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May 17th 2008 | Complete Hours
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Situated on a geographic crossroads between East and The following chronology of recent Afghan history gives a brief outline of events along with library and internet resources for further information. At the left are listings of relief agencies, current news sources, informational web sites, and library resources. Nyrop
and Seekins, "Afghanistan Country Study" Chronology of events and sources 1970s-1980s
1990s 1999-2000
2001 1973 Mohammed
Daoud overthrows his cousin Zahir Shah, abolishes the monarchy and becomes
the President of Afghanistan. 1974-1978 Islamic and communist opposition groups form. 1978 Daoud deposed & assassinated by leftist military coup. Nur Muhammad Taraki becomes head of state. 1979 Taraki assassinated, replaced by Hafizullah
Amin. Hafizullah Amin assassinated, replaced by Babrak Karmal
as USSR invades Afghanistan in December 1980-1989 Armed uprisings of Mujaheddin
groups against Soviets and Soviet backed government. US supports
Mujaheddin with $ and weapons via Pakistan ISI (Interservices Intelligence
Agency). Osama Bin Laden and other foreign militants enter Afghanistan
and fight alongside Mujaheddin. 1986 Soviets replace Babrak Karmal with Najibullah. 1988 Geneva accords agree on Soviet troop withdrawal. 1989 Soviet army withdraws. Fighting continues between Najibullah and Mujaheddin. 1992 Najibullah
overthrown when Mujaheddin enter Kabul. Interim government established.
Professor Sebgatollah Mojadedi first rotating head of state, followed
by Professor Burhannudin Rabbani. Rabbani elected by Mujaheddin
council & remains officially recognized head of state by UN.
Civil war begins when rival Mujaheddin group attacks Kabul. 1994 Appearance of Taliban in Kandahar,
southern Afghanistan. Capture city and proceed west and northwards.
Afghan Taliban were connected with religious schools in Pakistan run by
JUI (Jamiat-ul-Ulemi Islami) and JI (Jamiat-i Islami), and supported by
money from Saudis. Taliban were trained, armed and advised by Pakistani
Ministry of the Interior and ISI. 1995 Taliban capture Herat in northwestern
Afghanistan in September, asserting control over the flat route through
western Afghanistan that connects Pakistan to Central Asia. 2 days
later President Leghari of Pakistan goes to Turkmenistan and signs agreement
for an oil/gas pipeline from rich Turkomen fields to Pakistan through
Taliban held western and southern Afghanistan. No Afghan signers.
In October UNOCAL of US and Delta of Saudi Arabia sign protocol of agreement
to construct pipeline. Multi-billion $$$ deal. 1996 – 1998 Kabul falls to Taliban.
Pakistan continues to support Taliban with weapons, $ and military.
Saudi Arabia gives $ and weapons. Bin Laden runs international militant
extremist training camps, supports Taliban with $ and fighting men. Taliban
terrorizes population with arbitrary repressive laws, public whippings,
amputations and executions. Institutionalized abuse and repression
of women US gives aid to Taliban areas, and through diplomacy,
undermines and partially disarms United Front opposition. United Front
suffers further setbacks. 1998 Taliban capture northern city of Mazar-i Sharif. 30 women's rights, environmental rights and consumers
rights groups file lawsuit through National Lawyers Guild to revoke UNOCAL’s
California charter for gross human rights violations, environmental degradation.
In retaliation for Bin Laden's Al Qaida network bombings of US embassies in Africa, US sends missiles into Bin Laden's Afghan training camps. US demands Bin Laden's surrender, Taliban refuse. UNOCAL officially withdraws from pipeline agreement. 1999 - 2000 US
Executive Order imposes sanctions on Taliban regime. UN Security Council
also imposes sanctions on Taliban regime for war crimes, human rights
abuses, terrorism & opium production. Afghanistan increasingly becomes outlaw territory, with
a corrupt government, criminalized economy, and terrorized population.
Ethnic cleansing carried out on a large scale against non-Pashtun minorities
by Taliban and foreign militants. Taliban’s scorched earth policy creates
enormous internal refugee problems, homelessness, disease, malnutrition,
starvation. Prolonged drought worsens plight of Afghans. Thousands
of civilians massacred – over 400 in central Hazarajat area,
2000-5000 in Mazar-i Sharif. Suspected sex trafficking. Hundreds of women and
girls in Taliban conquered territories kidnapped, raped & disappeared.
Some human rights groups believe they are being sold in Pakistan and United
Arab Emirates. Assassinations of non Taliban Afghan political, Militant extremists trained in Bin Laden's Afghan camps
infiltrate other countries following narcotics smuggling routes.
Bin Laden and Taliban profit from drug trade. Narco-terrorism increasingly
criminalizes surrounding Central Asian governments and economies. 72% of world opium comes from Afghanistan, mainly
Taliban areas. Oversupply in West increases use and lowers price.
Manipulation of opium/heroin market increases production to create stockpiles.
Taliban then ban opium poppy growing to decrease world supply and raise
prices. Smuggling accounts for estimated 12% of Pakistani
gross domestic product. Pakistani ISI, military, government officials
involved. Military coup in Pakistan leads to escalation of Pakistani
support for Taliban. Thousands of Pakistani armed forces enter Afghanistan
and fight on front lines for Taliban along with Bin Laden’s international
militants.
US considers whether to follow policy of engagement
or confrontation with Taliban. 2001 Large Bamiyan Buddha
statues and other Afghan art treasures destroyed after Taliban issues
edict to smash statues. Suspected cover-up for art smuggling of Kabul
Museum pieces. UN verifies drop in poppy cultivation in Taliban territory.
US awards Taliban $10 million as aid for "livelihood and food
security programs" to compensate for lost poppy incomes. September 9 Assassination of United Front opposition
commander Ahmad Shah Masood by Arab suicide bombers posing as journalists
Assassination seen as attempt to allow final takeover of Afghanistan by
Bin Laden/Taliban/ Pakistani coalition. Masood & other officials of
the non Taliban government-in-exile, which is a leading member of
the United Front, have called for democratic elections, education and
employment for women, liberalized society, independence from foreign interference
and control. September 11 Terrorist attacks on US at NYC World
Trade Center and Washington DC Pentagon. US determines Bin Laden's Al
Qaida network is responsible and demands Taliban's surrender of Bin Laden.
Taliban continue to refuse. US responds with massive military buildup
& warnings. US forms international coalition to fight terrorism. Musharaff appears to change direction of Pakistan.
Clampdown on extremists in Pakistan: House arrests of JUI leaders,
change in ISI & military leadership. Shortage of fighters leads to
forced conscription by Taliban.
International movement to freeze financial assets of
Taliban, Bin Laden and Al Qaida network. Afghan opium/heroin
stockpiles unloaded on market for quick cash, markets flood and prices
drop. November US leads military coalition in covert
operations and bombing attacks on Afghanistan. Resupplied and supported
by US - led coalition, United Front expands territory under its control
across northern Afghanistan, recapturing Mazar-i Sharif, Herat, and most
of northern and central Afghanistan in mid November. Taliban flee Kabul
and United Front takes over capitol. Local uprisings against Taliban in
east and south. Taliban reduced to two pockets of resistance in Kandahar
and Kunduz, and scattered rural areas. Kunduz under seige from United
Front. Pakistan airlifts Pakistani forces out of Kunduz. Kunduz surrenders.
Prison uprising of foreign Al Qaida/Taliban fighters leaves hundreds dead
in Mazar-i Sharif fort. US Marines establish base in airport south of
Kandahar. Kandahar under seige by Pashtun tribal forces. Bin Laden sought
in cave complexes in southern and Eastern Afghanistan. Civilian casualties
rise as bombing intensifies.
Kandahar surrenders, Taliban government falls. Al Qaida
fighters in Tora Bora cave complex besieged and routed by Afghan and US
forces. Hamid Karzai inaugurated in Kabul on December 22. New government
rules Afghanistan. International peacekeeping force begins to arrive.
Remnants of Taliban and Al Qaida sought in rural areas. Schools for girls
reopen, women permitted to work as Afghan society renormalizes. International
community pledges massive aid to rebuild country, and continuous food
shipments attempt to avert nationwide famine. 2002 US moves selected Al
Qaida prisoners to Guantanamo Cuba. Aerial bombing destroys weapons caches
and underground complex near Zawar Kili. Controversy over civilian deaths
dampens bombing campaign against suspected Al Qaida/Taliban remnants and
weapons caches. Famine continues in remote areas. As Afghan government
begins to organize, banditry and factional/tribal fighting disrupt scattered
areas of country. Loya Jirga commission begins work of preparing for national
elections. Pakistan closes Afghan and Kashmiri sections of ISI.
Oil/gas pipeline discussions initiated between Turkmenistan and Afghan
Interim government. Major aerial bombardment and ground battle as US,
international coalition forces drive Al Qaida/Taliban remnants out of
mountain cave complex in Shah -e Kot near Gardez. Afghan national army
begins formation, with recruits from each province in Afghanistan. Reconstruction
efforts target numerous projects and begin work to rebuild infrastructure,
health and educational systems. Loya Jirga structure organized to select new Afghan
government in June 2002 convocation. 1,450 members to be elected and appointed
to represent diverse segments of the Afghan population. Ex-king Zahir
Shah returns to Kabul. Loya Jirga held in late June elects Hamid Karzai as
Interim President of Afghanistan.Karzai selects ethnically representative
cabinet. National elections scheduled to be held in 18 months. go back to: top
1970s-1980s 1990s
1999-2000
2001 Current news sources: Last updated:
March 19, 2003
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