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Soviet Troops are deployed in Afghanistan
The Soviet Union sent troops into Afghanisan. Their intent was to "assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership" (Afghanistan 2). The troops had problems fighting in a different terrain. Even though they ment to help it was pretty unsuccessful. -
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Kite Runner and History of Afghanistan
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Baba and Amir Escape Kabul
In 1981, both Baba and Amir leave Afghanistan to go to Pakistan. The person they get ride from "was taking us to Jalalabad, about 170 kilometers southeast of Kabul, where his brother, Toor, who had a bigger truck with a second convoy of refugees, was waiting to drive us across the Khyber Pass and into Peshwar" (111). After Afghanistan is invaded, it is no longer safe in Kabul for Amir and Baba. So they escape to Pakistan, and then from there they will head to the United States. -
Baba Gets Mad in a Market
One day, while Amir is in an old bookstore, Baba goes across the street to a small market. When the owner asks for an ID, Baba gets mad and destroys some of the store. As Amir is talking to the owner, he explains "My father is still ajusting to life in America" (Hosseini 128). Back in Afghanistan, Baba was used to never offering an ID to buy something. Now that he is in the United States, he has to get used to a new culture. -
Amir Graduates High School
Two years after Baba and Amir arrive in the United States, Amir "graduated from high school at the age of twenty, by far the oldest senior tossing his mortarboard on the football field that day" (131). After he graduates, he has plans to go to college and become a writer, what he has loved to do since he was a boy in Afghanistan. -
Amir Meets Soraya
On one visit to the San Jose Flea Market, Amir meets Soraya Taheri, the daughter of an old Afghan general. That night, Amir "thought of Soraya Taheri's sickle-shaped birthmark, her gently hooked nose, and the way her luminous eyes had fleetenly met mine. My heart stuttered at the thought of her" (Hosseini 142). After their encounter, Amir started to fall in love with Soraya and would make excuses to see her in the market. -
Baba Find Out He Has Cancer
In summer of 1985, Baba figures out that he has cancer. The doctor offers chemotherapy, but Baba declines. He found out that "it wouldn't change the outcome, just prolong it" (Hosseini 156). Baba doesn't see any poin in prolonging the enevitable. Even when Amir tries to make an argument, Baba gets mad and doesn't care. -
Amir Marries Soraya
Two years after Amir meets Soraya, he says to his father "I want you to go khastegari. I want you to ask General Taheri for his daughter's hand" (Housseini 161). After the talk between Baba and General Taheri, Baba tells Amir that the Taheris accepted. The marriage is delyaed a few months because of Baba's medical condition. -
Baba Dies
Back when Amir met Soraya, Amir found out that Baba had cancer. One monthe after Soraya and Amir are married, Baba "never woke up" (Housseini 173). Baba ubfourtnately dies, which worries Amir. Now he has no father to ask for help or to be there for him. -
Amir Publishes his First Book
After Soraya and Amir have been married for two years, Aimr finally finishes his first novel. Before it is published, "a man named Martin Greenwalt called from New York and offered to represent me" (Hosseini 183). Amir is thrilled, but wished Baba was there. He knew Baba would have wanted to see his success. -
Soviets Leave Afghanistan
In Feburuary the Soviet troops pulled out of the country "after peace talks moderated by the United Nations" (Afghanistan 2). When they left, Afghanistan was devesated by war and was a beacon to Islamic extremists. This led to the rise of one of the most known terrorists groups-the Taliban. -
Amir and Soraya find out They Cannot have a Child
After two years of trying, Amir and Soraya find that they can't have a child. The doctor says that "he couldn't understand why we couldn't have kids. And, apparently, that wasn't so unusual" (Hosseini 185). This devastates Soraya, and it worries her and Amir when the doctor mentions adoption instead. -
The Taliban Gains Influence
The Taliban grew from a small student movement. By 1994 the Taliban "had nearly 12,000 followers" (Afghanistan 3). The Taliban got support from Pakistan, which helped the group grow into a huge national force. -
Taliban Takes Control
The Taliban took control in Afghanistan "imposing strict enforcement of fundamenatlist Islamic law" (Afghanistan 3). Ordinary things like music and movies were banned. Girls were kicked out of school and forced them into burqua clothing. -
Hassan is Shot and Killed by the Taliban
When Amir is talking to Rahim Khan in Pakistan, Rahim tells him news about Hassan. However, Rahim says "They told Hassan they would be moving in to supposedly keep it safe until I return. Hassan protested again. So they took him to the street and ordered him to kneel and shot him in the back of the head" (219). After hearing the news, Amir is devastated. He is sad that he can never apologize to Hassan for what he did that he regreted. -
Rahim Khan Calls Amir to Pakistan
Years after Amir marries Soraya, Rahim calls. He tells Amir that he has to go to Pakistan. Amir finds out that "Rahim Khan is very sick" (Hosseini 190). After he gets the call, he flies to Peshwar to see Rahim. He doesn't know exactly what Rahim is going to tell him, but that becomes apparent when he visits Rahim Khan. -
Amir Goes to Find Sohrab
When Amir first hears that Rahim wants him to find Hassan's son, Amir refuses. He worries about his life in the United States. However, he realizes "Hassan had loved me once, loved me in a way that no one ever had or ever would again. He was gone now, but a little part of him lived on. It was in Kabul. Waiting." (Hosseini 227). Amir decides to find Sohrab. He hopeds that he can make up for what he did to Hassan by saving his half-brother's son. -
Amir Finds Sohrab
After his talk with Rahim Khan, Amir goes to Kabul to find Sohrab, Hassan's son. When Amir sees Sohrab, he finds that Sohrab "had his father's round moon face, his pointy stub of a chin, his twisted, seashell ears, and the same slight frame. It was the Chinese doll face of my childhood" (Hosseini 279). Amir is amazed at how much Sohrab looks like Hassan. He thinks that if he can get Sohrab away, he can make up for what he did to Hassan as a boy. -
Sohrab Tries to Kill Himself
Amir wants to take Sohrab to America and adopt him. However, it would require Sohrab to stay in an orpanage for a year or two. When Sohrab hears this, he cries and says "Please! Please no! I'm scared of that place. They'll hurt me! I don't want to go" (Hosseini 341). Because of not wanting to go to the orphanage and wanting his old life back, Sohrab tries to kill himself. Amir doesn't let him die and an ambulance comes to take Sohrab to the hospital and save him. -
Attack on the Twin Towers
The world Trade Center in New York is attacked in plans by the group Al Qaeda. After the attacks "President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden" (Afghanistan 3). After a refusal of these demands, the United States invaded Afghanistan. The Taliban were eventually driven out of the country. -
The Taliban Resurgence
Even though the Taliban were defeated, they "continued to wage a guerrilla warfare from a base in the mountainous and largely lawless tribal area on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border" (Afghanistan 4). The Taliban also spilled into Pakistan. This led to most Wetern Allies making the area a place of top foreign policy. -
Amir Runs a Kite with Sohrab
It's been a year since Amir brought Sohrab to America. Sohrab hasn't been talking for the entire time. then one day, as they're running kites, Amir saw "A smile. Lopsided. Barely there. But there" (Hosseini 371). This shows signs that Sohrab may talk again one day.There is a hope at the end of the story that Sohrab will be happier and talk more. -
Hamid Karzai Becomes President
Hamid started as a chairman of a goverement that replaced the Taliban. Evetually he was made president. Hamid hoped to make Afghanistan peaceful. In these actions he "was also a White House favorite" (Afghanistan 3). However, he lost popularity as the country blamed him for the bad economic progress and corrupt officials. -
General Petraeus is Appointed to the United States Central Command.
When General McChystal was removed after his troops complained about him, Obama "tapped Gen. Petraeus to lead the war effort there" (Afghanistan 4). Petraeus already had been the commader in Iraq and had been given credit for the success there. -
30,000 Aditional Troops Are Deployed
After the original troops had been sent into Afghanistan, Obama "announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troop" (Afghanistan 4). There was a concern about the terrorist problems in the Middle East countries, so more troops were needed for assistance there. -
A Change in the Troops
Even though the governement annouced that "the United States would have forces in the country until at least 2014" (Afghanistan 4). People believe that this desicion was made because the United States was confident the Taliban would be defeated enough so they could start bringing troops home.