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Afganistan/Kite Runner Timeline
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King Nadir Shah's Assassination
In the book, Amir talks about an old family photo of his, "grandfather and King Nadir Shah taken in 1931, two years before the king's assassination" (Hosseini 5). Because the photo is taken two years prior to the assassination, the reader knows when it actually occurred. Amir is reflecting about his story and by adding the additional information it is shown as a negative foreshadowing. This hints to the reader that Amir's story is not a cheerful one. -
Baba's birthday
1933 was, "the year Baba was born and the year Zahir Shah began his forty-year reign of Afghanistan" (Hosseini 24). Amir mentions something relevant which is immediately followed with something random. This shows an aspect of Amir: that
his recalling of events can be sporadic. -
Hassan's birth
Hassan was born in a small shack, "in the winter of 1964, just one year after [Amir's] mother died giving birth to [Amir]" (Hosseini 6). The reader learns of the characters' birth and its relativity to the historical time period. Additionally it is described that Amir is one year older than Hassan. This slight age difference could also have some added effect as to why sometimes Amir treats Hassan as incompetent. -
Amir decides to write
One day, Amir was reading Hassan a story but he, "had abandoned the text altogether, taken over the story and made up [his] own" (Hosseini 30). Here, Amir is shown to be mischievous and takes advantage of Hassan's illiteracy. When Amir was doing this, Hassan was oblivious, which shows of Amir's creativity in coming up with the made-up story. At the end Hassan applauded Amir causing Amir to begin to pursue writing, so without Hassan Amir would never began to write. -
Amir turns 13
Amir, "turned thirteen that summer of 1976, Afghanistan's next to last summer of peace and anonymity" (Hosseini 93). In the text, Amir mentions his thirteenth birthday but not many others, which signifies that this must have been more memorable. Adding the last thought demonstrates how Amir is thinking back to how oblivious and innocent he was during that time. -
Communist coup d'état
Amir believes the shootings were the beginning of the end, and that "The end, the official end, would come first in April 1978 with the communist coup d'état" (Hosseini 36). Amir emphasizes "official" which implies that this date may be when society believes the end began but not when Amir thinks it did. Also, Amir remembering these few dates demonstrates that they were significant to him. By saying that it was the end, it tells the reader how negative the event was. -
Soviet troops first arrival in Afganistan
The Soviet troops first arrived in Afganistan when they "parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979, to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afganistan Communist leadership" (New York Times 2). -
Amir is leaving Kabul
Amir is being smuggled, "out of Shorawi-occupied Kabul to the relative safety of Pakistan" (Hosseini 111). Amir and Baba are running away. This shows how despite Baba's reputation as a tough person, he will still run away when things become too overwhelming. Also, despite the tension between Baba and Amir, Baba will still protect his son because he is taking Amir with him to safety. -
Amir graduated high school
During the, "summer of 1983, [Amir] graduated from high school at the age of twenty, by far the oldest senior tossing his mortarboard on the football field that day" (Hosseini 131). Amir graduated as the oldest which shows how the events and trauma in Afghanistan has delayed Amir's education. However, Baba was still proud which proves that the two characters have bonded more in America. -
Baba buys Amir a car
When Amir turned twenty-one, "Baba sold his Buick and bought a dilapidated '71 Volkswagen bus for $550" (Hosseini 136). This shows that Baba still misses having an expensive vehicle and feeling superior. Baba used to be very wealthy but now not anymore, and by buying this automobile he can gain back some of that feeling. -
Amir meets General Sahib
Baba introduces a man to Amir saying, "this is General Sahib, Mr. Iqbal Taheri. He was a decorated general in Kabul" (Hosseini 138). This moment was significant because the general will soon be Amir's father-in-law. Also, by meeting the general, Amir also met Soraya which will change his life. -
Amir talks to Soraya
Amir says to Soraya, "I'm sorry to be mozaham, I didn't mean to disturb you" (Hosseini 145). This is where Amir has his first conversation with Soraya. He starts his conversation with her by bothering her then apologizing and asking about the general, so it is indirect. This shows that Amir is very nervous but also really wants to get to know her otherwise he wouldn't have even went up to her. -
Rahim Khan visits Hassan
Rahim Khan, "went to Hazarajat to find Hassan in 1986" (Hosseini 203). This quotation shows the similarities and differences between Amir and Rahim Kahn. Amir never went back to visit or apologize to Hassan, but Rahim Khan at least went to see him. However the reason why Rahim Khan went back was not a noble one, so the two characters are not that far off. -
Soviet troops left Afganistan
After ten years, "the last Soviet troops left Afganistan in February 1989" (New York Times 2). -
Hassan's son is born
Hassan's mother, "delivered Hassan's son that winter of 1990" (Hosseini 211). This birth is significant because it was the birth of Amir's last chance at redemption. When Hassan dies Amir has a chance at saving his son to try and atone for his sins. Also, once he's born, Hassan's son becomes a very important character that affects and changes Amir from the superior one to someone who has to work for something. -
Amir and Soraya consider adoption
Soraya quietly told her father, "the doctor said we could adopt" (Hosseini 186). The fact that she is quiet shows that she is hesitant about adoption. This piece of information (Soraya is infertile) could affect Amir's decision later on about adopting Sohrab. This is also a twist in the plot because now Amir can't have the family he wanted. -
Internal divisions in Afganistan
After the Soviet troops left Afganistan, "power was anarchically divided among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms" (New York Times 2). -
Pakistan begins assisting the Talibans
In 1994, Pakistan officers started providing, "arms, money, and supplies to Mullah Omar's men, as well as military advisers to help guide them in battle" (New York Times 3). -
Pakistan assists Taliban
Mullah Omar, a Pushtun who started the Talibans, "had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east" (New York Times 2). -
Taliban took over Afganistan
With the help of Pakistan, "the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afganistan" (New York Times 3). -
Rahim Khan calls Amir
Amir has to go to Pakistan because, "Rahim Khan is very sick" (Hosseini 191). This event is important because Rahim Khan will give Amir information that will change the rest of his life. Amir adopted Sohrab and finally made and attempt to atone to Hassan because of this call to visit. -
9/11 Invasion
There was an "attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001" (New York Times 3). -
Hamid Karzai takes leadership
Hamid Karzai "was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making him the leader of the country" (New York Times 3). -
Hamid Karzai takes office
Hamid Karzai "took office in June 2002, saying he hoped to secure peace for Afganistan and win the country much-needed international aid. Mr. Karzai was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004" (New York Times 3). -
President Obama delivers a speech
In his speech, "Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops. He vowed to start bringing American forces home from Afganistan in the middle of 2011" (New York Times 4).