afghanistan
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 25 June 2001 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | AFG37336.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Afghanistan: Details regarding the "Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Party" since 1980 and its connection, if any, to the Northern Alliance in present-day Afghanistan, 25 June 2001, AFG37336.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4bded1.html [accessed 28 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No references to the "Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Party" or to its connection with the Northern Alliance in present-day Afghanistan could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
However, for background information regarding the "People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan" (PDPA) please refer to AFG36180.E of 15 January 2001 and AFG16567.E of 21 February 1994. According to the Political Handbook of the World: 1999, PDPA adopted the new name, Homeland Party (Hizb-i-Watan), at its second congress in June 1990 (8-9). It was not formally disbanded following the fall of the pro-Soviet government, however the Party's recent activity has involved only occasional contact at meetings of international communist organizations (ibid, 9).
A country assessment undertaken by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) noted that "[b]oth UN sources and international or Afghan NGOs stated that most people with a PDPA past have left the country, are in camps for 'Internally Displaced Persons', or have gone to live in Northern Alliance territory for fear of the Taliban" (Nov. 1998, 30).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Political Handbook of the World: 1999. 1999. Edited by Arthur S. Banks, Thomas C. Muller. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.
Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), Home Office, UK. November 1998. Afghanistan Country Assessment.
Additional Sources Consulted
Afghanistan Forum
Afghanistan Reflections
Europa World Year Book
IRB Databases.
LEXIS/NEXIS
Political Parties of Asia and the Pacific
Research Directorate. Human Rights Information Package, Afghanistan.
World News Connection
Internet sites, including:
Aboutafghanistan.com
Afghan Herald
Afghanistan Online
Afghanistan Politics Online
Afghanistan Today
Afghan-Politics.Org
Afghan News Network
Afghan Voice
Association for Peace and Democracy for Afghanistan
BBC South Asia Service
CIA World Factbook 2000
IRIN
The News International (Jung)
The Online Center for Afghan Studies
UNHCR Background Paper on Refugees and Asylum Seekers from Afghanistan
Reliefweb
South Asia Monitor
United Kingdom Home Office
Worldnews.com
