KR Timeline

By bfiloteo

  • The Hydro Plant

    Mahipar Falls overlooks " the hydro plant the Germans had built for Afghanistan" (Hosseini 111). This represents the beginning on the German's invasion in Afghanistan and is the start of how they will take control over its people. It is important because no one knew that it would happen, but this hydro plant forces what will happen.

  • The Kite-Flying Tournament

    Amir watched Hassan get raped and could have helped, but instead he runs because he says that "I ran because I was a coward" (Hosseini 77). At this point Amir becomes the kind of man he always will be and gives into cowardice. This is because he was too afraid of Assef and was willing to let him hurt Hassan after all he done for him.

  • Amir's Birthday

    It was "Afganistan's next to last summer of peace and anonymity" the year Amir turned 13. Baba threw Amir a big party and Assef gave him "a biography of Hitler" as a present. This was one of the last summers that Amir and Baba spent in Kabul and one of the last times Amir would see Assef before they met again because of the war with the Soviets.

  • Hassan and Ali Leave

    After Amir framed Hassan for stealing his watch, Ali announces that they are leaving. Amir never confessed after "Baba took Ali and Hassan to the bus station"(Hosseini 109). Again, Amir's cowardice got the best of him and he was unable to atone for the mistakes he made in the past, causing two important people to walk out of his and Baba's life.

  • Soviet Invasion

    Afghanistan hasn't been peaceful "since 1979,
    when the Soviet Union invaded" (New York Times 1). On December 27, 1979 "the first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul" (New York Times 2).

  • Baba and Amir leave Kabul

    Amir and Baba "left Kabul just after two in the morning" (Hosseini 110) in 1981 to escape the Russians who were taking over Kabul. They left to pursue a better life somewhere else. During this journey Amir and Baba bond because they are all they have left of each other.

  • Amir Graduates High School

    In 1983 Amir "Amir graduated from high school at the age of twenty" (Hosseini 131) Amir graduated when he was older than other seniors. Probably not because he was not smart, but because he had only been living in the United States for two years and was still adjusting to its school system and program.

  • Amir Turns 21

    Amir takes courses at a junior college and him and Baba start to sell the "junk for a small profit" (Hosseini 136) along with other Afghan families at the flea market. They are used to their American lives, but it very different from their luxurious lives in Kabul. They have found a new way to live and are working together.

  • Amir Meets Soraya

    Baba introduces Amir to Soraya, "a decent girl, hardworking and kind" (Hosseini 142), who Amir instantly falls for. This quote shows how Amir found love and happiness. Soraya’s kindness and determination brought her Amir love. They demonstrate a good couple that was there through good times and bad.

  • Baba's Diagnosis

    In 1985 Baba is diagnosed with cancer, but he refused treatment saying "no chemo medication for me" (Hosseini 156). Baba doesn't like to ask for help and does not want to prolong his death. This is type of man he is, brave and strong.

  • Soraya and Amir Get Married

    Their engagement period was short because "Baba doesn't have months to live" (Hosseini 171), so the wedding took place shortly after the parents' blessings were given. After being around men all his life Amir finds love just as his father is dying. Baba is proud of Amir and happy for him, but he won't get to experience it for long.

  • Baba Dies

    One night Baba said "There is no pain tonight" (Hosseini 173) when he was offered morphine and passed away in his sleep. This quote shows how Baba was ready to leave and at peace with himself. In this case he foreshadowed his death and was sad to leave, but knew it was coming.

  • Amir's First Novel

    Amir completes his first novel and a month later he gets a call saying that he is "going to be a published novelist" (Hosseini 183). Despite the challenges he has faced, Amir is finally becoming successful in America. This was a good start to his career and made him the author he is.

  • Soviets Departure

    After over 9 years "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan", leaving behind "a country not only devastated by war, but that had become a beacon to Islamic extremists...including Osama bin Laden and the group helped found, Al Qaeda" (New York Times 2).

  • Soraya and Amir Are Unable to Conceive a Child

    After many tests and doctor visits their doctor "explained that he couldn't explain why we couldn't have kids" (Hosseini 185). Amir was really looking forward to being a father. He was scared, but excited. Like most couples, they were both devastated to be unable to have child of their own.

  • Division of Power

    The Soviets' departure caused confusion in leadership for Afghanistan. In 1994 "power was anarchically divided among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms" (New York Times 2).

  • Mullah Omar's Followers

    Mullah Omar gained almost 12,000 followers with his popularity rising because of his "promise of restoring the centrality of Islam to daily life" (New York Times 2).

  • Pakistani Intelligence Helps the Taliban

    As the Taliban's group accumulated followers in 1994, the "Pakistani intelligence officers began funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men, as well as military advisers to help guide them in battle" New York Times 3)

  • Taliban Takeover

    With the support of the Pakistani government, the Taliban took control over Afghanistan "imposing strict - enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing" (New York Times 3).

  • Amir Goes Back To Afghanistan

    After Amir receives a call saying that "Rahim Khan is very sick" (Hosseini 191), he promises to return to Afghanistan to say goodbye. Amir does this because Rahim was a role model in his life who understood him. Amir endless love and respect brought him back to Afghanistan.

  • The Attack on The World Trade Center and its Effects.

    "President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden" (New York Times 3) after the attacks on the World Trade Center took place in New York. After the Taliban refused "the United States joined forces with rebel groups that had never accepted Taliban rule" (New York Times 3).

  • Amir Brings Sohrab Home

    Sohrab is quiet for many months in America mostly because of his previous traumatic experiences, but Amir notices "a smile" (Hosseini 370) when he shows him how to fly kite. Sohrab had a lot of physical and emotional pain inflicted on him, but in the end he chose well to come to America with Amir and join his family. His silence was disappointing g for the family, but understandable until he grew closer to them.

  • Harmid Karzai takes place of the Taliban

    After the United States and rebel groups of Taliban rule drove the Taliban out of major Afghan cities, "Mr. Karzai was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004" (New York Times 3).

  • Obama's Announcement

    In December of 2009 "Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (New York Times 4), but promised "to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011, saying the United States could not afford and should not have to shoulder an open-ended commitment" (NewYork Times 4).

  • General Petraeus Steps Up

    After removing "Gen. McChrystal after contemptuous quotes from the general and his staff about senior administration officials appeared in an article in Rolling Stone magazine" (New York Times 4) Obama brought in "Gen. Petraeus to lead the war effort there" (New York Times 4)