jul 17, 1973 - 1973 Afghan coup d'état

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The 1973 Afghan coup d'etat (internally known as Coup of July 17 was the relatively bloodless overthrow of King Mohammed Zahir Shah on 17 July 1973 and the establishment of the Republic of Afghanistan. The non-violent coup was executed by the then-Army commander and royal Prince, Mohammed Daoud Khan who led forces in Kabul along with then-chief of staff General Abdul Karim Mustaghni to overthrow the monarchy while the King was abroad in Ischia, Italy. Daoud Khan was assisted by leftist Army officers and civil servants from the Parcham faction of the PDPA, including Air Force colonel Abdul Qadir. King Zahir Shah decided not to retaliate and he formally abdicated on August 24, remaining in Italy in exile. More than two centuries of royal rule (since the founding of the Durrani Empire in 1747) ended.

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