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Shah Becomes Ruler of Afghanistan
In 1933, "Zahir Shah began his forty-year reign of Afghanistan..." ( 24). Zahir Shah came to the throne at the age of 19, after the assassination of his father in 1933. He obtained an evil reputation after killing many Innocent Hazara's. In this year also, Baba was born. Baba was born in Afghanistan. His father was a well respected judge. -
Baba builds an orphanage
Baba builds an orphanage, "in the late 1960s when [he] was five or six, Baba decided to build an orphanage" (13). Baba had a grand opening of the orphange. He stood with Amir, and he cut the bow marking its grand opening. Baba was a very nice man, and he helped the poor and those who were helpless. This is just one of Baba's good acts of kindness. -
Hassan is Born
"In [a] little shack, Hassan was born in the winter of 1964"(Kite Runner 6). This was one year after Hassan was born. HIs mother died while gving birth to him. After Hassan was born, Sanabaur, his mother, ran off with a clan of traveling singers and dancers. Hasssan never talked about his mother. He knew she was a Hazara and she ran off with that circus. Hassan born a Hazara, and he would be a servant to Amir. -
Amir tricks Hassan
Amir was tricking Hassan by reading another story. Hassan didnt realize what was happening since he was illiterate, and Amir thought it was funny to mess with him. He "had abandoned the text altogether, [and] Hassan was, of course, oblivious to this" ( 30). Amir was a spoiled boy who took advantage of his best friend to get a laugh. -
Last time Amir saw Hassan run a kite
This year would be the last time Amir would see Hassan run a kite. This would be a horrible and sad year for Hasan. Soon after the competition, Hassan would get raped by Assef. Amir "felt helpess, and [he didnt] Assef to do that to [him]." (Kite Runner 88) Also, Hassan and Ali would have to leave Baba's house. After they left, that was the last time Amir and Hassan saw eachother. The kite competition was suppose to be fun, but after only bad things happened to Hassan. -
Hassan is raped by Assef
While protecting Amir and his kite, Hassan was raped even though the kite wasn't his "[b]ecause today, it's only going to cost you that blue kite" (72). Assef raped Hassan to show power ove him. Assef thought it wasn't as bad because he was a Hazara. Amir watched the whole thing, and he did not help. He was too scared to stand up to Assef, afraid Assef would do the same thing to him. -
Amir's 13th Birthday
In 1976, Amir turned 13. This "Afghanistan's next to last summer of peace and anoymity." (Kite Runner 93) Amir should be feeling happy because it his day, but he feels spo guilty. He feels gulity because he told Baba to consider getting new servants. At Amir's party, people who he didn't recognize filled the room. He was brought many gifts. Assef gave him a book about Hitler showing he has the power over Amir and Hassan. -
The First Troops in the Soviet Invasion
The "first soviet troops parachuted into Kabul to [help] Babrak Karmal," (NYT Decemeber 6,2011)the president involved in a coup in the Afghan Communist leadership. The Soviets would be here for 10 years. The Soviets were fighting for a non-comunism government. -
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The Soviet Invasion
From 1979 to 1996, the Soviet Union fought "in Afganistan for a legitimately constituted Karmal Government. " (NYT Decemeber 6,2011)Afghanistan allied with Western countries and Muslim countries, and they helped fight against the Soviet Army. Between 850,000–1.5 million civilians were killed during the invasion. -
Coming to America
During this year, Baba and Amir had left their house hoping to find a better life in America. They were trying to escape from the war. Baba and Amir sacrifaced much of their belongings. When they finally reached America, they had nothing. They lost their wealth, power, and and staus. Baba "had to work communal jobs to provide"(Kite Runner 180) for Amir and himself. Baba and Amir lost alot of things coming to America, but when they left, they escaped the war and saved themselves. -
Amir turns 21
Amir turns 21 in 1984. Baba just bought a new car. He got a Volkswagen. Also, he dreams to be a writer. He just finished his first year of college. Amir met the general and eventually mets his daughter. When Amir thought of her "[his] heart stutered at the [very] thought of her." Later the general daughter, Soraya, and Amir would marry. This was the year Amir met the love of his life. -
Amir marries the general's daughter
Amir thought this was "the happiest day of [his] life."(165) Baba had asked for the general's approval for Amir to ask his daughter to marry him. The general said yes. Baba paid for the whole wedding. He spent all his earnings he made in America on the wedding. This was like Baba's parting goodbye gift to Amir before he died. -
6 months before the Soviets leave Afghanistan
"In the summer of1988, [Amir] finsihed his novel"(Kite Runner 182). When Amir published his book, the Soviets were still in Afghanistan. but in 6 months, they would retreat.Amir's book was very succesful. It was about a father and son in Kabul. The night they found out Amir's book would be published, they celebrated with a large feast. His succesful book earned him a five vity book tour. This was just the begining of Amir's writing career. -
Rahim Khan is sick
While on the phone with Rahim Khan, Amir is told Rahim is very sick and is expected to die. Amir is devastated because Rahim "was the first adult he considered a friend."(Kite Runner 190) Amir visits Rahim in Pakistan. Rahim Khan tells Amir about Hassan's life. He also tells Amir that he and Hassan are brothers. Rahim Khan's death wish is for Amir to go find Sohrab because he was taken by the Taliban. Amir feels he owes it to Hassan, so he goes off to find Sohrab. -
Sohrab is born
Sohrab is born in the winter of 1990. This is Hassan and his wife's second child. Their first child was a still born baby, and they buried him. Sanubar had returned to see Hassan, and while she was there, Hassan's wife gave birth to the baby. Sanubar delierved the baby. "She stood beaming under a dull gray sky"(Kite Runner 211), and she was crying of joy. Shorab was given his name after Hassan's favorite character in a book Amir read to him. Sohrab would soon be an orphan and have to a home. -
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Taliban Takeover
The Taliban rule Afganistan during this time. "The Taliban grew out of a student movement dedicated to purifying the country," (NYT Decemeber 6,2011)the Pashtun lived in the home of the dominant area. With the Taliban's strong army, they took 34 provinces within the first few weeks they entered Afghanistan. -
Taliban invades Afghanistan and takes Sohrab from the orghanage
The Taliban takes over Afghanistan. At first the citizens were thinking that "the was over, [and] there is going to be peace"(Kite Runner 213) restored. At first, the Afghanis thought the Taliban was good because they killed the warlords who were causing a civil war. Later, they find out that they are very strict and want to spread the Quran. They are a terrotist group who will usae violence to force people to follow the Quran. -
Taliban Resurgence
The Taliban was driven out from Afghanistan on 7 December 2001.The Taliban lost control of Afghanistan, however, the Taliban resistance continued to fight to recapture Afghanistan. "Despite their defeat in 2001, the Taliban continued to" terroize other cities. They set up "a guerilla warfare from a base in the mountainous and largely lawless tribal area on the Pakistan- Afganistan border. (NYT Decmeber 6,2011 -
Post 9/11 Invasion Begins
After the attack on the World Trade Center in New York, "President Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatium hand over [Osama] bin Laden."(NYT Decemeber 6,2011) The US tries to find and kill bin Laden. This will eventually cause a war between the Afghans and the US. The US does not suceed in killing bin Laden until 2011. -
Al Queda Attacks Twin Towers
Terrorist griup, Al Queda, crashes 2 planes in The Twin Towers. After the attacks, "the 2001 invasion succeded in disloding Al Qaeda and removing the Taliban from power, but not in eradicating either group." (NYT Decemeber 6,2011) Suicide attacks were used to target U.S. landmarks. The planes were hijacked by 19 al-Qaeda members, so they could be flown into buildings. -
Karazi is named Chairman of the interium government
Before Karazi was named president of the intrium, he was a chairman. Hamid Karazi, "a supporter and relative of Shah, was named chairman" of the interim government that kicked out the Taliban. (NYT Decemeber 6,2011) -
Sohrab smiles
Amir and Sohrab have a very special moment. Sohrab had just returned from the hospital. He was in the hospital because he tried to cut himself to death. Sohrab was unhappy and rarely talked. When Sohrab and Amir went flying the kite, Sohrab smiled. This showed there was hope he would get better. Amir said, ''For you, a thousand times over"(371) just like Hassan would say. This was a reaccuring quote in the book. -
Karazi takes office as interium president
Karazi takes office as the interium president in 2002. His presidency marked Afghanistan's indepenence for the Taliban. Karazi took office in hope of "securing peace for Afganistan and win the country much needed international aid." Karazi looked to other countries for help to rebuild Afghanistan. (NYT Decemeber 6,2011) -
Obama's Speech
On Dcember 1, 2010, Obama delivered his "plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops." Obama promised to bring US forces home in the middle of 2011. (NYT Decemeber 6,2011) This was called a “turning point” for the soliders. -
2011 Deadline
Even though Obama promised to send home troops in 2011, "the Obama Administration changed its tone to increasingly emphasize the idea that" the new goal is for the troops to return at least till the end of 2014. (NYT Decemeber 6,2011) The original goal was for the troops to return in 2011.