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Zahir Shah becomes king
The new king, Zahir Shah, "brings a semblance of stability to the country and he rules for the next 40 years." -
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Kite Runner & the History of Afghanistan
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United States recognizes Afghanistan
In 1934 America, "formally recognizes Afghanistan." -
Hassan defends Amir
Amir explains, "I came face to face with Hassan's slingshot. Hassan had pulled the elastic band all the way back" (42). This shows that Hassan is willing to protect Amir no matter what. Hassan has been devoted to Amir since the day he was born. -
Khan overthrows king
Khan overthrows Mohammed Zahir Shah and, "abolishes the monarchy and names himself president." -
Amir tells his first story
Amir explains, "After, I started to ask him if he'd liked the story, a giggle rising in my throat, when Hassan began to clap" (30). This illustrates that Amir has a natural talent for creating stories. Amir finally realizes that his stories are good. -
Hassan gets a harelip surgery
Amir remembers, "Baba, Rahim Kahn, Ali, and I had huddled around Hassan's bed, watching him examine his new lipin a handheld mirror" (219). This shows that everyone in Hassan's life was there for him. He was more than just a servant to Amir and Baba. -
Baba gives Hassan a birthday present
Amir thinks to himself, "It wasn't fair. Hassan hadn't done anything to earn Baba's affections..." (46). This explains that Amir is jealous of Baba's love for Hassan. He feels like he'll never be good enough for Baba. -
Hassan gets raped
Amir explains, "I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me" (77). This shows that Amir constantly puts himself before Hassan. He doesn't see Hassan as his equal or as his friend. -
Hassan and Ali leave
Ali explains, "'Life here is impossible for us now Agha sahib. We're leaving'" (106). This explains that even though Baba forgave them, Ali still doesn't want to stay. Ali finally understands that Hassan will keep getting hurt if they don't leave. -
Amir's 13th birthday
Amir realizes, "...they weren't really coming for me. It was my birthday, but I knew who the real star of the show was" (94). This explains that Baba isn't really throwing a party for Amir. He wants to show off his wealth to all of his friends. -
Women gain more rights
Kahn's new constitution, "grants women rights and works to modernize the largely communist state." -
Khan killed in a communist coup
After the coup, "Nur Mohammad Taraki, one of the founding members of the Afghan Communist Party, takes control of the country as president, and Babrak Karmal is named deputy prime minister." -
American ambassador is killed
After Adolph Dubs is killed, "The United States cuts off assistance to Afghanistan. A power struggle between Taraki and Deputy Prime Minister Hafizullah Amin begins." -
Baba and Amir leave for Pakistan
Amir explains, "Karim is a people smuggler-it was a pretty lucrative business then, driving people out of Shorawi-occupied Kabul to the relative safety of Pakistan" (111). This illustrates that it isn't safe for them anymore in Afghanistan. Amir and Baba have to leave everything to stay alive. -
Afghans flee to Pakistan
Many Afghans have, "fled from the war to Pakistan, and another 1.5 million have fled to Iran." -
Amir graduates high school
Amir explains, "I graduated high school at the age of twenty, by far the oldest senior tossing his mortarboard on the football field that day" (131). This shows that despite everything holding him back, Amir graduated. He's making something of himself in America. -
Amir meets Soraya
Amir thinks to himself, "My heart stutters at the thought of her. Soraya Taheri. My Swap Meet Princess" (142). This explains that the moment he saw her, Amir wanted to know Soraya. Amir is already thinking about Soraya before he has even talked to her. -
Osama bin Laden travels to Afghanistan
The Saudi Islamist Osama bin Laden, "makes his first documented trip to Afghanistan to aid anti-Soviet fighters." -
Rahim Kahn finds Hassan
Rahim Kahn explains, "The biggest [reason], Allah forgive me, was that I was lonely" (203). This shows that Rahim Kahn was left alone in Afghanistan after everyone fled. He looked for Hassan so he didn't have to live by himself. -
Amir finished his first novel
Amir recalls, "A month later, Martin called and and informed me I was going to be a published novelist" (182). This illustrates that Amir turned his writing into a career. He proved everyone that doubted him wrong. -
U.S., Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Soviet Union sign peace accords
The peace accords guarantee, "Afghan independence and the withdrawal of 100,000 Soviet troops." -
Missile attacks in Afghanistan
President Clinton, "orders cruise missile attacks against bin Laden’s training camps in Afghanistan." -
Hassan dies
Amir thinks to himself, "...all I could manage was to whisper 'No. No. No' over and over again" (219). This explains that Amir is shocked by the news of Hassan's death. Now he isn't able to see him and apologize for his sins. -
Amir goes back to Pakistan
Amir explains, "'Yes it's safe. I'll be all right, Soraya.' It was the question she'd wanted to ask all along..." (191). This shows that Amir wants to go to Pakistan even if it's dangerous. He wants to see Rahim Kahn again and atone for his sins. -
Sorhab smiles for the first time in America
Amir thinks to himself, "It was only a smile, nothing more...But I'll take it. With open arms" (371). This explains that Amir has been having a hard time talking with Sohrab, but he eventually made him smile. Amir hasn't given up on Sohrab's happiness.
