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Zahir Shah's Rule Ends
July 17 was the end of Zahir Shah's monarchy and the beginning of generations of fightinh. When Amir and Hassan first hears the sounds of gunshots and explosions, "they had frightened [them] badly" and "[t]hey were foreign sounds to [them].(36)" After this night, Afghanistan started to unstabilize and created "[t]he generation of Afghan children whose ears would know nothing but the sounds of bombs and gunfire(36)". Thankfully, Hassan moved to Hazarajat and Amir to America before things could wo -
Hassan Gets Raped
Amir often recalls the night of Hassan's rape do to his neverending thoughts of guilt. Due to his ignorance of Hassan's situation, the guilt Amir felt greatly affected his life routine and "became an insomniac.(86)" It was the night that changed Amir purpose and constantly forced him to seek atonement. This scene also reveals how much of a power-hungry monster Assef is and how that personality stays with him for the rest of his life. -
Amir and Baba Go To Jalalabad
As a reward for Amir's victory in the kite competition, Baba takes him to Jalalabad for a vacation. Amir thought that the trip would finally have Baba appreciate him and show him affection. However, when he received the feelings of affection, he "felt as empty as this unkempt pool [he] was dangling his legs into.(85)" He couldn't truly appreciate what Baba was doing for him because he was too preoccupied with his gulity feelings for Hassan. -
Amir's 13th Birthday
Baba throws Amir a birthday party as a another present for his ability to win the kite contest. Amir recalls "scanning over the invitation list... and not recognizing three-quarters of the four hundred(93)" of the people attending. The party didn't do much for Amir since all he ever wanted was to have Baba's affection. In the end, Amir only received presents he described as "blood money", which were of no value to him. -
Soviet Troops First Deployed
The troops were sent to Afghanistan "to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within he Afghan Communist leadership.(NYT 2)" Babrak Karmal had to have some importance for the Soviet Union to become allies with him. An obvious reason would be that the Soviet Union wants to take Afghanistan and add it to the already growing union. -
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Soviet Invades Afghanistan
The troops landing on December 27 was a catalyst to the war that happened later on which could be "in many ways comparable to the American experience in Vietnam.(NYT 2)" In the ten years, Afghanistan began to turn into a war zone, with it's cities turned into rubble and refugees trying to get out of the country. With the country ruined, it would be a disaster for the country and may never recover from the tragedy. Even right now, Afghanistan isn't as stable as it once was before the Soviet invad -
Baba and Amir Flee Afghanistan
This was around the time when the Soviets inveded Afghanistan. In this time, Baba decided Amir and himself would flee to Pakistan then to America. Before they left, "the rafiqs, the comrades were everywhere and they'd split Kabul into two groups: those who eavesdropped and those who didn't.(112)" Afghanistan transformed into a place where no one could be trusted. Baba sensed that it wasn't an environment that they could live in so they fled and looked for a better life elsewhere. -
Amir and Soraya Are Married
After crushing on Soraya for months and requesting Baba to ask General Taheri for a hand in her marriage, Amir and Soraya tied the knot. The "party(171)" held for the couple went on for hours until they shared a private hour before sunrise. Both Soraya and Amir were finally happy after their hardships and felt complete. -
Baba Dies
Baba's influence comes to an end when his malicious tumor takes over and ends his life. At his funeral, people had to "drive three or four blocks north of the mosque to find a spot.(173)" As a well liked person, many people showed up at his funeral and wished for him to have a smooth passing. Baba's connections allowed for his soul to be remembered and honored. -
Amir Finishes His First Book
Finally after getting a degree at San Jose State, Amir publishes his "first novel, a father-son story set in Kabul.(182)" This great achievement mean celebration in their family and many pats-on-the-back. His first book was accepted into the literary universe and Amir began his writing career. After his acclaimed book, he wrote three more about his home country, Afghanistan. -
Afghanistan Power Divided
A few years after the departure of Soviet soldiers, Afghanistan became a "country...not only devasted by the war but that had become a beacon to Islamic extremists.(NYT 2)" Soviet soldiers did more harm than good and didn't care too much about the consequences that they left behind for the Afghans. Since the country was left in confusion, the population didn't know what to do to return their country to its past glory. Because of this, the power became "anarchically divided...(NYT 2)' -
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Taliban Takes Over Afghanistan
In 1994, when the Taliban was gaining popularity, Mullah Omar, the leader, promised the people of Afghanistan that he would "[restore] the centrality of Islam to daily life(NYT 2)." The citizens were hopeful so they supported his cause. However, when they did take control of Afghanistan, they imposed a "strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law(NYT 3)" instead of the idealistic view of their city. In 2001, their rule ended and the Karzai Government took over. -
Northern Alliance Rule Ends
The Taliban prompted the end of the Northern Alliance which temporarily ceased any signs of war. The Nothern Alliance split Kabul so "differentfactions claimed different parts of Kabul.(199)" The takeover temporarily left Afghans to think that their country will return to its former glory. However, their joy was shortlived and the Taliban started to force their regime onto Afghans. Afghanistan's suffered and many people had to flee and take refuge in nearby countries. -
Rahim Khan Celebrates Taliban
At first glance, the Taliban taking over Afghanistan is a good sign; the Afghans thought their rule would be an end to the constant fighting. Rahim Khan told Amir that "people were celebrating...greeting Taliban on the streets(200)" unaware of the havoc the Taliban was going to create for their country. They were too quick to jump to conclusions and immediately assumed that the Taliban was in Afghanistan to return their country to their past glory. -
General Taheri Breaks His Hip
In the year of 1999, General Taheri broke his right hip and had reprecussions. With his shattered hip, the general was forced to "stay at [a] nursing home.(193)" His medical complication made Soraya and his reationship much simpler. They forgot about their less important time together and focused on sharing any information in the time that the general had left. Luckily, he was able to spend time with Sohrab as well. -
Amir Returns To Afghanistan
The news to Rahim Khan's sickness compelled Amir to go to Pakistan to visit his old friend. When he was in Rahim Khan's apartment, he learns about Sohrab, Hassan's son. Rahim Khan then requests Amir to "bring Sohrab [to Pakistan].(220)" Amir is initally reluctant to retreive Sohrab but after learning that he is Amir's nephew, Amir realizes that this may be his last chance to redemption. -
Amir Meets Farid's Family
In order to get to Afghanistan, Amir has to hitch a ride with Farid. Along the way, they stop at Farid's family's house to spend the night and he realizes that much of Afghanistan is poor. Since he felt pity, right before Amir and Farid left, Amir "did something [he] had done twenty-six years earlier: [he] planted... money under a mattress.(242)" He felt that he may not have been able to help all of Afghan's poor but he could benefit some. -
Sohrab Goes to San Francisco
Sohrab finally goes to America after his suicide attempt and the possiblity of getting sent back to an orphange. After such traumatizing events, Amir realizes that Shrab's silence isn't purposeful, but "the silence of one who has taken cover in a dark place, curled up all the edges and tucked them under.(361)" Out of fear, Sohrab becomes a mute which became something that affected the feelings that Amir and Soraya had for Sohrab. -
Attack on Twin Towers
In 1994, when the Taliban was gaining popularity, Mullah Omar, the leader, promised the people of Afghanistan that he would "[restore] the centrality of Islam to daily life(NYT 2)." The citizens were hopeful so they supported his cause. However, when they did take control of Afghanistan, they imposed a "strict enforcement of fundimentalist Islamic law(NYT 3)" instead of the idealistic view of their city. In 2001, their rule ended and the Karzai Government took over. -
Taliban Resurfaces
When the attention of American troops was adverted to Iraq's condition, the Taliban regained their own soldiers and rose again through "a resurgent opium trade.(NYT 3)" Although their strategy of regaining their ground is illegal, they may have been able regain followers to go to Pakistan. Their numbers probably had to grow to have countries worried about the statibility of Pakistan due to the destruction the Taliban caused in Afghanistan. -
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Karzai Governent Takes Power
Backed by the White House, Hamid Karzai was able to become president and start the Karzai Government. He was well liked by the citizens of Afghan and gained the support of Americe. However, he started to lose his supporters when the "Afghan population... blamed him for the manifest lack of economic progress(NYT 2)" among other problems the country accused him of not improving. To get Afghanistan out of economic distress would take an incredibly long time. With the impatience of the people resd -
Sohrab Finally Opens Up
After a year of attempting to make Sohrab feel at home, he finally did something out of the ordinary, he smiled. Amir made the best out of the small smile and took it "[w]ith open arms.(371)" This was a huge development for Sohrab because it means that he may grow past the traumatic events in Afghanistan. Even if Sohrab doesn't think so, Amir will always hold a sliver of hope for Sohrab's well-being. -
Karzai Government is Implemented
After the 9/11 attack by Al Queda, Hamid Karzai, a relative of the former king of Afghanistan, "took office as interim president in June 2002 saying he hoped to secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much-needed international aid(NYT 2)." He became president in 2004. Karzai was a well-liked politician in America and for some time in Afghanistan. -
Obama Announces Afghanistan Plan
On "Dec. 1, 2009, at West Point, Mr. Obamaannounced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops(NYT 4)" to Afghanistan to help resurrect the countryto its former glory. With this ambitious plan, President Obama takes a big step in his presidentship and hopefully, he can aid Afghanistan. This was a bold yet risky step to take, and yet he took it which shows that he tries to take chances to ensure the lives of others. -
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Obama Aids Afghanistan in Their Despair
In this time, Obama deployed 30,000 troops to remove insurgents from Afghanistan. He gave a deadline which is where he will "start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011.(NYT 4)" After this vow was made, the Obama administration moved the date back to 2014. For Obama to change the deadline, the Afghanistan revival must have been an incredibly large task with a small chance of success.
