Afghanistan timeline By ATBT Apr 1, 1709 First Afghan state Nov 1, 1709 Mir Wais Hotak successfully overthrew Gurgin Khan, and made the Afghan region independent from Persia Oct 1, 1747 Afghan Empire established Jan 1, 1862 Afghan Empire falls Aug 19, 1919 Afghanistan gains independence from Britian Afghanistan gains independence from Britian Apr 1, 1978 Communist government with a system of checks and balances is made Jan 1, 1989 Civil War and the collapse of communist Najibullah government Jan 1, 1992 Afghanistan overthrows Soviet president Mohammad Najibullah Apr 1, 1992 Afghanistan overthrows Soviet-installed president Jan 1, 1996 Islamic/Taliban rule Jan 1, 1996 Civil War leading to Taliban controlling most of Afghanistan Jan 1, 2001 Afganistan becomes an official part of the Northern Alliance Jan 1, 2001 Islamic/Taliban rule ends Jul 1, 2003 Pakistan and Afghanistan clashed over the Durand Line Oct 9, 2004 Afghanistan holds its first, direct, presidential election
