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After ruling Afghanistan for 40 years Zahir Shah was overthrown while on vacation in a military coup led by Mohammad Daud Kahn, his cousin. This coup may not have been physical, bloody, and crazy but it did frighten the citizens of Afganistan, and specifically Kabul.
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The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan creating many issues including the uprising of the Taliban. This pushed many to leave Afganistan as well as caused chaos and spread fear amongst Afghan citizens. This faltered the communist regime and sparked many public violent acts as well as riots and protests.
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After the Soviets began to take over, many were pushed to move out of Afghanistan, including Baba and Amir. Although this trip is to find a brighter future, the conditions were rough. For example, Amir struggles, "PANIC. You open your mouth. Open it so wide your jaws creak. You order your lungs to draw air, NOW, you need air, need it NOW. But your airways ignore you" (Hosseini 24).
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In the winter of 1975, Amir makes a choice that haunts him for the rest of his life. He sits and watches Hassan get raped by Assef instead of standing up for him. While this happens, Amir debates, “I had one last chance to make a decision. One final opportunity to decide who I was going to be. I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan the way he’d stood up for me all those times in the past, and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run. In the end, I ran” (Hosseini 77).
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After the Soviets finally left, Afghan citizens were tired and vulnerable. A new militia group, the Taliban took advantage of this and promised peace to the Afghan citizens. At first, they were supported but then the Taliban's true colors showed as they began to force their strict Islamic beliefs on the citizens of Afghanistan, installing fear and chaos in the streets of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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Unfortunately after moving to America Baba was diagnosed with untreatable cancer and it became a waiting game until he passed. In 1986 that day finally came and stirred many thoughts in Amir's head. After Baba's passing, Amir contemplates, "My whole life, I had been 'Baba's son.' Now he was gone. baba couldn't show me the way anymore; I'd have to find it on my own. The thought of it terrified me" (Hosseini 174).
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Just before moving to America with Sohrab, something devastating happened. Upon hearing that he may have to go back to an orphanage, a place that holds many negative memories, Sohrab became overwhelmed with sadness and little will to live. Amir had promised he would never have to go back to one, and this news pushed him to harm himself. Later, Amir enters the bathroom and breaks down, "I pushed the door open. Stepped into the bathroom. Suddenly I was on my knees, screaming" (Hosseini 343).
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After receiving word that Rahim Kahn had become extremely sick, Amir decides to visit him in Pakistan. While there, he learns many things including that Hassan is his half-brother, Hassan and Ali are dead, and that Hassan has a living son, Sohrab. At this moment, Amir opens his eyes and notices, "And with that came this realization: that Rahim Khan had summoned me here to atone not just for my sins but for Baba’s too” (Hosseini 226).
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On September 11, 2001, Al Qaeda launched an attack on the Twin Towers and Pentagon. They hijacked four planes and two successfully hit the world trade center in New York City killing thousands of workers, passengers, and firefighters. Another plane landed in a Pennsylvania field thanks to many brave passengers that stopped the hijackers. The final plane hit the Pentagon in Washington D.C. This sparked outrage in the U.S. and started the search for Bin Laden, the organizer of this attack.
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The United States invaded Afghanistan and overthrew the Taliban as a response to 9/11. This was considered the end of Taliban rule in Afghanistan but they continue to fight for power today. This helped Afghanistan get back on its feet, elect a real president, and hold a provisional government for the first time in a while.