Flag of Afghanistan

Flag of Afghanistan

Flag of Afghanistan

The national flag of Afghanistan consists of three equal vertical bands of black, red, and green. In the centre of the flag is an emblem which consists of a masjid with a flag on each side. The year 1298 is written on a scroll. The year 1919 is when Afghanistan obtained control over its foreign affairs from the British Empire. Underneath the date is the name “Afghanistan” written in Dari. The central image is circled by sheaves of wheat, representing fertility. Top of the emblem is the phrase “Allahu Akbar” in Arabic, and slightly above that are rays of sun leading up to the Islamic Declaration of Faith or “Shahada”: “There is no deity but God, and Mohammad is the messenger of God”.

Flag of Afghanistan
Flag of Afghanistan

 

Flag of Afghanistan Design and Colour Scheme

The Flag consists of a vertical tricolour with the classical National Emblem in the centre. The current flag was adopted on August 19, 2013.

  • The black colour represents the dark past when its foreign policy was under the control of the British Empire.
  • The red represents the bloodshed for Independence.
  • The green colour represents hope and a prosperous Islamic future.
  • The centre emblem is the classical emblem of Afghanistan with a mosque with its mihrab facing Mecca.

Additional information: some have alternatively interpreted the black to represent history, the red to represent progress, and the green to represent either agricultural prosperity or Islam.

Brief History about the Flag of Afghanistan

Afghanistan has had 25 flags since the first flag when the Hotak dynasty was established in 1709. During the 20th century alone, Afghanistan went through 18 national flags, more than any other country during that time period.

The majority of the flags used by the nation feature the colours of black, red and green, including the current flag used today.

 

Flag of Afghanistan
Flag of Afghanistan