Mohammad Daoud Khan was an Afghan politician and military leader who served as the Prime Minister of Afghanistan from 1953 to 1963 and later as the country's first President from 1973 until his assassination in 1978. He was a member of the Durrani dynasty and played a significant role in modernizing Afghanistan, focusing on infrastructure and education. Daoud Khan's rule ended when a communist coup, known as the Saur Revolution, overthrew his government. His leadership is often remembered for its attempts to balance traditional Afghan values with modernization efforts, which ultimately led to political instability and conflict in the country.