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Soviet Union
Soviet Union Invades Afghanistan -
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Taliban
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Soviet Union Continues
Soviet troops install a puppet regime in Kabul. The U.S., Pakistan, China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia offer support to mujahideen "freedom fighters" as they begin a guerrilla war against the Soviets. -
Soviet Union Withdrawal
Soviet Union Withdraws all of their troops -
Taliban rise to power
Mujahideen forces, led by Ahmed Shah Massoud, remove the Soviet-backed government of Mohammad Najibullah. Rival militias vie for influence. -
protecting trade
The factions agree on the formation of a government with Burhanuddin Rabbani as president, but infighting continues. Lawlessness is rampant. -
Trade
The Taliban are appointed by Pakistan to protect a trade convoy and quickly emerge as one of the strongest factions. -
Osama Bin Laden?
The Taliban, under the leadership of Mullah Muhammad Omar, seize control of Kabul and implement a strict interpretation of Islamic law. They exile President Rabbani and execute Najibullah. The Taliban offer Osama bin Laden refuge. -
Taliban Fail
The Taliban fail to capture and hold the city of Mazar-i-Sharif (held sacred by Shiites as the site of Ali's grave). Pakistani religious schools send reinforcements to the Taliban. -
U.S Gets involved
The U.S. launches missiles at suspected bin Laden bases in retaliation for the bombing of embassies in Africa. -
Taliban Take over
The Taliban take over the city of Bamian -
peace agreement
A UN-brokered peace agreement is reached between the Taliban and their main remaining foe, the Northern Alliance under Ahmed Shah Massoud. Fighting breaks out again in July. -
Executions
The Taliban take Mazar-i-Sharif. There are unconfirmed reports of mass arrests and executions (numbering in the thousands) of Shiites, especially of the Hazara ethnic group. -
Embargo
The U.N. imposes an air embargo and freezes Taliban assets in an attempt to force them to hand over bin Laden for trial. -
civil war
Record cold, drought, and civil war push an estimated 200,000 more Afghans into refugee camps. -
Another Embargo
The UN adds an arms embargo against the Taliban. -
Buddist stautes
Ignoring an international outcry, the Taliban blow up two 2,000-year-old Buddhist statues in the cliffs above Bamian. -
Taliban starts to ban
Taliban bans the use of the Internet, playing cards, computer discs, movies, satellite TV, musical instruments, and chessboards, after declaring them against Islamic law. -
Ahmed Shah Massoud
Northern Alliance Commander Ahmed Shah Massoud is wounded in a suicide bombing, allegedly by al-Qaeda operatives. Massoud dies from his wounds several days later. -
world trade centers
Terrorist attack on World Trade Center and Pentagon.