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War Outbreak- Kabul
Kabul begins to corrupt when the monarchy was the thing of the past when "They weren't shooting ducks after all. As it turned out, they hadn't shot much of anything that night of July 17, 1973" (Hosseini 36). This shows the type of events that were going on at Kabul in this time and how intense it was. Also, it shows that things are about to get a lot harder for the people of Kabul, like Amir and Baba. -
Period: to
Kite Runner and history of Afghanistan
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Hassans Rape
One day walking down an alley, Amir notices Assef and the other boys pushing Hassan around. While this occurs Amir describes how he "bit on my fist. Shut my eyes" (Hosseini 73). This is so significant because this is action is what Amir will regret for the rest of his life. If Amir made the slight change and instead of acting like he didn't know what happened, and had stood up to Assef his life would have been changed for the better. -
Hassan's last flight
Amir starts to describe the last time Afghanistan was at peace and the last time his life with Hassan was normal. Amir recalls how "in the winter of 1975, I saw Hassan run a kite for the last time" (Hosseini 55). This event shows how it is the last time that Amir and Hassan's lives are normal, before the war begins and Hassan and Ali leave. Also, it reveals how Amir will never see Hassan flying kites again foreshadowing to how he would never see him doing what he loves most. -
Soviet Intervention
During 1979 the , "Soviet Army invades and props up communist government" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253). -
Soviet Intervention
In 1980, " Babrak Karmal installed as ruler, backed by Soviet troops. But opposition intensifies with various mujahideen groups fighting Soviet forces. US, Pakistan, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia supply money and arms to the mujahideen" During the Soviet Intervention. (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253). -
Afghans fled war to Pakistan
In 1982, "Some 2.8 million Afghans have fled from the war to Pakistan, and another 1.5 million have fled to Iran. Afghan guerrillas gain control of rural areas, and Soviet troops hold urban areas" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253). -
The search for Hassan
When Amir was lonely he recalls how "there were a lot of reasons why I went to Hazarajat to find Hassan in 1986" (Hosseini 203). This describes how Amir is curious to see Hassan and hopes that seeing him will change things for the better. Also it displays how Amir doesn't know anyone in Kabul anymore and was starting to get lonely. -
Amir's Writing Career
Amirs writing career really begins when he describes that, "I finished my first novel, a father-son story set in Kabul, written mostly with the typewriter the general had given me" (Hosseini 182). This is showing how even though it is not a good time for Afghanistan, Amir is starting to do what he loves. It also is a huge accomplishment for him and shows that there is hope for his future looking bright. -
Amir's Writing Career
Amirs writing career really begins when he describes that, "I finished my first novel, a father-son story set in Kabul, written mostly with the typewriter the general had given me" (Hosseini 182). This is showing how even though it is not a good time for Afghanistan, Amir is starting to do what he loves. It also is a huge accomplishment for him and shows that there is hope for his future looking bright. -
First published novel
Amir shows that he can do anything he puts his mind to, and anything he is passionate about when his "novel was released in the summer of that following year..." (Hosseini 183). By Amir publishing his first novel after one year of writing it, he shows that he can accomplish what he wishes to. Also, it shows that he is starting to settle and his life is really starting to pave out in America. -
Red Army Quits
In 1989 the, "Last Soviet troops leave, but civil war continues as mujahideen push to overthrow Najibullah" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253). -
Recalling Events
After Amir and his wife had a stillborn baby, "In early 1990, Farzana became pregnant again" (Hosseini 209). This event gave both of them hope that they could start a good strong family together, after the first try. This is important, because after Baba's passing, having a child is a missing piece that both Amir and Farzana agreed would be essential. -
Sanaubar's Arrival
Rahim Khan describes how one summer an old woman arrived to the house and then collapsed in front of him. After talking to the woman, they discover it is Sanaubar and Rahim describes how "none of us had seen Sanaubar since she had eloped with a band of singers and dancers in 1964" (Hosseini 210). This event shows how after all of those years Sanaubar returns, wanting to see her son. This is important because it shows that she really does care for her son, and wants to redeem herself. -
Sohrab is born
While Rahim Khan is explaining events that have occurred to Amir, he explains how Hassan eventually had a baby boy, Sohrab. Rahim tells him how "they named him Sohrab, after Hassan's favorite hero from the Shahnamah" (Hosseini 211). This event may not seem to important at the time, but little does Amir know how much this little boy will be in his life. If it wasn't for Sohrab Assef would have killed Amir, so this baby will eventually save Amir's life and become a part of it. -
Northern Alliance Take Over
While having a conversation with Rahim Khan, Amir describes that "Rahim Khan told me how, when the Northern Alliance took over Kabul between 1992 and 1996, different factories claimed different parts of Kabul" (Hosseini 199). This portrays how the parts of the war where factories started to be effected in Kabul was around 1992. Also, it shows that where Amir grew up has juristically changed and if he were to go back, he would not have the same privileges. -
Taliban Takes Control
In 1996, "The Taliban seizes control of Kabul and spreads its control across the country. The extremist group introduces harsh laws and punishments" (http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/afghanistan/history-timeline). -
Talibans Massacre Hazaras
Amir describes how the Taliban banned kite fighting and then describes how "two years later, in 1998, they massacred the Hazaras in Mazar-i-Sharif" (Hosseini 213). This describes the events that are occurring in the war and how the Hazaras are getting killed. This is important because Amir recalls things he used to be able to do with Hassan, like kite fighting, but that has changed. -
Afghanistan Punishment
In 2000, "By now considered an international terrorist, bin Laden is widely believed to be hiding in Afghanistan, where he is cultivating thousands of followers in terrorist training camps. The United States demands that bin Laden be extradited to stand trial for the embassy bombings. The Taliban decline to extradite him. The United Nations punishes Afghanistan with sanctions restricting trade and economic development" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
Rahim Khans Call
Shortly after talking on the phone with Rahim Khan, Amir and Soraya are talking while she states,"'You look pale,' Soraya repeated, placing the stack of papers on the table" (Hosseini 191). After receiving the news that Rahim Khan Amir gets very concerned and knows he has to go see him. This worries him so much because he has not seen Rahim Khan in so long, and he thinks of him so highly. -
Home At Last
After all of Amir and Sohrab's wild journeys in Afghanistan come to an end, they finally make it to San Francisco. Amir explains that after Soraya worked to get Sohrab a humanitarian visa "we arrived home about seven months ago, on a warm day in August 2001" (Hosseini 357). This displays after all of the troubles in Afghanistan, Amir successfully makes it home with Sohrab. Amir explaining this shows that things will begin changing for the better and they can begin to settle and build a new life. -
Hijack Occurs
In September of 2001 the tragic event occured when "Hijackers commandeer four commercial airplanes and crash them into the World Trade Center Towers in New York, the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., and a Pennsylvania field, killing thousands. Days later, U.S. officials say bin Laden, the Saudi exile believed to be hiding in Afghanistan, is the prime suspect in the attack" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
Taliban Protest
In 2001, "The Taliban protects the terrorist group al-Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden. After al-Qaeda’s September 11 attack on the U.S., American forces invade Afghanistan and remove the Taliban from power. The Taliban retains control over many remote areas" (http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/afghanistan/history-timeline).. -
Flying Kites
Soraya spots a kind vender at the lake, and tells Amir to go buy one for Sohrab. Amir describes the event as "a cool rainy day in March 2002, a small, wondrous thing happened" (Hosseini 363). Amir describes this as a small wondrous thing because this small event brings back so many memories from his childhood. This also shows how Amir can finally be the fatherlike figure to Sohrab that Baba was to him. -
Parliamentary Elections
A key event of 2005 was when "The nation holds its first parliamentary elections in more than 30 years. The peaceful vote leads to the parliament’s first meeting in December" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
New US Approach
In 2009 the US made efforts to improve their army by "US President Obama decides to boost US troop numbers in Afghanistan by 30,000, bringing total to 100,000. He says US will begin withdrawing its forces" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253).