She was born to Habibullah Khan (r. 1901–1919) and one of his 44 wives, Sitara Begum, a Shighnani Consort.
In 1919, her half brother succeeded to the throne, and launched a radical modernization of Afghanistan.
This change was supported by the king's mother,[2] and his queen Soraya Tarzi and his sisters acted as role models by unveiling, adopting Western fashion and taking on public roles.
[3] In 1928, Princess Sahira Begum Siraj Al Banat and her sister-in-law queen Soraya co-founded the women's organisation Anjuman-i Himayat-i-Niswan,[4] and Princess Kubrah was appointed to chair the organization.
[5][6][7] Princess Kubrah was to "coordinate, supervise, and guide" its work concerning women’s liberation, and its office in Kabul, to which women were encouraged to come to report mistreatment and learn of their new rights, had twelve active members to assist her.