People's Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan (Feda'ian)

The People's Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan (Feda'ian) (Persian: نهضت همبستگی مردم افغانستان (فدائیان)) was a Maoist political organization in Afghanistan. It emerged in the early to mid-1970s as one of several distinct factions within the Afghan Maoist movement.

The Feda'ian, meaning "Devotees" or "Self-Sacrificers," distinguished themselves through their emphasis on armed struggle and their critique of other Maoist groups they viewed as revisionist or insufficiently revolutionary. They advocated for a protracted people's war to overthrow the Afghan government and establish a socialist state.

Like other Afghan Maoist organizations, the Feda'ian recruited primarily among students and intellectuals. They were active in Kabul and other urban centers, engaging in political agitation, organizing demonstrations, and, to a lesser extent than some other factions, carrying out armed actions.

The Feda'ian's activities were often clandestine due to the repressive political environment in Afghanistan during the 1970s. The group faced persecution from both the Afghan government and rival political organizations, including Islamic fundamentalist groups and pro-Soviet factions.

Following the Saur Revolution in 1978, which brought the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) to power, the Feda'ian remained in opposition. They viewed the PDPA as a Soviet puppet regime and continued their armed struggle, though their influence and effectiveness were limited. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 further complicated the political landscape and intensified the conflict.

The Feda'ian, like other Maoist groups, suffered from internal divisions and factionalism. Their impact on the overall course of the Afghan conflict was relatively small compared to larger political and military forces, but they represent an important aspect of the complex history of leftist movements in Afghanistan. Information about the group, its ideology, and its specific activities remains somewhat scarce and fragmented.