The Kite Runner in Context

Published on May 21, 2017

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PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Afghanistan, 1979

  • Soviet Union invades Afghanistan and props up Communist gov't
Photo by peretzp

1980s

  • US, China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran supply money and arms to mujahideen to fight Soviets
  • By 1985, half of Afghanistan's pop. displaced by war
Photo by brian.ch

1989-93

  • Last Soviet troops leave, but country falls into civil war

1994

  • Mujahideen vet Mullah Omar forms the Taliban
  • Taliban aims to impose its fundamentalist version of Islamic law on Afghanistan and remove foreign influence
Photo by jorr81

1996-2001

  • Taliban seize control of Kabul (at one point control 90% of Afghanistan)
  • Institute hard-line Islamic law on populace
Photo by peretzp

The Taliban

  • predominantly Pashtun & Sunni Muslim
  • outlawed: kite flying, tv, music, internet
  • women: forbidden to attend school or work outside home
  • public executions and punishments
  • profited from opium and electronics
Photo by jorr81

Oct-Nov 2001

  • Operation Enduring Freedom: after bombardment, Taliban lose Afghanistan to US and Northern Alliance forces
Photo by DVIDSHUB

2004-2005

  • Hamid Karzai elected president
  • Afghan people vote in first parliamentary elections in over 30 years