The famous victory arch commemorates Afghan independence after the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919.

[2][3] The monument was constructed after King Amanullah Khan and Queen Soraya Tarzi's return from Europe in 1928.

[4] At that time, at the entrance of Paghman, they created a triumphal arch or monumental gate in the style of Greco-Roman classical architecture, similar to but smaller than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France.

Its wide avenues contained fir, poplar and nut trees which flew past the arch, villas and a golf course.

[6] During the Soviet–Afghan War in the 1980s, Paghman was a major battleground and suffered from bombardment from both the Soviet-backed government and the mujahideen rebels.