Minister of Defence
Mohammad Daoud Khan is appointed Minister of Defence in the royal government.
Role range: 1946-1953
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Mohammad Daoud Khan Biography and Timeline
Follow Mohammad Daoud Khan through 23 dated historical records for Afghanistan.
Mohammad Daoud Khan, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
23Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1946–1978Years on this page
1946
1953
Prime Minister of Afghanistan
Mohammad Daoud Khan becomes prime minister and begins a decade of centralized government.
Role range: 1953-1963
Modernization Programme
Daoud promotes state-led development, military expansion, and stronger central administration.
Role range: 1953-1963
1955
Soviet Aid
Daoud receives Soviet leaders Nikolai Bulganin and Nikita Khrushchev and accepts major development assistance.
Role range: 1953-1963
1956
Soviet Arms Agreement
Daoud's government acquires substantial Soviet military equipment and training.
Role range: 1953-1963
1959
Women's Unveiling
Women of the royal family appear unveiled at public independence celebrations with government support.
Role range: 1953-1963
1961
Pakistan Border Closure
Pakistan closes its border after relations deteriorate over Daoud's support for Pashtunistan.
Role range: 1953-1963
1963
Resignation of Mohammad Daoud Khan
Daoud resigns after King Zahir Shah seeks constitutional government and reduced tension with Pakistan.
Role range: 1953-1963
1973
President of Afghanistan
Mohammad Daoud Khan becomes Afghanistan's first president after overthrowing the monarchy.
Role range: 1973-1978
Republic of Afghanistan
Daoud proclaims the Republic of Afghanistan and assumes executive authority.
Role range: 1973-1978
1974
PDPA Influence
Daoud begins removing Parcham-linked officers and officials who had supported his republican coup.
Role range: 1973-1978
1975
Iranian Aid
Daoud seeks Iranian economic assistance while reducing Afghanistan's dependence on the Soviet Union.
Role range: 1973-1978
National Revolutionary Party
Daoud establishes the National Revolutionary Party as the republic's sole authorized political organization.
Role range: 1973-1978
1977
Loya Jirga
A Loya Jirga ratifies a constitution concentrating executive power in the presidency.
Role range: 1973-1978
Constitution of Afghanistan
Daoud signs a constitution creating a centralized presidential and one-party republic.
Role range: 1973-1978
Presidential Election
The Loya Jirga unanimously elects Daoud president for a six-year term.
Role range: 1973-1978
1978
PDPA Demonstrations
A large communist funeral procession for Mir Akbar Khyber prompts Daoud to arrest senior PDPA leaders.
Role range: 1973-1978
Coup
Rebel armour and aircraft attack government positions as Daoud orders loyal forces to resist.
Role range: 1973-1978
Saur Revolution
PDPA-aligned military units begin the Saur Revolution against Daoud's government.
Role range: 1973-1978
Assassination of Mohammad Daoud Khan
Revolutionary troops kill Daoud, ending the first Republic of Afghanistan.
Role range: 1973-1978
Death of Mohammad Daoud Khan
Daoud is killed with members of his family after loyalists are overwhelmed inside the presidential palace.
Role range: 1973-1978
Defence of Arg Palace
Daoud refuses to surrender and remains with loyal guards during the final assault on the palace.
Role range: 1973-1978
Siege of Arg Palace
Government resistance collapses after revolutionary forces surround and storm the presidential palace.
Role range: 1973-1978
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.