Following the rise of power of Ghazi Amanullah Khan in 1919, the first elements of a democratic government in the country began to emerge, with the formation of a constitution and increased civil liberties.
[1] Due to his significant popularity amongst the Afghan populace, and in line with his Western-outlook, Amanullah also implemented cultural reforms which eased restrictions on a number of civil liberties, particularly with regards to women's rights.
[1] As a result of these social reforms, conservative Islamists in the country staged a revolt, leading to overthrow of Amanullah's government and the imposition of rule by Habibullāh Kalakāni, leader of the "Saqqawists" opposition movement in early 1929.
[4] On July 17, 1973, amidst increasing discontent with King Zahir Shah's government, former Prime Minister Mohammad Sardar Daoud Khan seized power in a non-violent coup and abolished the monarchy, establishing the first Republic of Afghanistan.
[5] Following nearly a decade of civil war from 1989 to 1996 and the withdrawal of Soviet forces on 15 February 1989, much of the country became consolidated under the rule of the religiously conservative and traditionalist Taliban militant group.
[6] After the September 11th attacks in the United States in 2001, a coalition of Western powers invaded Afghanistan, supporting the Northern Alliance and toppling the Taliban by the end of the year.
[9] This corruption was present in the highest levels of government, with the New Kabul Bank scandal in which a small number of political elites, including cabinet ministers, had embezzled nearly $1 billion through fraudulent loan schemes.
[15] In a recording of Ziaul Haq Amarkhel, the secretary of Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission, he told officials to "take sheep to the mountains, stuff them, and bring them back," in a reference to ballot stuffing.
[16] American journalist Steve Coll reported that "Ghani's surge of votes in the second round from Pashtun areas racked by violence was inherently suspect.