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Period: to
US-Afghan War
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First US Involvement in Afghanistan
The Pakistani ISI (Inter-Service Intelligence) and the CIA carried out a secret transfer of Soviet and Lebanese weapons captured by Israelis during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
Weapons were transferred to Pakistan and then to Afghanistan. -
US Supplies Arms
US supplies Stinger missiles to the Mujahideen.
This enabled them to shoot down Soviet helicopter gunships.
Dr. Najibullah replaced Karmat as the leader of the Soviet-backed regime. -
Signing of the Peace Accords
Afghanistan, USSR, US, and Pakistan sign the peace accords.
Soviet troops begin to pull out. -
End of Aid to Afghanistan
Civil war broke out in 1989, the mujahideen pushes to overthrow Najibullah's government.
Both US and USSR agree to end aid to both sides in Afghanistan. -
Taliban Rises to Power
The Taliban, a group that introduced the strict hardline version of Islam banned women from work and introduced Islamic punishments.
After the Taliban seize control of Kabul, they were eventually recognized as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Taliban tried to seek a UN seat in 1998 and international recognition -
Period: to
Taliban Regime
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US Diplomat Visit to Kabul
First high-ranking American diplomat visits Kabul for the first time since 1974 for talks with the Taliban regime. -
US Missile Strike on Afghan Territory
The US strikes Afghan territory with roughly 80 cruise missiles targeting Osama bin Laden's headquaters.
Bin Laden is accused of bombing US embssies in Africa -
UN Sanctions on Afghanistan
UN imposes an air embargo and financial sanctions to force Afghanistan to hand over Osama bin Laden.
Additional sanctions were also imposed in January 2001 to hand Bin Laden over for trial. -
9/11 Attack
The World Trade Center in New York and Pentagon in Washington D.C. is attacked by Al Qaeda terrorists. Another plane that was headed to the White House crashes in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. George W. Bush vows to win the war against terrorism and zooms in on Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. Bush also calls on the Taliban regime to deliver bin Laden or suffer the same fate. -
US-led Bombing of Afghanistan
Right after the 9/11 attacks, the Taliban urged Muslims to wage a holy war against the US.
Therefore when the Taliban refused to turn in Osama bin Laden, who was the main suspect culprit of the 9/11 attacks, the US began air strikes on Afghanistan.
This bombing campaign was called Operation Enduring Freedom. -
Hamid Karzai Sworn In as the Interim Prime Minister
After Kabul was taken over by the Northern Alliance (anti-Taliban group), and as the Taliban began to retreat and surrender, Hamid Karzai was sowrn in at Kabul.
Official end of the Taliban regime on the 9th December 2001. -
Guantanamo Bay
US transfers key Taliban and al Qaeda detainees to its naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. -
End to 'Major Combat'
Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, declares an 'end to the major combat'.
This coincides with President George W. Bush's announcement to the declaration to an end of the fighting in Iraq. -
Bin Laden Surfaces
After's Afghanistan's Constitution and Presidential Election takes place, Osama bin Laden once again surfaces and releases a video message.
This happens days before George W. Bush wins the reelection. Bin Laden taunts the Bush administration and takes responsiblity for the attacks on 9/11. -
US Commitment to Afghanistan
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and US President George W. Bush issued a joint declaration pronouncing both countries as strategic partners.
This declaraion gives US forces access to Afghan military facilities in order to fight the war against terror. Washington also agrees to sustain and equip Afghan forces. -
NATO Summit
Disagreements emerge on the troop commitments to Afghanistan. US Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, criticizes other NATO countries for not sending more troops. -
Obama Recomits to Afghanistan
President Barack Obama plans to send 17,000 more troops into the war zone. Obama also reaffirms that Afghanistan is the important US front against terrorist forces.
Reinforcements try to counter a resurgent Taliban, while stemming flow of foreign fighters over the Afghan-Pakistan border. -
Obama Announces Withdrawing of Troops
President Barak Obama announces plans to withdraw at least 33,000 troops by the summer of 2012. Roughtly 70,000 remaining troops are scheduled to stay in Afghanistan until 2014. This all happens as Obama receives increasing pressure from Democrats to reduce troops.
