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Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev agrees to help Afghanistan.
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and Afghanistan become close allies. -
Period: to
Kite Runner & the History of Afghanistan
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Sanaubar runs off with traveling dancers
While talking about Hassan's mother, Amir tells us that "she ran off with a clan of traveling singers and dancers" (6). This quote shows that Sanaubar didn't love her son or even her husband, so she ran off. -
The Afghan Communist Party secretly forms.
The group’s principal leaders are Babrak Karmal and Nur Mohammad Taraki. -
Baba finishes the orphanage
When it was time for the opening ceremony of the orphanage that Baba has spent a long time building, Amir "sat behind Baba on the little podium just outside the main entrance of the new building" (14). This quote illustrates that Baba has spent a lot of his time and effort building the orphanage, and even cares about it enough to speak at the grand opening. -
Khan overthrows the Mohammed Zahir Shah in a military coup.
Mohammed Zahir Shah was the king before Khan comes to power. Khan abolishes the monarchy and names himself president. The Republic of Afghanistan is established with firm ties to the USSR. -
Amir tricks Hassan
Amir is reading a book to Hassan in the treehouse and decides to play a "little trick" on him by "stray[ing away] from the written story"(30). -
Afghanistan changed forever
Amir narrates, "But I never got to finish that sentence. Because suddenly Afghanistan changed forever" (34). This quote is foreshadowing the war that is about to take place in Afghanistan which will literally change the country forever. -
Hassan tells Amir that he will be a good writer
After Amir finishes reading Hassan the story he wrote, Hassan says that "some day, [he] will be a great writer" (33). -
Hassan defends Amir from Assef
As Assef was staring at something, Amir turned around to see that "Hassan had pulled the wide elastic band all the way back" (42). This shows that Hassan cares for and would protect Amir at all costs. -
Hassan's birthday present from Baba
On Hassan's birthday, Baba got him a present. The present was a man, whom Baba introduced as Dr. Kumar. He said "Dr. Kumar is a plastic surgeon" (45). This shows that Baba cares about Hassan, but also does not understand a lot about kids. This quote shows that Baba cares about Hassan because the plastic surgeon was probably very expensive, but it shows that Baba does not know about kids because Hassan probably would have liked Baba to ask him first. -
Khan proposes a constitution that grants women the right to work.
In order to modernize the communist state of Afghanistan, Khan proposes a new constitution that will grant women the right to work. -
Hassan gets raped
As Amir is watching Assef and Hassan in the alleyway, and instead of stepping into the alley and standing up for Hassan, but "in the end, [he] ran" (77). This quote illustrates to us that Amir would rather have his father's love and respect rather than protecting Hassan. -
The kite tournament takes place
In the winter of 1975, the kite tournament takes place in Wazir Akbar Khan district. Amir narrates, "In the winter of 1975, I saw Hassan run a kite for the last time" (55). This is a big event because this quote foreshadows Amir moving to America and it also kind of foreshadows Hassan getting raped. Here, right before he ran the kite for Amir, he says the words, "for you a thousand times over" (67). These words have a great impact on Amir throughout his life and he will always remember them. -
Amir's 13th birthday party
On Amir's 13th birthday, he said that he's "never seen the house so packed"(94). This quote shows us the large amount that Baba's popularity in Afghanistan has on Amir. -
Ali and Hassan leave
On the night of Amir's 13th birthday, he plants money and a watch in Hasan and Ali's house. Baba thinks Hassan stole the watch and says, "Did you steal that money? Did you steal Amir's watch, Hassan?'" but Hassan said, "'Yes'" (105).This shows that Amir is selfish enough to even get his best friend to leave the house. He knows that this act would get Hassan and Ali to leave, which is why he planted the gifts there. -
Khan is killed in a communist coup.
Nur Mohammad Taraki, one of the founding members of the Afghan Communist Party, takes control of the country as president, and Babrak Karmal is named deputy prime minister. They proclaim independence from Soviet influence and declare their policies to be based on Islamic principles, Afghan nationalism, and socioeconomic justice. Taraki signs a friendship treaty with the Soviet Union. -
American Ambassador Adolph Dubs is killed.
The United States cuts off assistance to Afghanistan. A power struggle between Taraki and Deputy Prime Minister Hafizullah Amin begins. Taraki is killed on Sept. 14 in a confrontation with Amin supporters. -
Baba dies
During baba's funeral, the crowd says "'...helped me build the house in Taimani...''...bless him...''...no one else to turn to and he lent me...''...found me a job...barely knew him...''...like a brother to me..."' (174). This shows how much Baba has impacted the people around him, even in America! -
Saudi Islamist Osama bin Laden makes his first documented trip to Afghanistan to aid anti-Soviet fighters.
The United Nations investigates reported human rights violations in Afghanistan. -
bin Laden and 15 other Islamists form the group al-Qaida, or “the base”, to continue their jihad, or holy war, against the Soviets and other who they say oppose their goal of a pure nation governed by Islam.
With their belief that the Soviet’s faltering war in Afghanistan was directly attributable to their fighting, they claim victory in their first battle, but also begin to shift their focus to America, saying the remaining superpower is the main obstacle to the establishment of a state based on Islam. -
Continuing drought devastates farmers and makes many rural areas uninhabitable.
Continuing drought devastates farmers and makes many rural areas uninhabitable. -
The United States demands that bin Laden be extradited to stand trial for the embassy bombings.
The Taliban declined to extradite him. The United Nations punishes Afghanistan with sanctions restricting trade and economic development. -
Amir goes back to Kabul
Amir says, "Come, there is a way to be good again, Rahim Khan had said on the phone just before hanging up... A way to be good again"(192). This shows that Rahim Khan cares about Amir and wants him to feel good about himself. -
Sohrab attempts suicide and becomes mute
After Sohrab attempts suicide, he decides to not talk as much but says to Amir, ""I want my old life back" (354). This shows that Sohrab was happy in his old life and loved his parents very much. It also shows that he has been very traumatized, probably from Assef and the taliban. -
Sohrab Smiles for the first time
As Amir and Sohrab are flying kites, Amir asks Sohrab if he wants him to run the kite for him. Before running the kite, Amir says to Sohrab, "For you, a thousand times over'...It was only a smile, nothing more" (371).
