No references to the "Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Party" or to its connection with the Northern Alliance in present-day Afghanistan could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, for background information regarding the "People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan" (PDPA) please refer to AFG36180.E of 15 January 2001 and AFG16567.E of 21 February 1994. According to the Political Handbook of the World: 1999, PDPA adopted the new name, Homeland Party (Hizb-i-Watan), at its second congress in June 1990 (8-9). It was not formally disbanded following the fall of the pro-Soviet government, however the Party's recent activity has involved only occasional contact at meetings of international communist organizations (ibid, 9).

A country assessment undertaken by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) noted that "[b]oth UN sources and international or Afghan NGOs stated that most people with a PDPA past have left the country, are in camps for 'Internally Displaced Persons', or have gone to live in Northern Alliance territory for fear of the Taliban" (Nov. 1998, 30).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Political Handbook of the World: 1999. 1999. Edited by Arthur S. Banks, Thomas C. Muller. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), Home Office, UK. November 1998. Afghanistan Country Assessment.

Additional Sources Consulted

Afghanistan Forum

Afghanistan Reflections

Europa World Year Book

IRB Databases.

LEXIS/NEXIS

Political Parties of Asia and the Pacific

Research Directorate. Human Rights Information Package, Afghanistan.

World News Connection

Internet sites, including:

Aboutafghanistan.com

Afghan Herald

Afghanistan Online

Afghanistan Politics Online

Afghanistan Today

Afghan-Politics.Org

Afghan News Network

Afghan Voice

Association for Peace and Democracy for Afghanistan

BBC South Asia Service

CIA World Factbook 2000

IRIN

The News International (Jung)

The Online Center for Afghan Studies

UNHCR Background Paper on Refugees and Asylum Seekers from Afghanistan

Reliefweb

South Asia Monitor

United Kingdom Home Office

Worldnews.com