Top-flight cup debut (1998–2003)
Their first top-flight national competition came in 1998, the club made their top tier debut at the 1998 PFF President's Cup, where they failed to pass through the group G, which included National Bank and Sindh Government Press. [6]
In the 1999 PFF President's Cup, they were placed in group F with WAPDA and Khan Research Laboratories, they lost both their matches 1–0, knocking them out of the tournament. [7]
When they competed in the 2000 PFF President's Cup, they were to face Karachi Port Trust but withdrew from the tournament. [8] In 2000, Afghan Chaman played in an invitation tour at Kandahar Stadium in neighbouring Afghanistan against a local team from Kandahar. During the third and final game of the tour, Taliban religious police burst into the ground and stopped the game in the middle. The Taliban arrested twelve of the Afghan Chaman's players and had their heads shaved as punishment for wearing shorts. [9]
In the 2002 PFF President's Cup, they advanced from the group E, which included Karachi Port Trust and Pakistan Ordnance Factories, until losing in the round of 16 against KESC by 4–0. [10]
