Kite Runner & the History of Afghanistan

By 14nixo33

  • Baba's birth

    This is the year Baba is born and Zahir Shah began his forty year reign of Afghanistan. Amir remembers," 1933, the year Baba was born"(24). This is the start of Baba's life and the year Baba's father adopts Ali.

  • Sanubar

    Sanubar leaves Hassan and Baba to join with a group of singers and dancers. Sandbar,"had refused to hold Hassan, and just five days later, she was gone"(10). Sandbar was embarrassed for having a son with a broken face, so she ran away.

  • Hassan's surgery

    For his birthday, Hassan gets a surgery to fix his cleft lip. The plastic surgeon hints,"well, my job is to fix things on people's bodies. Sometimes their faces"(45). This doctor fixes Hassan's cleft lip, which Baba paid for because Hassan is Baba's son.

  • Amir's Victory

    Amir wins the kite running tournament. He,"didn't need to hear the crowd's roar to know... 'You won!'"(66). Amir and Hasan rejoice in the center of town. Amir looks forward to Baba's approval.

  • Misfortune

    Hassan is raped by Assef, and Amir wins the kite running tounament. Amir wonders,"I could step into that alley and stand up for Hassan"(76). He runs because he cares more about himself than he cares about Hassan.

  • Soviet Invasion

    The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan.

  • The Escape

    Amir and Baba are smuggled out of Kabul and fly to California. Amir remembers," on our way to Peshawar, on to freedom, on to safety"(119). Amir hopes to start a new life in America, in order to forget his guilt.

  • Graduation

    Amir graduates high school in California. Amir," got his acceptance at San Jose State"(181). He plans on majoring in English and is finally achieving his goal of becoming a proffesional writer.

  • Mr. Nguyen

    Baba is almost arrested while trying to learn American ways of life. Mr. Nguyen yells,"I call police!"(128). Baba had to learn the hard way that the trust people in Afghanistan have is not transferred to America.

  • Soviet Retreat

    The last Soviet soldiers left Afghanistan.

  • Hassan's death

    The taliban executes Hassan at Baba's old house, and his wife is shot as well when she attacks her husbands executors. Rahim Khan describes,"the talibs ... shot him in the back of the head"(219). Hassan's unexpected death ended any chance for Amir to atone for what he did 20 years before.

  • The baby

    Soraya and Amir learn that they cannot have a baby, so they discuss the idea of adoption. Soraya's doctor," said we could adopt"(186). At the suggestion of this, the General immedeately shut down the idea and told Amir and Soraya about Afghan pride.

  • Taliban and the Al Queda

    Osama Bin Laden, along with the Al Queda, are transported by plane to Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban.

  • Amir's Journey

    Amir decides to go to packistan and meet with Rahim Kahn, who is very sick. Amir," went to hazarajat"(200). Amir beloved that this was his last chance to learn what happened in Kabul while he was away, so he takes it.

  • The realization

    Amir learns that Baba was Hassan's father.
    Rahim Kahn states,"Ali was sterile"(222). Amir is suddenly relieved of the guilt he had of not living up to Baba's example. Baba had stolen one of the worst things possible. He had stolen a child.

  • 9/11

    Afghan extreemists crash a plane into the world trade center.l

  • Taliban continues to fight.

    Despite their defeat in 2001, the Taliban continues to wage a guerrilla warfare.

  • The Search

    Amir searches for his long lost nephew Sorab. When he finds Sorab, he is being hurt by Assef. Amir looked," Sorab had the slingshot pointed to Assef's face"(290). Once Sorab realized Amir was his ally, he decided to save Amir.

  • Assef's return

    Assef reunites with Amir, and beats him up. This beating strangely puts Amir at peace. Amir states," I don't know at what point I started laughing, but I did"(289). Amir, even though he was in extreme pain, was happy to be relieved of the guilt he had held on to for 20 years.

  • Recovery

    Amir recovers from his beating from Assef. Amir's," eyes were puffy and blue"(303). He was hurt very badly by Assef, so he had to heal in Afghanistan before going home to California.

  • New Govornment

    In december of 2001, Hamid Karzai, a supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah, was named chairman and leader of the country.

  • Obama's war effort

    Obama sends 50,000 troops into Afghanistan.

  • More Troops

    Obama announces to send 30,000 troops to help the war effort in afghanistan.

  • Troops start returning

    On december first, Obama announces that american troops will start to come back to the U.S in 2011. He, "vowed to start bringing American forces home from afghanistan in the middle of 2011" (Nyt 4).

  • Population

    Afghanistan's population "is 34 million"(NYT 1)