The Afghanistan Problem

A chronology of key events.

1919- Afghanistan regains independence after third war against British forces trying to bring country under their sphere of influence.

1926- Amanullah proclaims himself kind and attempts to introduce social reforms leading to opposition from conservative forces.

1929- Amanullah flees after civil unrest over his reforms.

1933- Zahir Shah becomes king and Afghanistan remains a monarchy for next four decades.

1953- General Muhammad Daud becomes prime minister. Turns to Soviet Union for economic and military assistance. Introduces a number of social reforms, such as abolition of Purdah (practice of women from public view).

1963- Muhammad Daud forced to resign as prime minister.

1964- Constututional monarchy introduced- but leads to political polarisaiton and power struggles.

1973- Muhammad Daud seizes power in a coup and declares a republic. Tries to play off USSR against Western powers. His style alienates left-wing factions who join forces against him.

1978- General Daud is overthrown and killed in coup by leftist People’s Democratic Party. But parties Khalq & Parcham factions fall out, leading to purging of exile of most Parcham leaders. At the same time, conservative Islamic and ethnic leaders who objected to social changes begin armed, revolt in countryside.

1979- Power struggle between leftists leaders Hafizullah Amin and Nur Muhammad Taraki in Kabul won by Amin. Revolts in countryside continue and Afghan army faces collapse. Soviet Union finally sends its troops to help, remove Amim, who is executed.

Soviet intervention:

1980- Babrak Karmal , leader of the People’s Democratic Party Parcham faction, is installed as ruler, backed by Soviet troops. But anti-regime resistance intensifies with various mujahideen groups fighting Soviet forces. US, Pakistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia supply money and arms.

1985- Mujahideen come together in Pakistan to form alliance against Soviet forces. Half of Afghan population now estimated to be displaced by war, many fleeing to neighboring Iran or Pakistan. New Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev says he will withdraw troop from Afghanistan.

1986- US begins supplying Mujahideen with Stinger missiles, enabling them to shoot down Soviet gunship helicopters. Babrak Karmal replaced by Najibullah as head of Soviet-backed regime.

1988- Afghanistan, USSR, the US and Pakistan sign peace accord and Soviet Union begins pulling out its troops.

1989- Last Soviet troops leave, but civil war continues as Mujahideen push to overthrow Najibullah.

1991- USSR and US agree to end military aid to both sides.

Mujahideen’s Triumph:

1992- Resistance closes in on Kabul and Najibullah fall from power. Rival militias vie for influence.

1993- Mujahideen factions agree on formation of a government with ethnic Tajik, Burhan-ud-Din Rabbani, proclaimed him president.

1994- Factional contests continues and the Pashtun-dominated Taleban emerges as major challenge to the Rabbani Government.

1996- Taleban seize control of Kabul and introduce hard-line version of Islam, banning women from work, and introducing Islamic punishments, which include stoning to death and amputations. Rabbani flees to join anti-Taliban northern alliance.

Taleban Under Pressure.

1997-Taleban recognized as legitimate rulers by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Most other countries continue to regard Rabbani as head of state. Taleban now control about two-third of country.

1998- Earthquake kills thousands of people. US launches missile strikes at suspected bases of Militant Osama bin Laden, accused of bombing US embassies in Africa.

1999 January- UN imposes further sanctions on Taleban to force them hand over Osama bin Laden.

2001 March- Taleban blow up giant Buddha statues in defiance of international efforts to save them.

2001 May- Taleban order religious minorities to wear tags identifying themselves as non-Muslims and Hindu women to veil themselves like other women.

2001- Ahmad Shah Masood, legendary guerilla and leader of the main opposition of the Taleban, is killed, apparently by assassins posing as journalists.

2001 October- US, Britain launch air strikes against Afghanistan after Taleban refuse to hand over Osama bin Laden, held responsible for the September 11 attacks on Twin Towers in USA.

2001 November- Opposition forces seize Mazar-e-Sharif and within days march into Kabul and other key cities.

The Taleban Falls:

2001, 5 December- Afghan groups agree deal in Bonn for iterim government.

2001, 7 December- Taleban finally give up last stronghold of Qandhar, but Mullah Omar remains at large.

2001, 22 December- Pashtun royalist Hamid Karzai is sworn in as head of 30-members interim power-sharing government.

2002 April- Former king Zahir Shah returns, but says he makes no claim to the throne.

2002 December- President Karzai and Pakistani, Turkmen leaders sign deal to build gas pipeline through Afghanistan, carrying Turkmen gas to Pakistan.

2003 August- NATO takes control of security in Kabul, its first-ever operational commitment outside Europe.

New Constitution.

2004 January- Grand Assembly or Loya Jirga, adopts new constitution which provides for strong presidency.

2004 October-November- Presidential Elections: Hamid Karzai is declared the winner, with 55% of the vote. He is sworn in, aimed tight security, in December.

New Parliament.

2005 September- First parliamentary and provincial elections in more than 30 years.

NATO takes over.

2006 July onwards- NATO troops take over the leadership of military operations in the south. Fierce fighting ensues as the forces try to extend government control areas where Taleban influence is strong.

Controversy over Italian deal with Taleban, which secures the release of five rebels in exchange for kidnapped reporter Daniel Mastrogiacomo. His afghan driver and translator are beheaded.

2007 May- Taleban most senior military commander, Mullah Dad Ullah, is killed during fighting with US, Afghan forces.

Afghan and Pakistani troops clash on the border in the worst violence in decades in a simmering border dispute.

2007 July- Former king Zahir Shah dies.

2007 August- Opium production has soared to a record high, the UN reports.

2007 November- A suicide attack on a parliamentary delegation kills at least 41 in northern town of Baghian, in the country’s worst such attack.


Points to Ponder…

Facts responsible for the continued instability


1. The resentment of being occupied.
2. The religious factor.
3. Taleban protect the poppy cultivators.
4. The poppy cultivators (who provides aid to Taleban)
5. The impoverished southern Afghanistan.
6. The conservative Pashtuns in Pakistan.
7. The Durand Line.
8. 2007-The deadliest year since the invasion (7000 deaths).


The solution to the present morass


1. Neutralize all the above factors.
2. Withdrawal timetable.
3. Role of UN/Islamic forces in the interim period.
4. An interim national unity government.
5. Strengthening of the institutions.
6. Socio-economic development, employment etc.


Possible outcomes of the present conflict.



1. Taleban will reappear after the foreign forcer withdraw…..unlikely.
2. continued presence of NATO, stability, economic development…..very likely but the Duran line issue has to be solve.



Courtesy: Mr. Jahanzeb Khan (4th position 2006).