Pact of Friendship and Cordial Collaboration between Italy and Romania4.1251 Treaty of Neutrality and Non-Aggres-
sion between the Soviet Union and
Afghanistan
Alliance Members:Soviet Union and Afghanistan
Signed On:August 31, 1926, in the city of Paghman (Afghanistan). In
force until December 8, 1979.
Alliance Type:Neutrality Pact (Type II)
Source:British Foreign and State Papers,vol. 125, p. 3.
SUMMARY
This treaty marks the beginning of closer relations between
Afghanistan and the Soviet Union. The agreement affirms neutrality
in the case of international conflict and establishes that both countries
would not support or establish subversive elements in the territories of
their neighboring alliance partner. The agreement was followed one
month later by a friendship treaty and soon thereafter by a trade
agreement.
The closer ties between the two countries increased the suspicions of
Afghanistan’s southern neighbor, India, and this led the Afghan gov-
ernment to downplay the level of military cooperation between the
signatories. The pact lasted until the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in
December 1979.
Alliance Text
With a view to the consolidation of the friendly relations and
the strengthening of amicable neighbourly connexions, happily
existing between the USSR and the Sovereign State of
Afghanistan on the basis of the treaty signed in Moscow 28 Feb-
ruary 1921, which remains in force in all its parts irrespective of
whether the present treaty remains in force or is annulled, the
plenipotentiaries of the two high contracting parties:
The plenipotentiary representative of the USSR in
Afghanistan M. Leonid Stark and His Excellency the Foreign
Minister of the Sovereign State of Afghanistan M. Mahmud-
Bek-Khan-Tarzi on 31 August 1925 [1926] in the city of Pagh-
man, having exchanged their credentials, which were found to
be in due form, have drawn up and signed the following arti-
cles, designed to strengthen friendly relations between the two
States and to ensure lasting peace.
I. In the event of war or of military action between one of the
contracting parties and a third or several other Powers, the
other contracting party undertakes to observe neutrality in
regard to the first.
II. Each of the contracting parties undertakes to refrain from
any attack on the other, and on its own territories it will take no
steps which might inflict political or military injury on the
other contracting party. In particular, each of the contracting
parties undertakes not to take part in any alliances or agree-
ments of a military or political character with another or several
third Powers which might be directed against the other con-
tracting party, or in any boycott or blockade of a financial or
economic character directed against the other contracting
party. Furthermore, should the conduct of a third Power or of
third Powers towards one of the contracting parties be of an
inimical character, the other contracting party undertakes not
only to refrain from supporting such conduct, but is bound on
its own territory to oppose it and the hostile actions and designs
arising therefrom.
III. The high contracting parties, mutually recognizing their
state sovereignty, undertake to refrain from any armed or
unarmed intervention in the internal affairs of the other con-
tracting party and they will refrain completely from assisting or
participating in any intervention by a third or several third
Powers which might take steps against the other contracting
party. The contracting parties will not permit and will prevent
on their territory the organization and activity of groups and
the activity of individuals prejudicial to the other contracting
party or which are aimed at the overthrow of the political
regime of the other contracting party, or which make attempts
on its territorial integrity, or which assemble and recruit armed
forces against the other contracting party. In like manner the
two sides will not allow or give permission for the passage
through their territory of armed forces, arms, stores of firearms,
military equipment, or any kind of war material designed for
use against the other contracting party.
IV. The contracting parties agree to enter within four
months into negotiations for establishing the method of settling
differences which may arise between them and which cannot be
settled by the customary diplomatic means.
V. Each of the contracting parties retains complete freedom
of action
to take steps to establish any sort of relations and alliances
with third Powers which lie outside the limits of the obligations,
the terms of which are set forth in the present treaty.
VI. The present treaty enters into force from the moment of
its ratification, which shall take place not more than three
months after its signature, and shall remain in force for three
years. After the expiration of that term the treaty shall be con-
sidered as automatically prolonged for successive periods of one
year unless either of the contracting parties shall inform the
other contracting party six months before the expiration of the
treaty of its desire to discontinue it.
VII. The present treaty is drawn up in two copies, in the Rus-
sian and Persian languages, both texts being authentic.
Paghman, 31 August 19264.1252 Pact of Friendship and Cordial Collab-
oration between Italy and Romania
Alliance Members:Italy and Romania
Signed On:September 16, 1926, in the city of Rome. In force until
July 18, 1932.
Alliance Type:Entente (Type III)
Source:League of Nations Treaty Series,no. 1560.