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History of Afghanistan: The Taliban ban kite flying
The Taliban banned kite flying in Afghanistan during its rule, which began in 1996, because it viewed the national past time to be "un-Islamic" (McLean 1).
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History of Afghanistan and The Kite Runner
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The Kite Runner: Hassan's 13th Birthday Present
When Hassan turned thirteen, Baba surprised him with an "unusual present" (46) - plastic surgery for his harelip. Even though it was a present that would change Hassan's life forever, he stopped smiling during that winter. This foreshadows some bad that might happen later in the book. -
The Kite Runner: Kite Flying Contest and Rape Scene
Amir and Hassan won the kite flying contest in Wazir Akbar Khan. Later in that day, Hassan was raped by Assef; this event changed both Hassan and Amir's lives forever. The two of them became distant, and Amir felt ashamed and helpless for "[running] because [he] was a coward" when he witnessed the rape scene (Hosseini 77). Amir tried to get Hassan to leave him and Baba so he wouldn't have to face the truth again. This reveals Amir's low ethics, values, and morals when he was young. -
The Kite Runner: Amir turns 13
Amir turned 13 in the summer of 1976, so Baba threw a large party in their house. There were "four hundred-plus Kakas and Khalas" (94), including Assef. Assef gave Amir a biography about Hitler, which showed who he admired and his personality. -
The Kite Runner: Hassan and Ali leave
A few days after Amir turned 13, Hassan and Ali decided to leave because they "'can't live here anymore'" (Hosseini 106). Amir and Baba and moved to Hazarajat where their cousin lived. When Hassan and Ali left, Amir never thought about or saw them again. The setting affected their relationship as well as Amir's remorse for running away from the rape scene. -
The Kite Runner: Amir frames Hassan
After Amir turned 13, he "lifted Hassan's mattress and planted [his] new watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it" (Hosseini 104). When Baba confronted Ali and Hassan about it, Hassan lied and said that he stole the money. Amir became even more ashamed of himself, and this showed that even though he knew that what he was doing was "wrong" and or unethical, he didn't have the strength to confront his feelings. -
History of Afghanistan: Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was "formed after the Saur Revolution on April 27, 1978" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet%E2%80%93Afghan_War). -
History of Afghanistan: Death of Khan
During a communist coup, Khan was killed, and Nur Mohammad Taraki (one of the founding members of the Afghan Communist Party) becamed president. They "proclaim[ed] independence from Soviet influence, and declare[d] their policies to be based on Islamic principles, Afghan nationalism and socioeconomic justice" and a friendship treaty is signed with the Soviet Union (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
History of Afghanistan: Tensions between Taraki and Amin
Because Hafizullah Amin was another influential communist, there was a lot of tension between him and Taraki. Later, "Taraki [was] killed on Sept. 14 in a confrontation with Amin supporters" (pbs). -
History of Afghanistan: U.S. "Separates" From Afghanistan
The United States "cuts off assistance to Afghanistan" after American Ambassador Adolph Dubs is killed (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). This event negatively impacted the U.S's relationship with Afghanistan - the U.S. may not have trust Afghanistan afterwards. -
History of Afghanistan: Soviet Intervention
The Soviet Army invaded Afghanistan because they "[feared] the collapse of the Amin regime" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Afghan_history). They started a communist government, and this marked the beginning of the Soviet-Afghan War. -
The Kite Runner: Amir and Baba leave Kabul
Russia invaded Afghanistan, so Baba and Amir fled to Pakistan and America in a truck. When they lived in Fremont, California in the 1980s, Baba and Amir's lives changed drastically such that Baba was not the prosperous man he used to be in Kabul. Instead, he started working in a gas station, and Amir studied in high school. This shows how setting and community can affect one's socioeconomic status. -
The Kite Runner: Amir Graduates From High School
That summer of 1983, "[Amir] graduated from high school at the age of twenty" (Hosseini 131). On the same night, Baba gave his car to Amir. Amir also decided to major in English (creative writing). By deciding to major in English, Amir was able to publish his first book, and Soraya was very proud. This was also an important event for both Baba and Amir because Baba was "proud" (Hosseini 131) of Amir's graduation, and Amir always strived for Baba's affection. -
The Kite Runner: Baba sells his car
When Amir turned 21, Baba "sold his Buick and bought a dilapidated '71 Volkswagon bus for $550" (137). Amir and Baba used it for the flea markets. Not only did this event lead to the occurrence of Amir's interest in Soraya, it also illustrated the need for Amir and Baba to survive because they did not have a lot of money. -
The Kite Runner: Amir meets the General and Soraya
Amir met General Taheri and "'[his] daughter, Soraya jan'", who made a good impression on him, at the flea market (Hosseini 141). Meeting Soraya was significant because she later became his wife. -
The Kite Runner: Amir asks to marry Soraya
Amir asked Baba to ask the general if he could marry Soraya. He said "I want you to go khastegari. I want you to ask Gerneral Taheri for his daughter's hand" (Hosseini 161). When the general agreed, Soraya told Amir about her past, but it didn't change the way Amir felt towards her. Amir greatly grew as a person and even sympathized with her because he faced similar situations with his secret about his betrayal of Hassan. -
The Kite Runner: Baba has cancer
After Baba went to the doctor, he was told that he had "Oat Cell Carcinoma" (Hosseini 156). The doctor suggested that Baba do chemotherapy, but Baba refused because it would not cure his cancer but only prolong it. This event led to Baba's death and changed Amir's perspective on life. -
The Kite Runner: Baba's Death
Baba passed away a month after Amir and Soraya's wedding. He died after not taking his medicine because he felt "no pain" (Hosseini 173). The death of Amir's father stayed with him forever and Amir missed him very much. Later in the book, Amir dreamed of Baba fighting a bear, but realized that the man fighting the bear wasn't Baba, but himself. This means that Amir matured and was starting to become like his father even after his death. -
History of Afghanistan: The Geneva Accords
On April 14, 1988, "the Soviet Union [signed] a 'friendship treaty' with the Afghan government agreeing to provide economic and military assistance" (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ussr-and-afghanistan-sign-friendship-treaty). This treaty was called the Geneva Accords, and it was important because it caused the Russians to become involved in the Afghan Civil War. -
The Kite Runner: Amir publishes his first book
In the summer of 1988, Amir "finished his first novel, a father-son story set in Kabul, written mostly with the typewriter the general had given [him]" (Hosseini 182). Six weeks afterwards, a man offered to publish Amir's novel, which was released in the summer of 1989. This influenced Amir because he became a "minor celebrity in the Afghan community" (Hosseini 183). -
History of Afghanistan: The End of the Soviet-Afghan War
On February 15, 1989, the Soviet Union "pulled its last troops out of Afghanistan, ending more than nine years of direct involvement and occupation" (http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/08/the-soviet-war-in-afghanistan-1979-1989/100786/). -
The Kite Runner: Amir and Soraya's Baby
Amir and Soraya tried to have a baby but even after trying for two years (1989 to 1991), they never succeeded. Soraya grew "more frustrated, more impatient, more irritable" (Hosseini 184). When they went to the doctor, he said it was called "'Unexplained Infertility'" (Hosseini 185). They did not want to adopt a child because blood line was important in their culture. The importance of blood line also affected Amir's love for Hassan after he realized Hassan was his half brother. -
History of Afghanistan: The Peshawar Accord
Afghan political parties "signed the Peshawar Accord which created the Islamic State of Afghanistan and proclaimed Sibghatullah Mojaddedi its interim President" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Afghan_history). -
History of Afghanistan:
Taliban "tortured and killed Abdul Ali Mazari leader of the Hazara people" on March 13, 1995 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Afghan_history). -
The Kite Runner: Rahim Kahn and Sohrab
When Amir went back to Kabul, Rahim Kahn told him that Ali was killed after stepping on a land mine, and Hassan was shot by the Taliban. He also realized that Hassan was not his servant, but his brother. Because of this, he 'told [Rahim Kahn] [he] was going to Kabul" to help him look for Sohrab, Hassan's son, who was in an orphanage (Hosseini 227). Amir wanted to repay Hassan for his wrongdoings as a child by showing his ethics, values, and morals and looking for Sohrab. -
History of Afghanistan: The U.S. keeps troops in Afghanistan
President Barack Obama said that "8,400 US troops will remain in Afghanistan into 2017 in light of the 'precarious security situation'" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253). -
History of Afghanistan: The U.S. bombs Afghanistan
In October, "US-led bombing of Afghanistan [began] following the September 11 attacks on the United States ... Anti-Taliban Northern Alliance forces enter[ed] Kabul shortly afterwards" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253).
