Afghanistan Read Free

Soviet invasion, new Parcham-dominated Afghan government put in place under Babrak Karmal.
    1986: Najibullah (Parcham former secret police chief and ethnic but detribalized Pushtun) put into place as head of pro-Soviet Republic of Afghanistan, replacing Babrak Karmal.
    February 1989: Soviet combat forces withdraw from Afghanistan.
    April 1992: Collapse of Najibullah regime in Kabul, fighting between Afghan groups over city.
    August 1992: Resumed fighting—HiH rocket attacks on Kabul.
    5 November 1994: Taliban occupy Kandahar.
    10 May 1996: Bin Laden arrives in Jalalabad as guest of ISA’s Nangarhar Shura, who remember him from the anti-Soviet war.
    27 September 1996: Kabul falls to Taliban.
    2000: ISI dissatisfaction with Taliban, leads to study to plan “Taliban light” as replacement.
    21 March 2001: Destruction of Bamiyan Buddhas by Taliban demonstrates radicalization, Al Qaeda influence.
    9 September 2001: Assassination of Ahmad Shah Massoud by Al Qaeda.
    11 September 2001: Multiple terrorist attacks in US by Al Qaeda.
    19 September 2001: First US intelligence and special operations forces enter Afghanistan.
    7 October 2001: First US airstrikes in Afghanistan.
    9 November 2001: Mazar-e-Sharif entered by ISA forces.
    13 November 2001: Kabul entered by ISA forces, ignoring US appeal to stay out.
    14–24 November 2001: “Airlift of evil,” Pakistan permitted to airlift ISI and other forces fighting the ISA from Kunduz before Taliban surrender.
    10 December 2001: Kandahar abandoned by Afghan Taliban; last major city held by them in Afghanistan.
    22 December 2001: Bonn agreement. Hamid Karzai becomes president of Afghan Interim Government, later Transitional government.
    23 December 2001: Terrorist attack on Indian Parliament.
    January 2002: Operation Anaconda. Al Qaeda and Taliban forces retreat from Afghanistan into Pakistan.
    20–28 January 2002: Tokyo Conference.
    March 2002: Initial ISAF deployment to Kabul begins.
    21 March 2002: State schools reopen in Afghanistan on a nationwide basis.
    15 April 2002: Former king Zahir returns to Afghanistan, later appears at Emergency and Constitutional Loya Jirgas, receives title of “Father of the Nation.”
    June 2002: Emergency Loya Jirga in Afghanistan; 1,500 delegates selected through indirect UN-supervised elections select head of state (Karzai) and other key officials.
    10 October 2002: Provincial elections in Pakistan. Rise of MMA seen as reaction to defeat of Taliban.
    July 2003: ISAF “NATO-ized,” first ground forces commitment in history of alliance.
    September 2003: National Solidarity Program (NSP) established.
    November 2003: US Ambassador Zalmay Khailzad arrives in Kabul.
    December 2003 —Janaury 2004: Constitutional Loya Jirga in Afghanistan. 500 delegates and 50 appointed member debate and approve Afghan constitution. Islamic Republic of Afghanistan established. Hamid Karzai is president of transitional government.
    December 2003: Assassination attempts against Musharraf (two).
    11 March 2004: Madrid train station bombings.
    April 2004: South Waziristan peace accord with insurgents.
    9 October 2004: Presidential elections in Afghanistan. Hamid Karzai elected president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
    February 2005: Second South Waziristan peace accord.
    June 2005: US Ambassador Zalmay Khailzad departs Kabul.
    7 July 2005: London transport bombings.
    18 September 2005: Parliamentary elections in Afghanistan.
    October 2005: Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) drafted as roadmap for Afghan and international efforts.
    8 October—December 2005: Earthquake in northern Pakistan and subsequent relief efforts. Pakistan Army relief efforts widely perceived as inadequate.
    31 January 2005: London Conference, initial draft of Afghanistan Compact approved, Initial Afghan National Development Strategy introduced.
    7 August 2006: Transatlantic airline bombing plot by Al Qaeda exposed.
    September 2006: Waziristan Peace accord signed at