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Amir's Birth
Amir was born in 1963. His "mother died giving birth to [him]." Because of this, his father blames Amir for his wife's death. Amir feels guilty and has trouble connecting with his father for this. -
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Kite Runner and Afghanistan History
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Hassan's Birth
In a "little shack... Hassan was born in the winter of 1964, just one year after my mother died giving birth to me" (Hosseini 6). This shows that Amir is older than Hassan. Because of this, Amir sometimes makes Hassan feel inferior to Amir for fun. -
The Coup of Daoud Khan
In the book, "The Kite Runner," by Khaled Hosseini, on "July 17,1973[,] Kabul awoke the next morning to find that the monarchy was a thing of the past. The king, Zahir Shah, was away in Italy. In his absence, his cousin Daoud Khan had ended the king's forty-year reign with a bloodless coup" (Hosseini 36). This was the end of the monarchy and the beginning of a republic in Afghanistan. No more tyrants or dictators. -
Hassan and Amir stumble upon Assef
In the novel, "The Kite Runner," it says, "[i]f you were a kid living in the Wazir Akbar Khan section of Kabul, you knew about Assef and his famous stainless-steel brass knuckles, hopefully not through personal experience" (Hosseini 38). This shows that Assef was a violent child and that he was infamous for his brass knuckles. -
Hassan receives plastic surgery
Dr. Kumar, the plastic surgeon, gave Hassan plastic surgery for his cleft lip. After the surgery, "Hassan's upper lip was a grotesque mesh of swollen, raw tissue." Even though, it looked gross, Hassan was still pleased and happy, which shows how personal it was too him. It later forshadows how he will soon never smile again. -
Amir's 13th Birthday
Amir "turned thirteen that summer of 1976, Afghanistan's next to last summer of peace and anonymity" (Hosseini 93). Amir has a grand birthday party. This also forshadows that soon, great violence or sadness will soon sweep through Afghanistan. -
Hassan and Ali leave
Hassan and Ali leave a day after Amir's birthday. Ali's explanation to Baba is: "[l]ife here is impossible for us now" (Hosseini 106). Ali knows of Amir's sins and he cannot serve such a dishonorable kid. Also, Ali wants to start over again and life in a new neighborhood thats nicer and away from Assef. -
Hassan is raped
Hassan was raped in an alleyway in Kabul by Assef. Assef thinks of it as "teaching a lesson to a disrespectful donkey" (Hosseini 76). This is an important event, because this changes the plot of the whole story. Amir's major sin in life is not speaking up when Hassan is raped. -
The Soviet Invasion
Soviet Union invades Afghanistan:
Soviet soldiers "parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979, to assist Babrak Karmal" ("Afghanistan-An Overview"). Babrak Karmal became president from a coup with Afghan Communist Leadership. The troops came to respond to a cry of help from the Karmal Gov. -
Baba stands up to soldier
On a truck, a russian soldier was going to make the wife sleep with him for the truck-ride, "that was when Baba stood up" (Hosseine 115). Baba has courage and pride in honor. He could not live with himself if he did not try to save the women from rape, unlike Amir. -
Amir's High School Graduation
The summer of 1983, Amir "graduated from high school" (Hosseini 131). That day, Baba was very proud of Amir. He was excited that his son was going to college. -
Baba is diagnosed with cancer
Baba's cancer "was called 'Oat Cell Carcinoma.' Advanced. Inoperable" (Hosseini 156). Amir compares this to Satan. Amir fears for his dad's death. Baba was going to die and Amir could do nothing about it. -
Amir Marries Soraya
Amir's dad, Baba "spent $35,000, nearly the balance of his life savings, on the awroussi, the wedding ceremony" (Hosseini 169). Baba cares about his son. He is willing to spend nearly all of his money for his son's wedding. -
Baba dies of cancer
Baba died 1 month after Amir's wedding. Amir "could see [Baba's] internal smile, as wide as the skies of Kabul on nights when the poplars shivered and the sound of crickets swelled in the gardens." (Hosseini 173) Baba died a happy man. Amir could ask for nothing more. Baba was proud of Amir's happy life with his wife. -
Soviet Troops Leave
The soviet troops leave Afghanistan. Their invasion cost "15,000 lives and billions of undisclosed rubles" ("Afghanistan- An Overview"). -
Taliban Takeover
Mullah Omar had started band of people who at first wanted to purify their country. By end of 1994 Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers" ("Afghanistan- An Overview"). -
Rahim Khan Calls Amir
Amir's "friend Rahim Khan called from Pakistan. He asked [Amir] to come see him." Amir will learn the truth about Hassan, and an adventure will start. That adventure will lead Amir to redemption for his and his fathers sins. -
Rahim Khan is sick
Amir soon finds out that "Rahim Khan is very sick." (Hosseini 191) Amir is very depressed when he finds this out. He reveals that he was the "first grown-up I ever thought of as a friend." (Hosseini 191) -
9/11
2 airplanes bombed the World Trade Center buildings. Both buildings collapsed and thousands died. -
US Invasion
"The 2001 invasion succeeded in dislodging Al Qaeda and removing the Talivan from power" ("Afghanistan- An Overview"). The number was almost 50,000 troops in Iraq. -
Karzai Government
Hamid Karzai, the exiled former king of Afganistan, was named interim gov chairman. Interim government replaced the Taliban. He was blamed for "manifest lack of economic progress and the corrupt officials who seem to stand at every doorway of his government" ("Afghanistan- An Overview"). -
Karzai President
Hamid Karzai was elected for a "five year term as president in 2004" ("Afghanistan- An Overview"). Earlier he was an interim chairman -
Obama Plan Speech
Obama gave a speech on his plan to "deploy 30,000 additional troops. He vowed to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2001" ("Afghanistan- An Overview"). -
Deadline to Return US Forces
Obama "vowed to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011" ("Afghanistan- An Overview"). The deadline changed to 2014. -
Return of US Forces
By the end of 2014, "the United States will have forces in the country" ("Afghanistan- An Overview"). The deadline was changed from 2011.