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General Mohammed Daud becomes the Prime Minister
He introduced social reforms, such as the abolition of purdah (the practice of secluding women from public view. He favored the Soviet Union instead of the capitalist western nations. -
Alliance between Soviet Union and Afghanistan
Mohammed Daud sought Soviet Union's help for economic and military assistance. This event provides a basis for the relationship between the Soviet Union and Afghanistan as Premier Nikita Khrushchev agreed to help Afghanistan, and the two become close allies, but they become enemies years later. -
General Mohammed Daud resigns
He was forced to resign as the prime minister. After his leave, a constitutional monarchy was introduced, which led to a power struggle. -
Mohammed Daud seizes power
He seized power and declared Afghanistan as a republic while still trying to have a friendly relationship with the Soviet Union. -
Mujahideen were Created
One year before the Soviet-Afghan war starts, the Mujahideen guerrilla movement is created in order to battle the Soviet-backed government and serves as the premises for the Afghan resistance. -
General Daud is overthrown
He gets killed in a pro-soviet coup. Later, the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan enters the government. But, they were restricted by the mujahideen groups who were supported by US. -
Afghan nationalism
This movement serves its importance as it leads to the Soviet-Afghan war in that Taraki and Karmal (leaders of the Afghan Communist Party) declared independence from Soviet influence in order to be based on Islamic laws and influences, nationalism, and socioeconomic justice. Taraki signs a friendship treaty with the Soviet Union, but a rivalry occurs with Amin (another influential communist leader) and the spark for a fight occurs when there is conflict on both sides. -
Soviet Invades
This event makes an impact on all areas because this is the start of the entire war. Political: two powers are going against each other. Economic: war costs a lot of money. Religion: the majority of Afghans are Muslim. Society: Millions of civilians are being killed. -
Hafizullah Amin Becomes DRA Leader
President Taraki was just killed. This event progresses war because now that Amin is ruling, he requested for Soviet forces to come and manage the Mujaheddin uprisings; therefore, he is just welcoming war. -
Soviet Defense Ministry Orders Troops Into Afghanistan
This event progresses war because it enables the soldiers to seize the strategic installations (like gas, oil, nuclear, electricity, government buildings) which are in the capital, Kabul. Because of this soldiers are able to continue to Kabul and Herat, a city. -
Babrak Kamal Becomes New Leader
This event progresses war because Amin was just killed and it allows for the thousands of Soviet troops to invade by air and ground. Kamal is backed by the Soviet, so whatever he does can be controlled. -
Countries Supply Money and Arms to the Mujahideen
This event progresses the war because it allows for the warriors to continue in the war because money and weapons are crucial to war. -
Babrak Kamal
Babrak Kamal is now the new ruler, backed up by Soviet Union troops. During this time, the war starts to intensifies with Afghan resistance (mujahideen) groups, showing their opposition against the Soviet forces. -
Two Mujahideen coalitions are formed
This event progresses the war because it means that attacks that the Mujaheddin produce will become more frequent, organized, and effective. -
Afghans Flee From War
2.8 million Afghans flee to Pakistan, and 1.5 million Afghans flee to Iran. This event progresses war because it shows that the war is still going strong and that it is still effecting millions. -
Afghan guerrillas
At this point, Afghan guerrillas have gained control of rural areas, while the Soviet unit holds control over the urban areas. This causes 2.8 millions Afghans to Pakistan and 1.5 million to Iran in order to gain refugee and protection away from the war. -
Call for Soviet to Withdraw
The United Nation Assembly decides that the Soviet should stop. This event progresses war because it emphasizes how international peace was being threatened. -
Osama bin Laden
Saudi Islamist Osama bin Laden makes his first trip to Afghanistan in order to aid the anti-Soviet fighters and this is almost halfway until the end of the war, in which the United Nations investigates the reported human rights violations that have occurred allegedly in Afghanistan. -
Afghanistan and Pakistan Alliance
The mujahideen come together in Pakistan and they form an alliance. This progresses the war, as Afghans now have an ally that helps to supply weapons and give them an advantage towards the war. Pakistan was also used as a channel to carry supplies from the United States to Afghanistan. -
Displacement of War
During this time, half of the population of Afghanistan has been deeply affected by the bloody war and they are displaced from their homes, causing them to flea to Iran or Pakistan for refugee. -
Gorbachev Public Statment
The leader of the Soviet publicly announces that he wants to stop the war in Afghanistan. This event progresses the war because a fast victory is wanted so there is an increase in troops that makes the war the bloodiest one of the year. -
U.S supplies weapons
The United States starts to supply Afghanistan with Stinger missiles which were used in order to allow the Afghans to shoot down airplanes from the Soviet Union and from this, war intensifies with a new leader named Najibullah as well. -
Peace Accords
The Soviet Union, Afghanistan, U.S, and Pakistan sign peace accords to not be involved in the Soviet-Afghan war and this is when the Soviet Union start to pull out troops and withdraw -
Al-Qaeda
Osama bin Laden and other Islamists formed the group Al-Qaeda to continue the war against the Soviets and anyone else that opposed the idea of a pure nation governed by Islam. They eventually claim their first victory in Afghanistan, but they start to focus on America, who seems to be an "obstacle" to their nation based on Islam. -
Mujahideen Rule
The year the war ends with the Soviet troops withdrawal is also the same year in which the Afghan resistance (mujahideen) continue their opposition, but this time in trying to overthrow Najibullah, the government of their country. -
The Soviet-Afghan War Ends
After a long war started by the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, Afghanistan finally won the war and overthrew the communist government, bringing major casualties and devastation of lands on both sides. -
Another Civil War
Even after the government Najibullah collapsed, a devastating civil war still continued after the mujahideen overthrew him, bringing about the uprising the Taliban, who had the goal of surpassing the Afghan resistance with terrorism. -
The Taliban
The new Islamic militia, the Taliban, is organized under the goal of ensuring peace among the nation. Most Afghans were already exhausted from the long battle of the Soviet-Afghan war and the devastation that it had caused, so they approved of the Taliban.