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Afghanistan becomes an independent country
The British lose the Third British-Afghan War and Afghanistan is declared an independent country. Amir Amanullah Khan begins a process of reformation. -
The United States formally recognizes Afghanistan as a country.
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Amir is born
When Amir is an adult, he reflects that he "became what [he is] today at the age of twelve...in the winter of 1975" (1). Since Amir was twelve years old in 1975, that means he was born in 1963. Additionally, he explains that who he is now was determined during that one winter in Kabul, which sets up the story and foreshadows that a significant event will happen in the future. -
The Afghan Communist Party is formed in secret
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Mohammed Daoud Khan overthrows the previous king
Khan overthrows the king in a military coup and declares himself as resident of Afghanistan. His party, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan, comes into power. -
Hassan gets raped
After Amir wins the kite fighting tournament, Hassan leaves to run the other kite but gets ambushed by Assef. Amir is too afraid to help Hassan and decides to run away, justifying his actions by think "[h]e was just a Hazara, wasn't he?" (77). This quote shows the impact of the social divide in Afghanistan and how it affects Amir and Hassan's relationship. Since, in Afghanistan, Hazaras are seen as lesser, they are treated worse and Amir having been around this his whole life has internalized it -
Hassan and Ali leave
After Amir's birthday, he plants money and a watch to accuse Hassan and Ali of stealing. Ali tells Baba and Amir that "'[they] are leaving'" (106). After he breaks the news, Baba begs Ali to stay, but Ali insists that he and Hassan must leave. When Ali glances at Amir, it becomes apparent that Ali knows what happened to Hassan and what Amir didn't do in the alleyway. -
Khan is killed in a coup
Nur Mohammad Taraki, one of the leaders of the Afghan Communist Party, takes control of the country, with Babrak Karmal as deputy prime minister. They end their alliance with the Soviet Union. -
The USSR invades Afghanistan
Following the death of American Ambassador Adolph Dubs, the U.S. cuts off help to Afghanistan. At the same time, the USSR invades Afghanistan. The USSR executes many leaders, leaving Babrak Karmal as prime minister. Rebels start to unite against the Soviet Union and the Afghan Army, backed by the USSR. -
Amir and Baba leave Afghanistan
On their way out of Afghanistan, fleeing the warring country, Amir and Baba are smuggled out in a fuel tank. Amir has a panic attack int he fuel tank and Baba calms him by telling him to "'Think of something good...something happy'" (122). This quote shows how the relationship between Amir and Baba has changed over time. Previously, Baba may have been more stoic about Amir's issues, but now he makes an effort to help him. Once they're in Pakistan, the power dynamic between Baba and Amir changes. -
Amir graduates high school in the U.S.
After Amir's graduation, Baba tells Amir that he is "'moftakhir, Amir'...Proud" (131). This quote is significant because it shows how once in America, Baba softens and expresses his emotions more. Previously, in Afghanistan, Baba had never expressed pride in Amir, usually even the polar opposite, but with time, they have changed their relationship for the better, -
Amir meets Soraya at a swap meet
At the swap meet, where Amir and Baba go to socialize and make money, Amir meets the daughter of an Afghan general, and later that night realizes that his "[h]eart stuttered at the thought of her" (142). In this quote, the author foreshadows a romance that will blossom in the future. Additionally, it introduces a new character who will be important to the story later on. -
Baba gets cancer
When Baba learns he has cancer and is offered chemotherapy, he declines, saying "'...no chemo medication'" (156). When Baba refuses to get medicine for his cancer, the reader can see how stubborn Baba is and how he feels that he should just suffer through it. In this way, the author characterizes Baba as being independent, maybe too independent for his own good, but nonetheless, independent. This frustrates Amir but he can't do anything except accept it. -
Amir and Soraya get married
While planning their wedding, Baba rents a hall out in Fremont and gets it discounted because "the man who owned it knew him from Kabul" (169). This quote shows how far Baba's influences reach and how his past actions are coming back to help him in the future. This can also connect to earlier in the book when people flocked to help Baba for Amir's thirteenth birthday. This reflects how large of an impact Baba has on the community. -
The Mujahadeen rebels receive aid from the United States, Britain and China via Pakistan
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Baba dies of cancer
Shortly after Amir and Soraya get married, Baba dies of cancer. During the funeral, Amir realizes that his "[w]hole life, [he] had been Baba's son...[he] couldn't show [Amir] the way anymore" (174). Amir realizes that he has to figure out how to lead his own life independent from Baba. Ever since Amir was young, he has looked to Baba for acceptance but now that he's gone, Amir must decide what he wants to do without anyone hovering over him. -
Osama bin Laden and other Islamist form al Qaida
The form al Qaida to continue their holy war against the Soviet and others who they believe oppose their goal of a pure Islamic country. After declaring a victory against the Soviet union, they shift their focus to the U.S. -
The Taliban is formed
The Taliban, an Islamic militia, is formed and backed by most Afghans. They enforce Islamic law through public executions and amputations. The United States refuses to recognize the authority of the Taliban -
President Clinton orders a missile attack
After al Qaida bombs two American embassies, President Clinton orders a missile strike on bin Laden's training camps. The attacks miss the terrorist leaders. -
Amir goes back to Aghanistan
After Amri and Soraya have been married for a while, Amir gets a call from Rahim Kahn and Amir thinks that "it wasn't just Rahim Khan on the line. it was [his] past of unatoned sins" (1). Through this quote, the audience can see that Amir's past haunts him and he wants a way to pay back for what he has done. When Rahim gives Amir a way to atone for his sins, he jumps at the chance to take it and to go back to his homeland of Afghanistan. -
Amir learns that Hassan is his brother
After Rahim Khan reveals that Amir and Hassan share a brother and thus, are brothers, Amir becomes angry. While he is freaking out, he rages that he has "just found out [his] whole life is one big f*****g lie" (223). The fact that Amir has been lied to hits him especially hard since his entire life, his father has preached to him that stealing, and stealing people's right to the truth (lying) is one of the biggest sins a person can commit. So to learn that his father lied to him makes Amir angry -
Assef beats up Amir when he tries to get Sohrab
As Assef and Amir discuss what it takes to get Sohrab back from the Taliban, Assef takes out something that "didn't surprise [Amir] one bit: stainless-steel brass knuckles" (287). Through this quote, the reader can see that Assef has a power complex and likes to have control through any means, especially violence. Additionally, previously in the book, Assef is seen to be stoning people, which shows how his cruelty and mercilessness have changed since they were children. -
Sohrab and Amir go to Pakistan
After Amir recovers from being beaten up by Assef, he takes Sohrab out of Afghanistan and into Pakistan, where Amir compares Islamabad to "the city Kabul could have become someday" (311). This quote shows the impact that the war has had on Afghanistan, hindering the growth of its people and its culture. Additionally, this shows how much Amir cares for his hometown and how he wanted better for his city. -
Sohrab attempts suicide
When adoption doesn't go to plan and Amir proposes to send Sohrab to an orphanage until they can get it sorted out, Sohrab freaks out and the next morning when he goes to the bathroom, the sight that he beholds him makes him scream, "[scream] through [his] clenched teeth. [Scream] until [he] thought [his] throat would rip" (343). This quote shows how Amir cares for Sohrab and even though he was less sensitive earlier, he does his best to understand him. This shows that Amir tries to be caring. -
Four airplanes are hijacked by terrorists and crashed
Terrorists commandeer four planes and crash them into the World Trade Center Towers in New York, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and a field in Pennsylvania, killing thousands of civilians. U.S. officials declare bin Laden, an exile of Saudi Arabia to be the prime suspect. -
Sohrab smiles for the first time
After being withdrawn for a year after his suicide attempt, Amir gets Sohrab to smile during a kite-fighting tournament, to which Amir responds "'[f]or you a thousand times over'" (371). this quote is a callback to Hassan's iconic phrase that proves Amir's loyalty to Sohrab. Especially since the phrase carries such deep meaning for Amir, for him to use it means that he truly cares for Sohrab. -
NATO takes over security in Kabul
This is the first time the organization has operated outside of Europe. -
Afghanistan hold its first parliment meeting in over 30 years
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The Afghan military takes control of all military and security operations from NATO
