Watan Party of Afghanistan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Mir Afghan Bawary |
| Founded | 28 June 1997 |
| Preceded by | Watan Party |
| Membership | 13,000[1] |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| International affiliation | Progressive Alliance |
| Party flag | |
 | |
| Website | |
| www.hezbe-watan.com | |
The Watan Party of Afghanistan (Dari: حزب وطن افغانستان, Hezb-e Watan-e Afganestan) is a social democratic political party in Afghanistan. The party describes itself as "national and democratic, progressive and reformist".[1]
The party was founded in exile during the time of the Taliban regime on 28 June 1997 in Munich, Germany, and has members inside the country where it is not officially registered. It considers itself a continuation of the leftist ideas of Mohammad Najibullah and his Watan Party, which was established in 1990 as the successor to the ruling People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). The Munich conference elected Muhammad Isa Jassur as the leader of the party. The party held its second congress in Frankfurt/Main in 2000.[2]
On 28 July 2017, thousands attended an event at a Kabul hotel for the fourth "consultative gathering for a legal relaunch of Watan Party". In the past, the party has attempted to register under the PDPA name, but has been refused registration.[1]
The party does not identify with ether the Khalq or Parcham (which they call "Karmalist"). The Party has described itself as "national and democratic, progressive and reformist" and is against foreign interference in Afghanistan, particularly from the Pakistanis.[1]