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Baba's Birth
1933, "the year Baba was born," was also the year that Zahir Shah took his reign over Afganistan(23). He reigned for 40 years in a monarchtical rulership where Afganistan prospered. He was officially overthrown 40 years later by his cousin who created a republic. -
Hassan's Birth
In the servants shack besides Amir's house "Hassan was born in the winter of 1964," and it was decided that he were to feed on the same breast Amir had fed because Hassan's birth mother fled to join a circus. This act done by Hassan's mother caused Amir and Hassan to share a brotherly love as they grew up and because of this forced relationship, Amir felt more bound to Hassan than he would have liked when Rahim Khan asked him to go and save Hassan's son in the far future. -
Shots Fired In Kabul, Amir writes his first story
The day that Amir had written his first story, him and his family heard gunshots outside and took cover inside the house. They awoke the next morning to find that "the monarchy was a thing of the past," replaced by a republic run by the old ruler's cousin Daoud Khan. Amir never recieved the praise he wanted from his first writing piece becuase of the interruption. -
The Soviets Invade
The first attack was made on Afganistan when the "first Soviet troops parachuted in Kabul" in attempt to assit Babrak Karmal, who was a president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership(History of Afganistan: The Soviet Invasion and After). Some say that the Soviets made the coup in order to replace Hafizullah Amin whop was the Afgan leader. -
Baba and Amir escape as Kabul is overrun
Baba and Amir flee the dangers of "Shorawi occupied Kabul," to the relatively safe space of Pakistan (111). Without Ali and Hassan around Baba has no further reason the stay in Kabul. Especially with the increasing dangers. -
Passing Through Checkpoint During Russian Occupation
When the Russian solider talks back to Baba's threats and sacrfice, Baba's wise words tell us that "war doesnt negate decency, it demands it," (115). They are let through this Russian controlled checkpoint because of Baba's bravery and wisdom. This happens during Russian occupation -
Amir's Mind Drifts Towards Soraya
Amir falls for an Afgan girl who might have never qualified to be his wife if they lived in Afganistan but internally thinks "My heart stuttered at the thought of her," (142). This shows how the impact of the Russians changed tradition of how people qualified for marriage because the pool in which one could choose a spouse dramatically decreased. -
Flea Market Interactions Among Afgans
The Afgans who were evicted from their nation by the Russians that ended up in America created a certain behavioral pattern during interactions at the flea market. There was a routine in which involved "[greeting] the guy across the isle, you invited them for [food] and chatted," usually about Russia and condolences for events in that persons life. The impact Russia had on these Afgans caused people of any social class in Afgan to become low class citizens of the US forced to use theflea market. -
Baba Gets Cancer
In late May of 1985 Baba went to a hospital to see why he had started the cough up blood and it turned out he had "a spot on his right lung," which lead to cancer. Baba refused to take any treatment and began to die slowly of his own choice. Baba had begun to smoke when he entered America and his life might have lasted longer if the Russians did not invade and cause him to leave Afganistan, which led to smoking which was almost the definite reason for his lung cancer. -
Amir and Soraya Are Wed
During the final stretch of Baba's life, Amir quickly chooses a bride who he has deep feelings for and the wedding takes place very soon after he makes his decision. Baba, knowing his death is coming soon decides to spend "35000$ on the awroussi," which was nearly all of his life savings(169). If this event were to link back to Russia all that could be said is how differently Amir's life would have been had he stayed in Afganistan. It is only faint speculation on how Amir might be a coward. -
Russian Airforce Shot Down
Due to an advancement of weapons in the Afgan forces, they were able to begin to shoot down Russian attack helicopters causing a huge turn in the war effort. They were shot down by "stinger antiaircraft missiles supplied by the United States to the rebels." -
Baba Dies
The cancer had progressed and Baba had reached his final night of life. He told Soraya "there is no pain tonight" when she offered him his morphine, and the next day "he never woke up" (173). Baba died on his own terms and by doing so demonstrated the power he believed he had over misfortune. This last act of power showed Amir how he had to be a strong person when Baba was gone because even death couldn't waver Baba's strength -
Soviets Withdraw
In Febuary 1989 "the last Soviet troops left Afganistan" in a unilateral withdrawal. They left a scarred country that was swarmed upon by Islam Extremist groups trying to help fight against communism. -
The Taliban Takes Over
Once the Taliban had recieved aid from Pakistani, they became more powerful and "by 1996 had taken control of Afganistan" causing the enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law(History of Afganistan: The Taliban Takeover). A few of the things that were included in this act were the banning of music and movies, and taking women out of school as well as wearing traditional clothing. -
Influence From Bin Laden
In may of 1996, the Taliban provided a haven for My. bin Laden. He influenced Mullah Omar to "oder the destruction of the 900-year-old Buddha statues at Bamiyan," which was greatly looked down upon by countries around the world. These violent measures had little effect on the local inhabitants who seemed to welcome the change of faith. -
Amir visits Rahim Khan
Amir leaves America and his wife to viit the now dying Rahim Khan to catch and up and because Rahim Khan had requested a dying wish of Amir that it will be "a way to be good again," (192). Later, it is found out that this wish is for Amir to go into the Taliban run Afganistan and save Hassan's son because the Taliban had killed Hassan and his wife for living in Amir's house on their own with no master. Amir wouldnt have done it if he wasn't of blood relation to Hassan. -
Assef and Amir settle old business
Amir goes into Afganistan to find Hassan's son and finds that Assef had taken him into his custody to be used as a source of entertainment. Assef tricks Amir into coming to get the child then telling him that he "has to earn him," through a fight (286). In the end Sohrab is the one whoe saves Amir and they escape from the Taliban back to a hospital in Pakistan. Assef tries to demonstrate his physical and socioeconomic power by fighting Amir in Afganistan but ends up being shamed by a boy. -
Bombing on World Trade Centers
The world trade center, located in New York, was bombed by the Islam extremist group the Taliban. In reaction to this, the president at the time George W. Bush "gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. Bin Laden" who was a leader of the extremist group(History of Afganistan: Post 9/11 Invasion). -
Invasion on The Talibans
As a way of getting back at the Taliban for the bombing on 9/11, US troops successfully invaded "dislodging Al Qaeda and removing the Taliban from power." Unfortunately they did not eradicate the Taliban completely and they made a steady comeback fueled off of trade and social dissatisfaction with the corrput Afgan governments. -
Karzai Takes Leadership
Near the end of 2001, Hamid Karzai, a relative of the exiled king, was named chairman of a new Afgan government that "replaced the defeated Taliban, making him the leader of the country." He then took leadership as interim president in June 2002, and later official president in 2004. -
The General is called back
In Febuary of 2002 the general is "summoned to Afganistan to fill a ministry position," when America bombs Afganistan and forces the Taliban into hiding (363). This signals the end of a long struggle in Afganistan and history adds a happy ending to this story. Power is returned to the general through war success and strong allies. -
Amir Flies A Kite Once Again
Amir flies a kite again which he hasn't done in "a quarter of a century" as a way of trying to bond with Sohrab (268). Interestingly the tradition and ethical value of kite competions stayed with Amir for his entire life making a comeback just as the war ended. Tradition can last through war, death, murder, marriage, happiness, and even moving to another continent. Tradition is an ideal that time has a hard time breaking. -
Obama's First Plan
Obama "planned to deploy 30,000 additional troups," in order to end the war faster. He predicted that he would start bring troops home in the summer of 2011 because the US could not afford another war. As known US forces remained in Afganistan until the end of 2014. -
The Talabin Grow
It is said the first organized attack by the Taliban was how a small group gathered by Mullah Omar attacked a group of warlords who had raped a girl and shaven her head. In late 1994 "Mullah Omar had nearly 12000 followers and was rolling up warlords to the north and east." He promised to restore the centrality of Islam to common life which was a popular movement in a country that was tired of corruption. -
Amir Graduates High School
Amir graduates High school in America, still during Occupation and Baba speaks his mind about how he feels about Russian occupation when he says "Fuck the Russia," in broken English at a bar celebrating Amir's graduation (133). Amir wants to get a job and take responsibility for Baba in an attempt to make up to him because of his morals. Baba refuses because he claims to the ethical belief the the father should provide for his son.