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Assef assaults Hassan
Hassan is sexually assaulted by Assef because Assef did not like Hazara's. He thought that they were inferior to him. The last time they met Hassan bested Assef so he took his revenge by violating Hassan. Amir watches the whole thing and questions his whole friendship with Hassan saying, "I actually aspired to cowardice, because the alternative, the real reason I was running, was that Assef was right: Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price." (Kite Runner pg. 77) -
Gunfire breaks out in Kabul
Amir, Hassan and Ali are all ducking because they hear gunshots. Ali tells them that they are hunting for ducks but the reality is that the communist takeover was happening. Amir sees fear on his dad's face for the first time. Amir described the situation as being “Huddled together in the dining room and waiting for the sun to rise, none of us had any notion that a way of life had ended.” (Kite Runner pg. 36) -
Soviet Troops Parachute into Kabul
Soviet troops parachuted in "to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership." (NYT article). The Russians claimed that they sent soldier in because of a plea for help but the Wetern analysts say that the Soviets sent reinforcments to dethrone previous Afghan leader, Hafizullah Amin. -
Amir and Baba arrive in Pakistan
Baba and Amir left their home in Kabul because of the war that was about to break out. Baba stands up for a woman who was blackmailed by a soldier and had a gun pointed at him. Recalling their journey to Pakistan Amir says, " I lay on the side of the dir t road next to a rocky trench, looked up to the gray morning sky, thankful for air, thankful to be alive." (Hosseini 123). This shows exactly how dangerous the journey from Afghanistan to Pakistan is. -
Amir graduates high school
After living in America for about two years, he graduates high school. He had graduated at the age of 20, being one of the oldest kids at the school. They celebrated at a restaurant and afterwards Baba gives Amir his first car. Baba was so proud of Amir, "... in a way, this was his day more than mine."(Hosseini 131). -
Amir meets Soraya for the first time
Amir and Soraya met for the first time when Baba and General Taheri met for coffee. Amir immediately falls in love with Soraya. He asks Baba about her and Baba responded, "Has she made an impression on you." and Amir replies "Please, Baba."(Hosseini 141) -
Amir finds out that Baba is ill
Amir and Baba go to the doctor because Baba had a cold. After a CAT scan, they found out that it was Oat Cell Carcinoma. This meant Baba would likely die. Baba did not want to be seen as weak so he asked Amir not to tell anybody. Baba refused to take medication saying, "But no chemo medication for me." (Hosseini 156). -
Amir and Soraya get engaged
Amir and Soraya get engaged, Baba asks General Taheri if Amir can marry Soraya. Amir is nervously awaiting a phone call from Baba seeing if General Taheri had accepted. When the general accepted, Amir, "..let out a burst of air. Sat down. My hands were shaking."(Hosseini 163) -
Amir goes back to Kabul searching for Hassan
Amir goes back to Kabul looking for Hassan. He hadn't seen him or talked to him since he had accused him of stealing. Hassan wanted to reconnect with him saying, "There were a lot of reasons why i went to Hazarajat to find Hassan in 1986. The biggest one...was that i was lonely." -
The Soviet Airforce is rendered useless
"After 1986, the Soviet Air Force was also rendered largely useless by advanced Stinger antiaircraft missiles supplied by the US" (NYT article) -
Baba dies
After fighting cancer, Baba dies. He refused to take medicince nor to tell anybody. Baba went to sleep and, "He never woke up." He died very peacefully with Amir next to him. -
Amir publishes his first book
After working as a security guard, Amir finally finishes his life long goal of becoming a writer. He publishes his first book and it became an instant success. It was so popular that, "the publisher sent on a give-city tour." (Hosseini 183). This boosts his confidence and is inspired to pursue this career. -
The last Soviet troops leave Afghanistan
The country has been ravaged by the war. Afghanistan "had become a beacon to Islamic extremists." (NYT article). This made it a very easy place for Al Qaeda to take shelter. -
The Taliban's Rise to Power
"By the end of 1994, Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers" (NYT Article). The Taliban has grown into a full fledged group that was started by a student. -
The Taliban support Al Qaeda
The Taliban provided a safe place for Al Qaeda. Osama bin Laden had arrived in Afghanistan by chartered jet. Al Qaeda was a great influence on the Taliban's actions. "Al Qaeda helped persuade Mullah Omar to order the destrction of the 800-year-old Buddah stautes at Bamiyan." (NYT Article) -
Sohrab attempts suicide
After hearing that he may be sent back to an orphanage, Sohrab cuts himself with a razor and bleeds out into a bathtub. Amir recalls the situation, "I pushed the door open. Stepped into the bathroom. Suddenly I was on my knees, screaming." When in the hospital Amir prays to the gods to keep Sohrab alive. He barely survives this incident and afterwards barely speaks. -
Amir saves Sohrab from an orphanage
Amir feels the only way he can atone for the sins he comitted to Hassan is to take in his son. He thinks that now that he is dead this is the only thing that will help him. Hassan wanted to reconnect with Amir but couldn't. "They named him Sohrab after Hassan's favorite hero from Shahnamah..."(Hosseini 211) -
9/11
The terrorist group Al Qaeda, lead by Osama bin Laden, destroys the twin towers in New York. The United States then, "led an invasion after the Sept. 11 attack by Al Qaeda" (NYT Article) -
Hamid Karzai named chairman of an interim government
Hamid Karzai was a supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Saha, an exiled king. "He hoped to secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much needed international-aid." (NYT article) -
Rahim Khan asks Amir to come to Pakistan
Rahim Khan asks Amir to come to Pakistan. He tells him that he is, "very sick." (Hosseini 191). He tells Soraya that he must leave for Pakistan. Amir feels the need to visit him because he is the last connection he has back to his days in Afghanistan. -
Obama announces plan for Afghanistan
"Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops." (NYT article). There were many mixed opinions about the topic. Some believed that by adding more soldiers they would become even more aggresive. Whereas others said that they needed our help to try and become successful once again. -
The original day for withdrawl
At first, the US wanted to pull troops out of Afghanistan in July of 2011 but were not successful in completing this task. They then extended the date to the end of 2014. "Administration officials are trying to convince Afghans that the US is not walking away and to warn Taliban taht aggressive operations against tehm would continue" (NYT article). -
Taking Sohrab to America
After rescuing Sohrab from Assef, Amir asks him to come home with him to America. At first he is tentative, but eventually he agrees to come home with them. "Soraya picked up[ Amir and Sohrab] at the airport."(Hosseini 357) and they lived their life in America. -
The soldiers come home!
By the end of 2014, the Obama administration hopes to withdraw all of the troops from Afghanistan. But this may not be the case because it is "based on the presumption that the American military would be successful enough in fighting the Taliban.." (NYT article) -
Hassan dies
Hassan was living with Rahim Khan in Baba's old house when the Taliban came through. The Taliban did not approve of a Hazara living in such a nice house so they, "shot him in the back of the head."(Hosseini 219). He was shot along with his wife and his son was left an orphan.