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Soviet Army invades and props up communist government.
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Last Soviet troops leave, but civil war continues as mujahideen push to overthrow Najibullah.
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Najibullah's government toppled, but a devastating civil war follows
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Taliban seize control of Kabul and introduce hard-line version of Islam, banning women from work, and introducing Islamic punishments, which include stoning to death and amputations.
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US launches missile strikes at suspected bases of militant Osama bin Laden, accused of bombing US embassies in Africa.
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Ahmad Shah Masood, leader of the main opposition to the Taliban - the Northern Alliance - is assassinated
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US-led bombing of Afghanistan begins following the September 11 attacks on the United States. Anti-Taliban Northern Alliance forces enter Kabul shortly afterwards.
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Loya Jirga adopts new constitution which provides for strong presidency.
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Nato assumes responsibility for security across the whole of Afghanistan, taking command in the east from a US-led coalition force.
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President Karzai warns that Afghanistan will send troops into Pakistan to fight militants if Islamabad fails to take action against them.
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Suicide bomb attack on Indian embassy in Kabul kills more than 50.
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US President George Bush sends an extra 4,500 US troops to Afghanistan, in a move he described as a "quiet surge"
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Nato countries pledge to increase military and other commitments in Afghanistan after US announces dispatch of 17,000 extra troops.
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US President Obama decides to boost US troop numbers in Afghanistan by 30,000, bringing total to 100,000. He says US will begin withdrawing its forces by 2011.
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Taliban announce "spring offensive" with audacious attack on the diplomatic quarter of Kabul. The government blamed the Haqqani Network. Security forces kill 38 militants.
