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Hassan is raped
After Amir wins a kite flying competition, Hassan runs to get the blue kite that Amir had cut off. But, once Hassan reaches the kite he encounters Assef and his two goons. Hassan refuses to give them the kite that Amir won. So, Assef had his goons pin down Hassan while "Assef knelt behind Hassan" (75) , and then continues on to rape him. -
The Soviet Invasion
Afghanistan was once a country of peace, but that age of peace abruptly ended in 1979 "when the Soviet Union invaded"(NYT). -
First attack of the Soviet Invasion
The first attack of the Soviet Invasion happened on December 27, 1979, when "the first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul"(NYT). -
Amir and Baba leave Kabul to go to Pakistan
After the Soviet Invasion had begun, Baba and Amir "left Kabul" (110) in order to get away from the warfare brought on by the invasion. -
Amir graduates from highschool
In the summer of 1983, Amir "graduated from the high school at the age of twenty" (131). -
Amir and Baba move to America
A few years after leaving Kabul and entering Pakistan, Amir and Baba moved to America. The two of them shared an apartment a few streets down of "Lake Elizabeth Park in Fremont" (125). -
Soviet Air Force made useless
With the development of advanced anti-air missiles, "the Soviet Air Force was rendered largely useless by advanced Stinger antiaircraft missiles supplied by the United States to the rebels"(NYT). -
Amir and Soraya get married
After dating for a few months, Amir and Soraya make the decision to get married. The wedding was planned out and executed very quickly so that Baba can "remember [Amir's] nika" (170). -
Baba dies from cancer
A month after Soraya and Amir get married, Baba succumbs to his illness and goes to sleep for the last time, as he will "never [wake] up" (173). -
Baba is diagnosed with cancer
After having a seizure at the flea market, Baba is brought to a hospital. Later that day, the doctor shows Amir "Baba's cancer" (159) -
Amir and Soraya find out they are infertile
After many failed attempts at trying to have a child, Amir and Soraya get tested to see why their attempts have not succeeded. The doctor informed them that they have "'unexplained infertilty'' (185). -
End of Soviet Invasion
In February 1989, "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan"(NYT) and with those actions the Soviet Invasion was finally over. -
Sohrab is born
In the winter of 1990, Hassan's mother, Sanubar, "delivered Hassan's son" (211). -
Division of power
By the summer of 1994, all of Afghanistan's power had been divided "among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms"(NYT). -
Beginning of exponential growth of the Taliban
By the end of 1994, the Taliban had gained a great deal of power. Their religious group had "gathered nearly 12,000 followers" (NYT) and was the most popular movement within the country. -
Hassan is murdered
After being accused of being Hazaras, the Taliban come to Hassan's home (Amir's old home) and inquire about their religion. After Hassan denies being Hazara, the Taliban accuse him of lying and "'shot him in the back of the head'" (219). -
Arrival of Bin Laden in Afghanistan
Bin Laden was already wanted in many countries for his heinous crimes but in May of 1996, "the Taliban provided a haven for Mr. bin Laden"(NYT). -
Sohrab tries to commit suicide
After learning he may have to spend a few years at an orphanage in order to come to America, Sohrab is very angry and scared. And in that rage and confusion he attempted to kill himself. -
Amir decides to go to Pakistan
After receiving a phone call from Rahim Khan one afternoon, Amir decides he "'[must] go to Pakistan'" (191) as his family friend "'Rahim Khan is very sick." (191). -
Rahim Khan calls Amir
In the beginning of the 'Kite Runner, Rahim Khan "called [Amir] from Pakistan. He asked me to come see him" (1). Later on in the conversation, Amir becomes aware that through visiting Rahim Khan means that Amir would have to face his "past of unatoned sins" (1). -
Amir finds out Hassan is his brother
After getting Amir up-to-speed with everything Amir has missed while out of the country, Rahim Khan also informs Amir that "'Ali was sterile'" (222), implying that Baba is the father of both Amir and Hassan. -
9/11 Attacks
On "Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda"(NYT) were prosecuted through hijacking two planes and crashing them into the twin towers and the Pentagon. -
Amir is relieved of his guilt
After learning of potential locations of Sohrab, Rahim Khan and Amir set out to find him. They find him at a soccer stadium run by the Taliban, where they also find Assef. Assef denies Amir Sohrab, but his mind is set on unfinished business. Assef beats Amir to the brink of death but at that point, Amir knew that though "[his] body was broken... [he] felt healed. Healed at last" (289). -
Hamid Karzai named Chairman of government
In December 2002, the exiled former king's relative, Hamid Karzai, "was named the chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban"(NYT). -
Karzai wins presidency
After being in office for several years as a chairman, Hamid Karzai finally moves up and was "elected to a five-year term as president in 2004"(NYT). -
Obama focuses on Afghanistan
In 2007, President Obama made the military's primary focus to be Afghanistan by "drawing troops out of Iraq and increasing the number [of troops] by almost 50,000"(NYT). -
Petraeus takes charge of USCC
General Petraeus, a commander who was hailed as one of the key factors to America's success in Iraq, was moved to the commander of "the United States Central Command in October 2008"(NYT). -
Obama swears to deploy additional troops
During a speech on December first in 2009, President Obama swore to "deploy 30,000 additional troops."(NYT) and to bring American forces "home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011"(NYT). -
McChrystal removed from office
In the June of 2010, "President Obama removed Gen, McChrystal"(NYT). -
American Forces withdraw from Afghanistan
At first the American government stated that troops would begin to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2011, but the year was changed when "The Obama administration increasingly emphasizes the idea that the United Syates will have forves in the country until at least the end of 2014"(NYT).