The Kite Runner (Afghan History)

An old, grainy photo of my grandfather and King Nadir Shah taken in 1931, two years before the king's assassination; they were standing over a dead deer, dressed in knee-high boots, rifles slung over their shoulders.

Zahir Shah becomes king. The new king brings a semblance of stability to the country and he rules for the next 4 decades. It was this same year the Baba was born.

General Mohammed Daud Khan, cousin of the King becomes prime minister (was a pro-soviet). Looks to the Soviets for military and economic help. Thus, introduces social reforms, such as abolition of purdah (practice of secluding women from public view, also allowing women a more public presence.

Mohammed Daud forced to resign as prime minister. Amir was born. Amir's mother died giving birth to him.

Constitutional monarchy introduced- but leads to polarization and power struggles. Also, Hassan's mother, Sanaubar, gave birth to him one cold winter day in 1964.Hassan lost his mother,less than a week after he was born. She ran off with a clan of traveling singers and dancers.

Khan overthrows the last king, Mohammed Zahir Shah, in a military coup. Khan’s regime, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan, comes to power. Khan abolishes the monarchy and names himself president. The Republic of Afghanistan is established with firm ties to the USSR.

In December 1979, The USSR invades Afghanistan on Dec. 24 to bolster the faltering communist regime. On Dec. 27, Amin and many of his followers are executed. Russian tanks rollws into the very same streets where Hassan and Amir played, bringing the death of the Afghanistan and marking the start of a still ongoing era of bloodletting.

General Khan Daud is overthrown and killed in a pro-Soviet coup. The People's Democratic Party comes to power Babrak Karmal is named deputy prime minister. They proclaim independence from Soviet influence, and declare their policies to be based on Islamic principles, Afghan nationalism and socioeconomic justice.

Over 2.8 million Afghans have fled from the war to Pakistan, and another 1.5 million have fled to Iran. Afghan guerrillas gain control of rural areas, and Soviet troops hold urban areas.

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.