Coup
Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan Hafizullah Amin seizes power after a palace shootout that results in the murder of President Taraki
Role range: 1978-1979
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Hafizullah Amin Biography and Timeline
Follow Hafizullah Amin through 16 dated historical records for Afghanistan.
Hafizullah Amin, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
16Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1978–1979Years on this page
1978
Coup
Reforms are opposed by conservative Muslims & thousands flee to Pakistan & Iran
Role range: 1978-1979
Exile of Hafizullah Amin
Reforms are opposed by conservative Muslims & thousands flee to Pakistan & Iran
Role range: 1978-1979
Coup
Reforms are opposed by conservative Muslims & thousands flee to Pakistan & Iran. Power is assumed by a 57 member Revolutionary Council of the Peoples Democratic Party
Role range: 1978-1979
Exile of Hafizullah Amin
Reforms are opposed by conservative Muslims & thousands flee to Pakistan & Iran
Role range: 1978-1979
1979
Prime Minister of Afghanistan
Amin becomes prime minister while Taraki remains head of state and PDPA general secretary.
Role range: 1979-1979
Central Intelligence Agency
United States President Jimmy Carter authorizes covert propaganda support against the Afghan revolutionary government.
Role range: 1979-1979
Arrest of Nur Muhammad Taraki
President Taraki tries to have Amin assassinated but fails, Amin has him arrested
Role range: 1978-1979
Head of State
Amin assumes control of the Revolutionary Council and the PDPA.
Role range: 1979-1979
Soviet Military Entry
Large Soviet military units enter Afghanistan as Moscow prepares to replace Amin.
Role range: 1979-1989 – 1979-1979
Invasion of Afghanistan
Russia invades after Amins unpopularity & failure to suppress the guerrillas
Role range: 1978-1980
Death of Hafizullah Amin
Amin is killed during the Soviet assault on Tajbeg Palace.
Role range: 1979-1979
Soviet Intervention
Soviet forces remove Amin and transfer power to Babrak Karmal.
Role range: 1979-1989 – 1979-1979
Tajbeg Palace Assault
Soviet special forces storm Amin's residence and destroy his government.
Role range: 1979-1979
Government Crisis
Amin seeks stronger Soviet military support as insurgency spreads and government authority weakens.
Role range: 1979-1979
Rebellion of Rebels in Kabul
Amin's government faces expanding armed resistance and repeatedly requests additional Soviet assistance.
Role range: 1979-1979
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.