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Reign of the Last King of Afghanistan (Zahir Shah)
Zahir Shah ruled for four decades before he, while traveling in Italy for medical assistance, was overthrown by a coup staged by his cousin and former prime minister Daoud Pashtunyar Khan, so he abdicated rather then risk a potentially bloody war. After being exiled in Italy for 29 years, he returned to Afghanistan in 2002, and was named the "Father of the Nation." -
Baba's Birthday
This date isn't accurate. -
Amir's Birthday
The exact date is unknown, but we know it is around 1963. -
Kite Runner - "Shooting ducks"
Amir and Hassan wake up to the sound of gunfire in the middle of the night, and when they wake Baba and Ali tell them that they are "shooting ducks," but Hassan and Amir can tell they are lying. Amir and Hassan are both ten years old. -
Zahir Shah Overthrown
Zahir Shah is overthrown by cousin Daoud Khan in a coup d'état. He abdicates rather then engage in what would've been a certainly bloody war. -
Kite Runner begins
The date isn't precise. -
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The Kite Runner Timespan
The date is not precise. -
PDPA Takes over Afghanistan Gov't
People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) takes over Afghanistan in a bloody coup that leaves Daoud Khan dead and puts prime minister Hafizullah Amin in charge. This leads to the Soviet invasion because of the PDPA's basis in communism. -
Assassination of Daoud Khan
President Mohammed Daoud Pastunyar Khan was assassinated alongside his family in the presidential palace by the Communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan. -
Period: to
Reign of the PDPA in Afghanistan
The People's Democratic Party Afghanistan lasted for just four months, but they managed to try to anger plenty of people before that time was up by trying to imply a non-Muslim rule in Afghanistan. This Westernized idea was a scandal that was not to be tolerated, so the people of Afghanistan were already almost in a civil war just before the Soviets invaded and the PDPA was put out of power just as fast as it was in power, -
Russia Invades Kabul
The Soviet-Afghanistan War begins on Christmas Eve, 1979. This begins Afghanistan's role in the Cold War. However, Russia was already coming in in the beginning of a civil war in Afghanistan. The prime minister Hazifullah Amin was trying to turn Afghanistan into a non-Muslimic country, so this angered everybody because the majority of Afghanistan was and is Muslim. Also, Afghanistan was a communist-based country at this time, so the war was Soviets vs. the Mujahdeen. -
Period: to
Soviet War in Afghanistan
This war was fought between the Soviets with the Afghan forces against insurgent groups called the Mujahideen, which included alliances such as the Peshawar Seven and the Tehran Eight. It lasted almost a decade, with many surrounding countries and Western powers getting involved. -
Hafizullah Amin Assassinated
The Soviets assassinated Hafizullah Amin, the prime minister of Afghanistan. He is replaced by Babrak Kamal, who is backed by the Russians. -
Period: to
President Barbrak Karmal's Term
Barbrak Karmal was in term through the invasion. -
United Nations condemns Soviet Invasion
The date is not precise, but United Nations didn't approve of this Russian involvement. -
Mujahdeen gains Power
This date isn't exact -- By 1982, this group of jiihadists control over 75% of Afghanistan due to their great numbers of support, the fact that they knew the very treacherous mountains of Afghanistan, were well aware of the weather conditions, and their fighting was fueled by religious love, so they had a reason that they would fight to the death for. Even though Russia was the world's second-most powerful army at the time, even the Russians started deserting the Soviet Army for the Mujahdeen. -
Period: to
President Mohammed Najibullah's Term
These dates aren't exact - After convincing Barbrak Karmal to step down with the help of the Soviets, Najibullah overtook the position as president of Afghanistan. He was going to be ousted by the Taliban Mujahideen in 1992, so he resigned. -
New Afghanistan Constitution adopted
A new constitution that was written in September of 1986 was finally put into use under presidency of Mohammed Najibullah. This constitution made changes such as giving the head of state much less power over things. -
Soviets pull out Afghanistan
Mikhail Gorbachev finally takes the Soviets out of Afghanistan after they finally admit they can't win and it is hurting their poor economy to have so many soldiers in a losing battle. -
Muhjadeen internal fighting leads to rise of Taliban
This date is an estimate -- Once the Soviets pulled out, the Mujahdeen began infighting, which led to neighboring Pakistan' ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) to take interest in Afghanistan and use some of their power to support the Taliban that was quickly becoming a strong group in the Mujahdeen. The Mujahdeen quickly became an unpopular group in Afghanistan because of abused power, so goodwill was happily donated to the Taliban's jiihad by both the US and Afghani people. -
Jiihadist Rebellion
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Taliban captures Kabul from Northern Alliance
Taliban captures Kabul (the capitol) and imposes sharia (religious law). They also oust the government including President Burhanuddin Rabbani. -
U.S. Embassy Bombings
The American embassies were heavily bombed in both Kenya and Tanzania. Though these were aimed to take out Americans, the majority of casualties were African. -
US launches misslies at Taliban
Almost two weeks after the U.S. Embassy bombings in Africa the US launched cruise missiles in an attack that aimed to take out Osama bin Laden. -
Taliban Controls 80% of Afghanistan
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UN Offices close in Kabul under Taliban
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Taliban blows Buddha statues in Bamiyan - Causes international outrage
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9/11 Terrorist Attacks on America
These three attacks, one on the Twin Towers in NY, one on the Pentagon in DC, and another attempted attack on the White House in D.C. took place. These were carried out by the Afghanistan section of the Taliban. -
The Kite Runner - September 11th in LA
Amir talks about how this is a not only a day of mourning for Americans, but for him too. He is ashamed that people would do such a thing, and though he is Muslim, 9/11 wasn't a celebration for him but a day of mourning the loss of over 3,000 people. -
Taliban deport foreigners
Taliban orders any foreigners not from neighboring countries under Taliban control to leave immediately of risk deportation. -
Period: to
Taliban loses support from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan
On the 25th of September Saudi Arabia stopped communication with Afghanistan and on the 26th Pakistan agreed to help America to fight against the Taliban. -
U.S. Launches Operation Enduring Freedom
The U.S. launched Operation Enduring Freedom, and invaded Afghanistan which is where they still are as of present. -
Period: to
U.S. War with Afghanistan
This is the over a decade long war the US has been fighting against the Taliban ever since September 11, 2001. It is still going on as of now. -
Period: to
NATO Control over Afghanistan
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is currently in charge of Afghanistan. -
Northern Alliance (Afghan gov't) recaptures Kabul
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Story opens up in San Francisco
The date isn't precise. -
Taliban Surrender
The Taliban sign to surrender Kandahar, ending their roughly half a decade regime in Afghanistan. -
President Hamid Karzai takes Office in Afghanistan
President Hamid Karzai is the twelfth president of Afghanistan, but he is the first to ever be democratically elected into office. He is well-known for aiding to drive the Taliban out of Afghanistan. -
Period: to
President Hamid Karzai's Term
The current president of Afghanistan is President Hamid Karzai who has been in office since 2001, shortly after 9/11. He is the twelfth presiden of Afghanistan, but he is the first one to be democratically elected into office. He is very well known as a strong political figurehead who has been working hard with Western Powers to get rid of the Taliban. -
Death of Zahir Shah
The last king of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah, died in Kabul, Afghanistan as the "father of the nation" at the age of 92.
