🇦🇫 The colours of Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s current flag is white with black Arabic script, representing the Taliban’s emphasis on purity of faith and government. The previous tricolour flag, still used internationally, features black, red, and green, which stand for the country’s past, sacrifices for independence, and hope or prosperity.

Where no official value is given, the swatch shows the colour family, not the exact shade.

• The current flag is plain white with the black Shahada in the centre.
• White stands for purity of faith and government under Taliban rule.
• The tricolour of black, red, and green dates back to 1928.
• Black symbolises Afghanistan’s troubled past or history.
• The tricolour is still used at international sporting events.

The colours of the flag of Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s current official flag is a plain white field with the black Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith, at its centre. The Taliban state that white stands for the purity of their faith and government. Previously, the internationally recognised flag was a vertical tricolour of black, red, and green, with a white national emblem in the centre. Each colour in the tricolour has its own meaning: black for the country’s troubled past, red for the blood of those who fought for independence, and green for hope and prosperity. These meanings are widely accepted, though some interpretations vary, especially for green, which can also represent Islam or agriculture.

National colours of Afghanistan

The black, red, and green tricolour remains a symbol of Afghanistan in international events, such as the Olympics and the Paralympics, and is used by the Afghan diaspora and groups opposing Taliban rule. The tricolour is also displayed by protesters within Afghanistan as a sign of resistance. Although the Taliban have outlawed its use in official settings, it continues to be associated with Afghan identity abroad and in sporting contexts.

How the colours were chosen of Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s flags have changed many times since the early 20th century, reflecting shifts in government and ideology. The black, red, and green tricolour was first introduced in 1928, inspired by King Amanullah Khan’s visit to Europe and the Weimar Republic’s flag. Over the decades, these colours have remained central, though their arrangement and the emblem have varied. The current white flag with black script was adopted by the Taliban in 2021, drawing inspiration from early Islamic banners and the Umayyad caliphate, which brought Islam to Afghanistan. Black banners have also been used historically by various Afghan dynasties and Islamic movements.

Official shades and rules of Afghanistan

There are no official shade specifications or proportions for the current white flag with black script. The tricolour flag’s arrangement—vertical black, red, and green stripes with a white emblem—has been consistent since 1928, but the emblem’s details and colours have changed with different governments. The Taliban have decreed that only their white flag is to be used officially, banning the tricolour in all state contexts.