Description

The Saqqawists were an armed group in Afghanistan active from 1924 to 1931, led by Habibullāh Kalakāni. In January 1929, they captured Kabul and re-established the Emirate of Afghanistan, but were ousted by October 1929 due to defeats in the Afghan Civil War. Kalakani's rule from January to October 1929 is known as the "Saqqawist period." Despite a subsequent rebellion in 1930, the Saqqawists were finally suppressed by 1931.

Habibullah Kalakani (1891–1929), derisively called "Bacha-ye Saqao" (literally "son of the water carrier") by the Pashtuns, ruled Afghanistan from 17 January to 13 October 1929 and led the Saqqawists. During the Afghan Civil War (1928–1929), he captured significant territories and controlled Kabul. An ethnic Tajik, Kalakani was not recognized as the ruler of Afghanistan by any country. He contested the throne with Amanullah Khan and, after defeating him, was eventually overthrown by Mohammad Nadir Shah.