Kite Runner & the History of Afghanistan

  • Amir is born

    Amir is born
    "[...] just one year after my mother died giving birth to me." (6). Amir is born in 1963. His mother died giving birth to Amir, Amir always blames himself for her death.
  • Hassan is born

    Hassan is born
    "It was there, in that little shack, that Hassan was born in the winter of 1964," (6). Hassan is born in 1964. His mother though, runs away with traveling dancers.
  • Mohammed Daoud Khan Becomes King

    PBS says, "Khan’s regime, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan, comes to power. Khan abolishes the monarchy and names himself president."
  • Kite Running Contest

    Kite Running Contest
    Hassan and Amir enter the kite running competition and they win, "Then the old warrior would walk to the young one, embrace him, acknowledge his worthiness." (67). Hassan takes the kite somewhere and Amir tries to look for him. Amir finds him but finds him being bullied and raped by Assef and company.
  • Ali and Hassan leave

    Ali and Hassan leave
    "'Life here is impossible for us now, Agha sahib. We're leaving."' (106). Ali and Hassan leave Baba's and the USSR invades Afghanistan after Amir's 13th birthday.
  • Amir's 13th Birthday

    Amir's 13th Birthday
    "Then I (Amir) took a couple of the envelopes of cash from the pile of gifts and my watch, and tiptoed out." (104).Amir turns 13 years old, and Amir stores the watch and money under Ali's bed. Hassan says he stole it even though, Amir put it under the bed. Ali and Hassan leave Baba's home.
  • President Khan Dies

    PBS says that Khan is killed in a communist coup and one of the founders for the Afghan Communist becomes president. They want to break off from the rule of the Soviets and put their Islamic laws into effect but they sign a friendship treaty with the USSR. Two communist leaders start fighting.
  • U.S Ambassador is killed in Afghanistan, USSR invades Afghanistan

    U.S Ambassador Adolph Dubs is killed. The United States cuts off assistance to Afghanistan. The United States of Soviet Russia (USSR) invades Afghanistan on Dec. 24 and Deputy Prime Minister and followers were executed.
  • Amir and Baba leave

    "My innards had been roiling since we'd left Kabul just after two in the morning." (110). Amir and Baba leave to Pakistan because of the turmoil between Afghanistan and the USSR. They get stopped by Russian soldiers and Baba confronts one. Baba almost gets shot until one of the Russian generals came and broke it up.
  • Going to America

    Amir and Baba arrive in San Francisco, California from Pakistan.
  • Amir graduate high school

    Amir graduated from high school in America. Amir decides to major in writing for college. Baba gives Amir a car for his birthday.
  • Osama Bin Laden goes to Afghanistan, UN investigates Afghanistan

    In the PBS article it says, "Although he claims to have traveled to Afghanistan immediately after the Soviet invasion, Saudi Islamist Osama bin Laden makes his first documented trip to Afghanistan to aid anti-Soviet fighters." The United Nations investigates reported human rights violations in Afghanistan.
  • Amir gets married

    Amir marries a girl named Soraya. They first meet at a flea market, Amir is selling things at his stand when he stumbles upon the girl Soraya. They talk and talk until finally, Amir marries Soraya.
  • Baba passes away

    Baba was already diagnosed with lung cancer and it gets worse day by day. He doesn't want to receive treatment before because he doesn't show that he's weak. He forgets to take his medicine until later he passes away.
  • Osama Bin Laden and others form al-Qaida

    In the PBS article it says in 1988, "In September, Osama bin Laden and 15 other Islamists form the group al-Qaida, or 'the base', to continue their jihad, or holy war, against the Soviets and other who they say oppose their goal of a pure nation governed by Islam."
  • Geneva Accords signed

    In the PBS article it says in 1989 that, "The U.S., Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Soviet Union sign peace accords in Geneva guaranteeing Afghan independence and the withdrawal of 100,000 Soviet troops. Following Soviet withdrawal, the Mujahadeen continue their resistance against the Soviet-backed regime of communist president Dr. Mohammad Najibullah [...] Afghan guerrillas name Sibhatullah Mojadidi as head of their exiled government."
  • Taliban is formed, Taliban brings new laws and values toward Afghanistan

    The PBS article says, "Newly formed Islamic militia, the Taliban, rises to power on promises of peace. Most Afghans, exhausted by years of drought, famine and war, approve of the Taliban for upholding traditional Islamic values. [...] Women are required to be fully veiled and are not allowed outside alone. Islamic law is enforced via public executions and amputations. The United States refuses to recognize the authority of the Taliban."
  • Hassan passes

    Hassan and his wife move to Amir's house in Kabul to protect. The Taliban take them out of their house and they execute them in the middle of the street leaving their 10-year-old son alone in an orphanage.
  • Rahim Khan calls for Amir's atonement

    Rahim tells Amir what happened and Amir goes back to Pakistan. He finds out what happened to Hassan, so he wants to save Sohrab from Afghanistan. He saves him successfully but beats up Assef on the way back.
  • Amir gains Sohrab's trust

    Amir stands up for Sohrab after General Taheri called him a Hazara. Amir gains his trust until later he breaks his promise of Sohrab getting adopted.
  • Rahim Khan calls for one last favor

    Rahim Khan wants Amir to bring Sohrab back to America. Sohrab almost bleeds to death inside a bathtub. Amir brings Sohrab back to America.
  • Osama Bin Laden's Plan works in New York

    The article says, "Hijackers commandeer four commercial airplanes and crash them into the World Trade Center Towers in New York, the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., and a Pennsylvania field, killing thousands. Days later, U.S. officials say bin Laden, the Saudi exile believed to be hiding in Afghanistan, is the prime suspect in the attack."
  • Sohrab flies kites

    Sohrab earlier smiles in 2002 for the first time. Another big thing that happens is that Sohrab and Amir fly a kite together. Amir reminisces about the kite running Hassan and him used to do.
  • New Presidential elections held, New President

    The article states, "Presidential elections are held. More than 10.5 million Afghans register to vote and choose among 18 presidential candidates, including interim leader Karzai. Karzai is elected with 55 percent of the vote."
  • Osama Bin Laden killed by U.S Forces

    The PBS article says, "U.S. forces overtake a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and kill al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden on May 2 local time."