War In Afghanistan

By LuizaNE
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    Assasination of King Shah Shujah

    British forces invade, install King Shah Shujah. He is assassinated in 1842. British and Indian troops are massacred during retreat from Kabul.
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    Second Anglo-Afghan War

    Second Anglo-Afghan War. A treaty gives Britain control of Afghan foreign affairs.

  • Emir Amanullah Khan declares independence from British influence.

    Emir Amanullah Khan declares independence from British influence.
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    Amanullah attempts to introduce social reforms

    Amanullah tries to introduce social reforms, which however stir civil unrest. He flees.

  • Zahir Shah becomes king - Afghanistan remains a monarchy

    Zahir Shah becomes king and Afghanistan remains a monarchy for next four decades.

  • General Mohammed Daud becomes prime minister

    Turns to Soviet Union for economic and military assistance. Introduces social reforms, such as abolition of purdah (practice of secluding women from public view).

  • Mohammed Daud forced to resign as prime minister.

  • Constitutional monarchy introduced

    However, it leads to political polarisation and power struggles.

  • Mohammed Daud seizes power

    Mohammed Daud seizes power in a coup and declares a republic. Tries to play off USSR against Western powers.

  • Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

    Soviet Army invades and props up communist government.

  • Babrak Karmal installed as ruler

    Babrak Karmal installed as ruler, backed by Soviet troops. But opposition intensifies with various mujahideen groups fighting Soviet forces. US, Pakistan, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia supply money and arms to the mujahideen.

  • Mujahideen come together in Pakistan to form alliance against Soviet forces.

    Mujahideen come together in Pakistan to form alliance against Soviet forces. Half of Afghan population now estimated to be displaced by war, with many fleeing to neighbouring Iran or Pakistan.

  • Babrak Karmal replaced by Najibullah

    US begins supplying mujahideen with Stinger missiles, enabling them to shoot down Soviet helicopter gunships. Babrak Karmal replaced by Najibullah as head of Soviet-backed regime.

  • Peace settlements between Afghanistan, USSR, the US and Pakistan

    Soviet Union begins pulling out troops.

  • Last Soviet troops leave

    Civil war continues as mujahideen push to overthrow Najibullah.

  • Najibullah's government toppled

    Devastating civil war follows.

  • Taliban seize control of Kabul

    Introduce hard-line version of Islam, banning women from work, and introducing Islamic punishments, which include stoning to death and amputations.

  • Taliban recognised as legitimate rulers by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

    They now control about two-thirds of country.

  • US launches missile strikes

    US launches missile strikes at suspected bases of militant Osama bin Laden, accused of bombing US embassies in Africa.

  • UN imposes an air embargo and financial sanctions

    UN imposes an air embargo and financial sanctions to force Afghanistan to hand over Osama bin Laden for trial.

  • Ahmad Shah Masood assassinated

    Ahmad Shah Masood, leader of the main opposition to the Taliban - the Northern Alliance - is assassinated.
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    US-led bombing

    US-led bombing of Afghanistan begins following the September 11 attacks on the United States. Anti-Taliban Northern Alliance forces enter Kabul shortly afterwards. Afghan groups agree deal in Bonn, Germany for interim government.

  • Nato takes control of security in Kabul

    Its first-ever operational commitment outside Europe.

  • Hamid Karzai president

    Presidential elections. Hamid Karzai is declared winner.

  • High opium production rates

    Opium production has soared to a record high, the UN reports.

  • Bomb attack in Kabul

    Suicide bomb attack on Indian embassy in Kabul kills more than 50.

  • US President sends an extra 4,500 US troops

    US President George Bush sends an extra 4,500 US troops to Afghanistan, in a move he described as a "quiet surge".

  • Operation Moshtarak

    Nato-led forces launch major offensive, Operation Moshtarak, in bid to secure government control of southern Helmand province.

  • Wikileaks publishes whistleblowing website

    Whistleblowing website Wikileaks publishes thousands of classified US military documents relating to Afghanistan.

  • Burning of Koran by a US pastor

    Burning of Koran by a US pastor prompts country-wide protests in which foreign UN workers and several Afghans are killed.

  • "spring offensive"

    Taliban announce "spring offensive" with audacious attack on the diplomatic quarter of Kabul. The government blamed the Haqqani Network. Security forces kill 38 militants.

  • Nato withdraw plan endorsement

    Nato summit endorses the plan to withdraw foreign combat troops by the end of 2014.
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    Afghan peace

    2013 February - President Karzai and Pakistan's Asif Ali Zardari agree to work for an Afghan peace deal within six months after talks hosted by Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron. They back the opening of an Afghan office in Doha and urge the Taliban to do the same for talks to take place. 2013 March - Two former Kabul Bank chiefs, Sherkhan Farnood and Khalilullah Ferozi, are jailed for the multi-million dollar fraud that almost led to its collapse and that of the entire Afghan banking syst