-
The new king brings a semblance of stability to the country and he rules for the next 40 years.
-
Khan looks to the communist nation for economic and military assistance. He also introduces a number of social reforms including allowing women a more public presence
-
he Afghan Communist Party secretly forms. The group’s principal leaders are Babrak Karmal and Nur Mohammad Taraki.
-
Some 2.8 million Afghans have fled from the war to Pakistan, and another 1.5 million have fled to Iran. Afghan guerrillas gain control of rural areas, and Soviet troops hold urban areas.
-
The Mujahadeen are receiving arms from the United States, Britain and China via Pakistan.
-
Ethnic groups in the north, under Masood’s Northern Alliance, and the south, aided in part by Hamid Karzai, continue to battle the Taliban for control of the country.
-
Ignoring international protests, the Taliban carry out their threat to destroy Buddhist statues in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, saying they are an affront to Islam.
-
Amid increased violence, NATO takes over security in Kabul in August. The effort is the security organization’s first-ever commitment outside of Europe
-
The nation holds its first parliamentary elections in more than 30 years. The peaceful vote leads to the parliament’s first meeting in December.
-
The Afghan army takes over all military and security operations from NATO forces.
