Arg (Kabul)

Coordinates: 34°31′25″N 69°10′44″E / 34.52361°N 69.17889°E / 34.52361; 69.17889

The Arg (Persian: ارگ‎‎, meaning citadel in Dari and Pashto) serves as the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan.^[1] It sits on an 83 acre site in the affluent neighbourhood of Wazir Akbar Khan. The Arg was built after the destruction of the Bala Hissar in 1880 by the British Indian troops. It has been used by many Afghan kings and presidents, from Emir Abdur Rahman Khan to current President Ashraf Ghani.

History

The foundation of the Arg was laid by Emir Abdur Rahman Khan in 1880 after assuming the throne. It was designed as a castle with water-filled trench around it. Abdur Rahman Khan named it Arg-e-Shahi (Citadel of the King) and included among other buildings a residence for his family, army barracks, and the national treasury. Previously, the Bala Hissar served as the citadel or the headquarters of the emirs until it was destroyed by the British Indian troops during the Second Anglo-Afghan war (1878–80).

The Arg has served as the royal and presidential palace for all of the kings and presidents of Afghanistan. However, Hafizullah Amin also used Tajbeg Palace as the residence for his family. It has undergone modifications and revitalization under the different rulers. During the April 28, 1978, Saur Revolution, President Mohammed Daoud Khan and his family were assassinated by members of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) inside the Arg.

The Arg today consists of the following:

• The Gul Khana which serves as the offices for President Ashraf Ghani and the President's Protocol Office;
• The Offices of the President's Chief of Staff;
• The National Security Advisor's building; and the Offices of the Spokesperson to the President.
• Offices for the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).
• Various buildings for receiving delegations or hosting large meetings.

See also

• Bala Hissar
• Herat Citadel
• President of Afghanistan
• Politics of Afghanistan
• History of Afghanistan

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arg (Kabul).

Gallery

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  U.S. President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai during the May 2012 US-Afghan strategic agreement signing in Kabul

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  U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta meets with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, July 9, 2011.

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  U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Afghan President Hamid Karzai conduct a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, June 4, 2011.

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  US President Barack Obama meets with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 28, 2010.

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  U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, right, and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai walk together on the presidential compound in Kabul, March 8, 2010.

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  U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, center left, meets with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, March 8, 2010.

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  US President George W. Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai talk on March 1, 2006, in the Presidential Palace.

Kabul Province
Capital	Kabul
Districts	Bagrami Char Asiab Deh Sabz Farza Guldara Istalif Kabul Kalakan Khaki Jabbar Mir Bacha Kot Mussahi Paghman Qarabagh Shakardara Surobi
Cities	Bagrami Qalai Naeem Tarakhel Dehnawe Farza Guldara Istalif Kabul Kalakan Khak-i Jabbar Mir Bacha Kot Mussahi Paghman Qara Bagh Shakar Dara Surobi
Landmarks	Presidential Palace Darul Aman Palace Bala Hissar Gardens of Babur InterContinental Hotel Safi Landmark Hotel Kabul Serena Hotel Kabul's Irish Pub Kabul Library National Museum of Afghanistan Abdul Rahman Mosque Pul-e Khishti Mosque Id Gah Mosque Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque Gurdwara Karte Parwan