Kite Runner & the History of Afghanistan

  • Hassan and Amir are Born

    Hassan and Amir "took [their] first steps on the same lawn in the same yard...and under the same roof, [they] spoke [their] first words...[Hassan's] was Amir" (11). In this quote the two characters are very close and they did everything together. This also demonstrates Hassan's loyalty to Amir because Hassan's first word was Amir.
  • Amir Wins the Kite Competition

    During the winter of 1975, Amir wins the kite competition and Baba is finally "proud of [him] at last" (66). Since the beginning of the book, Amir strives to please Baba and finally does it by winning the kite competition. This shows that Amir was capable of making his father proud.
  • Hassan is Attacked and Violated By Assef

    When Hassan runs the last kite for Amir, he is caught be Assef who is trying to take the kitea away from Hassan by force. Hassan is violated while Amir just stands and "just watched, paralyzed"(73). This proves that Amir's characteristics shows him as a coward. He is also very selfish because all he wants is to show Baba what Hassan had to go through, so that he may be loved by Baba.
  • Ali and Hassan Leave Baba's Mansion

    When Amir stashes money and his new watch underneath Hassan's pillow, Ali decides that " life [there] is impossible ...and [that they are] leaving" (106).This shows that Amir felt so guilty that he cannot stand seeing Hassan everyday and wanted to get rid o him. However, it also shows that Ali knows what has happened to Hassan which means that he also knows that Amir is a coward.
  • Amir Turns 13

    When Amir turned thirteen, Baba threw a huge party for Amir and Amir realizes that the guest "aren't really [going] for [Amir]", they were going for Baba. This shows that Baba is still nice to Amir after the kite competition and that they were still close. This is also important because Amir realizes that the party was not for Amir's enjoyment but for Baba's.
  • Soviet Troops Land in Afganistan

    The Soviet troops first "parachuted into Kabut on Dec. 27, 1979" (2).
  • Baba and Amir Leave Kabul

    During 1981, Baba and amir flee Kabul and go to America because "life was too difficult" (113). When father and son flee Kabul, Baba wanted to escape the Russians but he also wanted to give Amir a new life in America. However, Baba also left Kabl to bury his guilt and memories by living in Fresno.
  • Kamal Dies

    When the fuel truck arrived in Pakistan, Kamal's father finds his son not breathing and takes Karim's gun and "shoved the barrel into his mouth" to commit suicide. This is a traumatic experience in Amir's life because he later states that he will never forget the site of Kamal's father killing himself. This is also a event to remember in the book because he leaves Afghanistan for the first time.
  • Baba Destroys Mr. Nguyen's Store

    When Baba payed with a check instead of cash, Mr. Nguyen asked for his ID. However Baba got very angray at this and destroyed part of the store and said that "no one trusts anybody" (125). This shows that after a year and a half, Baba is still adjusting to life in America.
  • Amir Graduates from High School

    When Amir graduates from high school, he is given a chance to "enroll in junior college classes in the fall" (134). Amir finally decides to major in creative writing but Baba does not approve. At the end he sticks with creative writing because the last time he tried to sacrifice for Baba, Hassan gor hurt.
  • Baba and Amir Sell Used Goods at the Flee Market

    During the summer, Baba and amir would drive from "Freemont, Union City, [to] Newark" (137). This shows Amir and Baba bonding like they never did in Kabul. They also are avle to make a small profit during that time.
  • Soviet Troops Pull Out

    After talking to the United Nations, the "Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989" (2).
  • Taliban Takeover

    Mullah Omar had about"12,000 fikkiwers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east' (2).
  • Taliban Taking Full Power Over Afghanistan

    With the Pakistani aiding the Taliban "had taken control of Afghanistan" by 1996 (3).
  • Osama Bin Ladin

    Osama Bin Laden arrived "at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996" which let al -Qaeda to have protection from Afghanistan (3).
  • World Trade Center Terrorist Attack

    The United States was attacked "on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001" (3).
  • Taliban Defeated

    The United States were able to make al Qaeda to "retreat to Tora Bora in the mountains along the Pakistan border" (3).
  • Mr. Karzai Elected President

    Mr. Karzai was elected president "to a five-year term as president in 2004" (3).
  • Mr. Obama Delivers Speech at West Point

    President Obama announced 'his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" to Afghanistan(40).
  • Obama Fails to Remove Troops From Afghanistan

    President Obama changed his plan and said he will leave troops "in the country until at least the end of 2014' (4).