Afghanistan Timeline

Below I have shared a timeline of Afghanistan as it pertains to The Kite Runner, borrowed from ABC. I feel that having a timeline that shows the order of events that happened in the book will not only make the book more clear, but also make Hosseini's biography easier to understand.

1933: Following years of civil unrest, Zahir Shah becomes king and remains in power for the next 40 years.

1973: The former prime minister, Daoud Khan, seizes power in a coup and declares a republic. He is overthrown in 1978 and a year later, Hufizullah Amin wins a power struggle and becomes president.

1979: Soviet troops move into Afghanistan and remove Hufizullah Amin from power. In 1980, backed by the Soviet Union, Babrack Karmal is installed as president.

1985: Islamic fighters known as Mujahedeen intensify their resistance to the government and Soviet occupation. The United States provides financial backing to their cause and in 1986 supplies them with Stinger missiles, enabling Mujahedeen to shoot down Soviet helicopters.

1989: Soviet troops leave Afghanistan, leaving pro-Soviet President Mohammed Nujiballah exposed.

1992: Mujahedeen take control of the capital, Kabul and President Nujibullah falls from power. Rival militias compete for control.

1996: The Taliban seize control and introduce extreme Islamic law, banning women from work and using brutal punishments like stoning to death and amputations.

2001: Four US airliners are hijacked. Two are flown into the World Trade Center and one hits the Pentagon. Another crashes in Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people are killed in the attacks. The United States blames Al Qaeda.

The US and Britain launch air strikes in Afghanistan after the Taliban refuse to hand over bin Laden. Opposition forces seize most major cities including Kabul and the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar.

2012: Osama bin Laden is found and killed.