Town or city Kabul Size Approximately 83 acres Phone +98 919 378 9239 Structural system Afghanistan | Country Afghanistan Address Akber, Kabul, Afghanistan Construction started 1880 | |
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Similar Gardens of Babur, Id Gah Mosque, National Museum of Afghanistan, Pul‑e Khishti Mosque, Qargha Reservoir Profiles | ||
The Arg (Persian: ارگ, meaning citadel in Dari and Pashto) serves as the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan. 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: