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Period: to
Kite Runner & the History of Afghanistan
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Soviet Union Invades
While Afghanistan had been a peaceful country previously for decades, "...the Soviet invasion descended into a prolonged and bloody occupation that was in many ways comparable to the American experience in Vietnam" (New York Times, 2) -
Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
Over nine years later, "after peace talks moderated by the United Nations, the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989" (New York Times, 2). -
Mullah Omar and Taliban Gain Power
Mullah Omar formed the Taliban out of a student movement, and, "by the end of 1994 [Omar] had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east" (New York Times, 2). -
Taliban in Complete Control
With help from neighbor Pakistan, "the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan" (New York Times, 3). -
9-11
Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda led an "attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001" (New York Times, 3). -
Taliban Weakened by United States
The United States, along with several minority rebel groups who opposed the Taliban, "drove Taliban out of the major Afghan cities by the end of the year" (New York Times, 3). -
Hamid Karzai Elected President
Hamid Karzai, a descendent of an exiled king, "was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004" (New York Times, 3). -
Taliban Regain Power, U.S. Troops Withdraw to Iraq
As the Americans started to withdraw from Afghanistan and focus on Iraq, "the Taliban regrouped and began to extend its influence in the southern part of Afghanistan" (New York Times, 3) -
More Troops Brought in Afghanistan
As said in a speech he presented at West Point, "Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (New York Times, 4) -
Soldiers Brought Home
Since the U.S. could not keep up with so many soldiers in Afghanistan, "[Mr. Obama] vowed to start bringing American froces ome from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011" (New York Times, 4)