Crisis Chronology | Afghanistan

AFGHANISTAN

05/07/2023

Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari meets with Afghanistan’s Taliban-appointed foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Islamabad and the two countries agree to try to reduce border tensions and to increase trade.

03/29/2023

Islamic State Khorosan becoming increasingly strong, and the Islamic State is giving it more support. Largely based in Afghanistan intelligence officials warn that it may be able to conduct attacks outside of that country within six months.

03/27/2023

Security forces thwart attempted suicide bomber attack on Taliban leaders.

12/20/2022

Pakistani forces kill all Taliban occupants of the center.

12/20/2022

Pakistani forces kill all Taliban occupants of the center.

12/20/2022

Taliban bans women from entering university.

12/19/2022

Pakistani Taliban members seize control of a counterterrorism center in northern Pakistan, demanding safe passage to Afghanistan.

11/10/2022

Taliban bans women from entering gyms, public parks and fun fairs because people were ignoring segregation orders and women were not wearing hijabs appropriately.

09/14/2022

Government reports killing rebels of the National Resistance Front in Panjshir. In the past, they have denied there was any resistance.

09/05/2022

Explosion outside the Russian embassy kills several, including one diplomat. Militant Islamist group is thought to be responsible, perhaps with intent of making the Taliban seem less trustworthy. Russia is one of the very few nations to have an embassy in Afghanistan.

06/28/2022

US negotiating with Taliban to release some bank funds with giving the Taliban any control over the use of those funds.

05/07/2022

Taliban orders that women again cover their face by wearing a hijab.

04/25/2022

Fresh wave of attacks, most against the Hazaras, the Shia minority, but also some against Sunnis. ISIS-K has claimed responsibility for them. The government’s aggressive response has also created dissatisfaction in the country.

04/03/2022

Taliban bans cultivation of opium poppies, without a plan on how growers could replace the income.

03/17/2022

UN Security Council resolves to secure a formal presence with Afghanistan.

03/09/2022

Iran and Afghanistan meet to discuss resuming construction of the Khaf-Herat rail link, part of the Five Nations Railway Corridor in the Belt and Road project. It was halted when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. It would link China, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Iran and provide China with a rail link to Turkey.

03/01/2022

Taliban bans further immigration from the country, decrying the poor conditions for refugees in Turkey, Qatar, and elsewhere. There is widespread poverty, lack of shelter, and food shortages in Afghanistan.

02/20/2022

Complex geopolitical balance in South Asia. Pakistan had hoped that a Taliban government in Afghanistan would mitigate Pakistan Taliban (TTP) attacks in Pakistan. However, attacks have spiked recently, planned by TTP members in Afghanistan. Though Pakistan is providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, it has not recognized the government. The Taliban has not committed to restraining the TTP. TTP members are extorting money from Pakistani businessmen and politicians.

02/11/2022

US orders frozen Afghan funds to be divided half to families of 9/11 victims and half to humanitarian agencies in Afghanistan.

01/12/2022

Humanitarian crisis grows. The UN estimates the country needs $5 billion in aid to avert mass hunger.

01/10/2022

Iran says it will not yet recognize the Taliban government in Iran. It has called for an “inclusive” government there. Iran is sending humanitarian aid to the Taliban government. There have been some skirmishes and Iranians have in the past been killed by Taliban attacks. In addition, refugees are leaving Afghanistan for Iran, among other countries.

12/26/2021

Government dissolves election commissions and the ministries for peace and parliamentarian affairs.

11/18/2021

Government appeals to US to unfreeze Afghan assets. The country is facing widespread starvation.

11/12/2021

Qatar named to represent US interests in Afghanistan.

10/26/2021

Afghanistan facing nationwide famine, UN says.

10/20/2021

Russia and Taliban hold discussions, but Russia does not formally recognize the Taliban government of Afghanistan.

10/15/2021

Bombing at a mosque in Kandahar kills scores. ISIS-K claims responsibility.

10/12/2021

Taliban holds talks with the EU, with the US participating. The EU has committed to an aid package for humanitarian needs. UN secretary general Antonio Guterres criticizes the Taliban’s steps regarding women’s rights but also calls for more humanitarian aid for Afghanistan.

10/08/2021

Explosion at a Shiite Mosque in Kunduz kills at least 100 people. The Taliban has been accused of denying (takfir – accounting them unbelievers) Shiites but assures them that the Taliban will protect them.

10/03/2021

A bomb explodes at the funeral of the Taliban spokesman’s mother. ISIL-K later claims responsibility.

09/27/2021

Afghan government sends new delegation to the UN, which continues to recognize the Ghani government and its representative.

09/27/2021

Leaders of ISIL-K and scores of its fighters are killed by the government.

09/16/2021

Internal dissension over credit for takeover leads to physical fighting between factions in the ruling junta.

09/13/2021

UN warns of severe food, water, and medical care shortages. The educational system has largely collapsed.

09/12/2021

Primary elections. The general election will be held 11/14/21.

09/12/2021

Russia and China independently promise humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. UN plans conference on aid.

08/31/2021

Last US evacuation airplane leaves Kabul, marking the end of the longest US war. Taliban takes control of the airport.

08/30/2021

Last US evacuation airplane leaves Kabul, marking the end of the longest US war. Taliban takes control of the airport.

08/29/2021

Regional Afghan leaders seeking to negotiate an inclusive government with the Taliban.

08/29/2021

Multiple sources say that the Taliban has agreed that all Afghan nationals who have authorization to travel abroad will be allowed to leave.

08/29/2021

Kabul airport struck by a car bomb as part of an attack plan. Hundreds of civilians injured and thirteen US soldiers are killed.

08/27/2021

Taliban says it wants an inclusive government with representatives from all ethnicities and tribes. It appoints Khalil Haqqani as head of security in Kabul. Haqqani, of the Haqqani network, has been designated a terrorist by the US and his capture has an $85 million bounty associated with it.

08/26/2021

Suicide bombing outside a gate at the Kabul airport. Thirteen US soldiers and dozens of Afghans are killed, many more military (including Taliban) and civilians are wounded. The US military had warned of attack by ISIS-K (Islamic State – Khorasan), the Afghan affiliate of ISIS, which takes responsibility for the attack. The Taliban and ISIS are opposed to each other.

08/23/2021

Taliban in preliminary discussions with Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, and have spoken with the Russian ambassador about an offer to the resistance in Panjshir.

08/23/2021

US Pres Biden suggests that US forces may stay in Afghanistan after the 8/31 deadline if there are still Americans and allies to be extracted. Taliban warns against any forces remaining.

08/20/2021

Resistance movement to Taliban announced, centered in Panjshir Valley. Amrullah Saleh, former vice president and a key powerbroker under the Western-backed governments of the last two decades, and Ahmad Massoud, the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud are leading it.

08/18/2021

US freezes assets of Afghanistan US banks.

08/18/2021

US freezes assets of Afghanistan US banks.

08/18/2021

Former president Ghani in UAE. He insists he did not take money out of the country. Abdul Ghani Baradar, leader of the Taliban, arrives in Kandahar.

08/17/2021

08/15/2021

Ghani flies out of Kabul as Taliban forces enter the city to little or no resistance. Taliban says it is negotiating a peaceful takeover of the city with local leaders. Ghani government negotiators go to Doha to discuss a peace agreement with the Talban. Taliban also in discussion with Ghani government representatives who say that there is an agreement about a transitional administration to oversee an “orderly transfer of power.” Taliban forces also take over Jalalabad without a fight after negotiating with leaders there.

08/15/2021

Taliban takes control of government

Chaotic scene at Kabul airport as thousands try to leave the country. Many who worked for the US in fear of their lives if they stay.

08/14/2021

Taliban takes over economic center Mazar-i-Sharif and several other regional capitals. US Pres Biden sends thousands of troops to Kabul to facilitate evacuation of US personnel and those who have worked with them.

08/13/2021

Taliban takes Kandahar, Herat, Helmand, Uruzgan, and Ghor. They now control most of the country. US plans to evacuate embassy personnel in Kabul.

08/12/2021

Government offers to share power with the Taliban in return for a cessation of violence. Taliban continues its acquisition of territory.

08/11/2021

Taliban continues to advance, securing the borders with Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Afghan government sketches plan to fight the Taliban by organizing and arming local forces in coordination with the army.

08/10/2021

Taliban captures another provincial capital. Taliban fighters reportedly being told not to harm Afghan security forces. US negotiator Zalmay Khalilizad in Doha said to warn the Taliban not to capture Kabul, lest they risk international isolation.

08/09/2021

Taliban takes another provincial capital, Samangan of Samangan Province. Afghan government says it is trying to retake Kunduz. Substantial refugee flight to neighboring countries.

08/08/2021

Taliban capture capital of Kunduz province in the north, although the government says fighting is continuing. Taliban also captures capitals of Sar-e-Pol and Takhar provinces. Taliban spokesman says they have always had the capability of capturing major cities, but hoped that the government would negotiate. But when bombing increased, they decided to proceed militarily. They have shown little interest in recent negotiations.

08/07/2021

Taliban capture Sheberghan, provincial capital of Jawzjan. There are reports of US heavy bombing of Taliban positions elsewhere.

08/06/2021

Taliban capture Zaranj, provincial capital of Nimruz, the first major city they have reclaimed, also an important border crossing.

07/24/2021

Government imposes nighttime curfew in 31 of 34 provinces to curtail Taliban activity.

07/20/2021

Erdogan calls for US support in protecting Kabul airport.

07/19/2021

Afghanistan recalls all senior diplomats from Pakistan after the ambassador’s daughter is abducted and tortured.

07/16/2021

Abdullah Abdullah leads negotiating group going to Qatar to talk with the Taliban. A separate group will go to Pakistan on 7/17.

07/13/2021

As the Taliban continues to gain more territory, Ghani calls on local warlords to arm their militias.

07/08/2021

Taliban continues to advance in multiple provinces, attempting to surround cities.

07/02/2021

US troops leave Bagram air base, the main center of US operations in Afghanistan.

05/03/2021

Taliban launch new wave of attacks now that US has missed a deadline for withdrawal.

04/14/2021

US announces that it will remove all troops from Afghanistan by 9/11/21 without conditions. NATO will also withdraw all troops by September.

03/31/2021

At a regional summit meeting in Tajikistan, Ghani says he will step down if elections are held. However, the Taliban feels it has won the war, with some justification, and shows no interest in negotiating away power. While it may have difficulty controlling warlords around the country, there seems little doubt that it will control the central government if a peace deal is reached.

03/29/2021

New Zealand officially ends its participation in the war in Afghanistan.

03/25/2021

US says it is unlikely to meet the 5/1 deadline for complete withdrawal of forces, but will probably withdraw all forces by 2022.

03/09/2021

US considering a draft peace plan that calls for the current government to be replaced with an interim administration and a joint commission to monitor a ceasefire until a new constitution is written and elections are held. It would allow for members of the Taliban to run for parliament and forbid terrorist activity of any kind and protect the rights of women. The Taliban would also have to give up their safe havens in other countries.

01/04/2021

Taliban targeting civic leaders, journalists, and lawyers. Hundreds have been killed over last several months.

01/04/2021

Taliban targeting civic leaders, journalists, and lawyers. Hundreds have been killed over last several months.

12/02/2020

Afghan government and Taliban agree on principles or procedures for peace negotiations.

11/17/2020

US Pres Trump orders further withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, against the advice of the military. By the end of the year, there will be 2500 troops in each country.Trump orders further withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, against the advice of the military. By the end of the year, there will be 2500 troops in each country.

11/17/2020

Trump orders further withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, against the advice of the military. By the end of the year, there will be 2500 troops in each country.

10/19/2020

Taliban accuses the US of violating the agreement between. In dispute is a series of airstrikes in Afghanistan, which the US says was in defense of allied troops.

10/08/2020

Trump says that US troops could be out of Afghanistan by the end of the year. However, it is not clear that he has ordered the military to withdraw troops.

09/02/2020

Government releases two hundred more Taliban prisoners in an effort to resume peace talks. The Taliban releases six Afghan soldiers.

08/25/2020

Taliban claims responsibility for a bombing in the north. A Taliban official is in Pakistan for talks of an unspecified nature.

08/19/2020

Fourteen rockets strike the international Green Zone in Kabul. The Taliban denies responsibility for the attack.

08/09/2020

A loya jirga endorses releasing 400 Taliban prisoners and Ghani says he will authorize the release, fulfilling the requirement for the start of peace negotiations.

06/11/2020

US orders sanctions on the members of the International Criminal Court, which is investigating war crimes during the war in Afghanistan.

05/24/2020

Afghan government agrees to Taliban proposal for a cease-fire during Eid, which begins on 5/25. Both also agree on new prisoner exchanges.

05/20/2020

Taliban peace negotiation leader Haibatullah Akhunzada, in an Eid message, says the Taliban is still committed to the peace deal with the US, despite its numerous attacks in Afghanistan.

05/17/2020

Power-sharing government formed

Abdullah and Ghani sign an agreement to share power. Ghani remains as president. Abdullah will lead peace talks with the Taliban. They will share cabinet offices equally.

05/17/2020

Power-sharing government formed

Abdullah and Ghani sign an agreement to share power. Ghani remains as president. Abdullah will lead peace talks with the Taliban. They will share cabinet offices equally.

05/13/2020

After multiple attacks, some of which are denied responsibility b the Taliban, the government tells its forces to resume offensive attacks on the Taliban. The peace process is essentially stalled at this point.

05/10/2020

Retired general and former police chief Abdul Jalil Bakhtawar changes allegiance to support the Taliban.

04/13/2020

Taliban releases twenty prisoners in response to Afghan government’s release.

04/08/2020

Government releases 100 Taliban prisoners.

04/07/2020

Taliban recalls its negotiators from Afghanistan, saying there has been no progress, and says that violence will increase.

04/01/2020

Taliban delegation arrives in Kabul to discuss prisoner exchange. A bombing in Helmand province kills 8. No group claims responsibility.

03/11/2020

Taliban rejects Afghan prisoner release, saying that the agreement specfies five thousand to be released without any conditions.

03/10/2020

Government announces it will release 1500 Taliban prisoners over the next fifteen days on condition that the Taliban release government soldiers and stop new incidents of violence.

03/09/2020

Ghani and Abdullah both hold inauguration ceremonies in the presidential palace at almost the same time. A rocket attack hits Kabul shortly after the ceremonies.

03/06/2020

Cease-fire takes hold with only some firing by jihadis.

03/03/2020

US resumes bombing Taliban positions after Taliban resumes attacks.

03/02/2020

US says it will continue to withdraw military despite any violence by the Taliban.

03/02/2020

Taliban refuses to agree to a cease-fire or to negotiate with the Afghan government until Afghanistan releases 5000 prisoners.

03/01/2020

Ghani says that Afghanistan will not release any Taliban prisoners until the Taliban negotiates that and other points of contention directly with the Afghan government.

02/28/2020

Afghan peace agreement

US and Taliban sign peace agreement that provides for withdrawal of all allied troops from Afghanistan, release of prisoners, and talks with the Afghan government. The US is to withdraw all of its roughly 12,000 remaining troops by April 2021 and will work with the UN to lift sanctions on the Taliban. About two-thirds of those troops are to leave within six months. In return, the Taliban have promised to cut ties with global terrorist groups and begin substantive power-sharing talks with the Afghan government. Crucially, the deal envisions the release of some 5,000 Taliban fighters currently imprisoned in Afghan jails in exchange for about 1,000 Afghan prisoners held by the rebel group.

02/25/2020

Abdullah refuses to accept the official results of the election and has “appointed” two acting governors. He calls the results “illegal.”

02/23/2020

Government reports outbreak of COVID-19 virus.

02/21/2020

Reduction in violence for seven days begins. Five thousand prisoners are to be released as part of it, and the Taliban says it means complete withdrawal of all international forces in Afghanistan. US Secretary of State Pompeo says the Taliban will sign the larger agreement on 2/29 if the reduction holds.

02/18/2020

Ghani re-elected

Election commission announces that Ghani has won a second term.

02/13/2020

US announces an agreement for a seven-day reduction in Afghanistan with the Taliban. No date for its imposition is announced.

02/05/2020

Election commission says a crucial number of ballots will be reviewed.

01/23/2020

Ghani says that Afghanistan is ready for a significant withdrawal of US troops, as much as one-third.

01/18/2020

Peace negotiations begin in Doha. Taliban offers 10-day truce. Afghan government demands complete cease-fire. Taliban had offered a cease-fire with US troops, a reduction in attacks on Afghan troops, and discussions with the Afghans if the Taliban reaches an agreement with the US in negotiations.

01/18/2020

Peace negotiations begin in Doha. Taliban offers 10-day truce. Afghan government demands complete cease-fire. Taliban had offered a cease-fire with US troops, a reduction in attacks on Afghan troops, and discussions with the Afghans if the Taliban reaches an agreement with the US in negotiations.

12/29/2019

Taliban confirms that it will resume negotiations with the US about Afghanistan.

12/22/2019

Election commission says that preliminary results give Ghani 50.6% of the vote and Abdullah just under 40%.

12/22/2019

Election commission says that preliminary results give Ghani 50.6% of the vote and Abdullah just under 40%.

12/12/2019

Election results still not announced after three months. Abdullah’s supporters object to 300,000 votes that were not counted transparently and could have decided the election for Ghani. A third of them were counted outside of the voting hours, some months outside of them.

10/21/2019

US drawing down troops in Afghanistan. Negotiations with the Taliban remain stalled.

10/19/2019

Results of election delayed due to “technical issues.”

09/29/2019

Voting in Afghanistan. Both candidates quickly declare victory, although counting votes will take about two weeks. Turnout is low, but evidence of fraud is also low.

09/16/2019

Explosion at a rally for Ghani, but he is unhurt. Taliban claims responsibility.

09/16/2019

Explosion at a rally for Ghani, but he is unhurt. Taliban claims responsibility.

09/02/2019

After consulting with Ghani, the US says that it has reached an agreement with the Taliban to withdraw 5400 of its 14000 troops. The Taliban agrees not to allow al-Qaeda to establish bases in Afghanistan, to start talks with the Afghan government with the aim of instituting a ceasefire. Ghani is still considering the deal and US Pres Trump has not yet affirmed it.

09/01/2019

US and Taliban reported to be close to an agreement about a peace process. Taliban continues to attack parts of Afghanistan.

08/07/2019

Taliban attack in Kabul, just days after the beginning of Eid. Peace talks with Taliban are nonetheless progressing and may have affected India’s decision about Kasmir. One observer suggests that India fears that after a settlement in Afghanistan, Pakistan would direct more of the Pakistani-allied jihadist groups, who operate in Afghanistan and Kashmir, against India.

07/08/2019

At talks in Qatar, Afghan and Taliban officials agree to reduce violence.

05/30/2019

Taliban says that progress has been made in talks in Moscow with Afghan officials.

05/19/2019

Parliament dissolves into chaos over election of the speaker. Rahman Rahmani won 124 votes. However, only 244 of 250 legislators submitted votes and the interim speaker declared Rahmani the winner. Then some legislators surrounded the empty speaker’s chair to prevent Rahmani from taking his seat, calling for a new election and an interim speaker.

03/26/2019

Afghanistan recalls its ambassador to Pakistan after PM Khan suggests that the current Afghan government is an obstacle to peace and that a new interim government should be formed.

03/15/2019

Afghan government officials warns against an agreement between the US and the Taliban that doesn’t “end in peace.” Afghans are concerned that an agreement might allow the Taliban to carry out further attacks. A Taliban representative says that the talks are aimed at a “solution in the future.”

03/12/2019

Negotiators in US-Taliban talks report progress, but no substantive accomplishment.

02/18/2019

Senior Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and US begin fifth round of peace talks in Doha.

02/05/2019

Taliban leaders meet with some Afghan politicians, including former president Hamid Karzai and Atta Mohammad Noor, a former governor and one of the leaders of Jamiat-e-Islami, a major political party, but no members of the current government.

01/31/2019

Afghan military and security losing ground to the Taliban. US military reports that the government controls about 54% of its territory and 64% of its population as of 10/18. The size of its military is also decreasing.

01/28/2019

US and Taliban agree to a general framework for negotiations for a peace agreement. Taliban requires a complete US troop withdrawal before a ceasefire; US wants to see that the ceasefire is holding before a complete withdrawal.

01/22/2019

US and Taliban meet in Qatar while Taliban attacks continue in Afghanistan.

01/05/2019

Taliban says it will not be able to participate in peace talks in Saudi Arabia scheduled for next week because it cannot meet with the Afghan government.

01/01/2019

A wave of attacks by the Taliban, which gas refuses to meet with Afghan officials but is meeting with others in the region, possibly in an attempt to strengthen its negotiating position with the US, which has recently decided to remove troops from Afghanistan.

12/31/2018

Government delays elections, scheduled for 4/20/19, for three months to ensure better management of them.

12/18/2018

US announces that it will withdraw about half of its 14,000 troops in Afghanistan.

11/28/2018

Ghani announces team for negotiations with the Taliban.

10/27/2018

Khandahar voting proceeds.

10/20/2018

Voting for parliament, after a delay of three years. Voting in Kandahar Province is delayed one week after the assassination of the police commander.

10/19/2018

Murder of powerful police officer in Kandahar province delays elections there.

10/13/2018

Former US ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilizad meets with Taliban without participation or knowledge of Afghan government, as the Taliban had requested. To the displeasure of the Afghans, Khalilizad subsequently meets with them, but will say nothing about the discussion in detail.

08/28/2018

China reported to be building an anti-terrorist training camp in a remote section of Afghanistan that touches the Chinese border, the Wakhan Corridor.

08/26/2018

Ghani rejects resignations of three top Afghan security officials and demands they find ways of stopping attacks.

08/24/2018

Hanif Atmar, Afghan national security advisor close to Ghani and a longtime power in Afghan politics, resigns, citing policy differences with Ghani.

08/22/2018

Afghan government declines to participate in peace talks with the Taliban sponsored by Russia scheduled for 9/4. The Taliban has not said it would participate and the USA has already said it would not.

08/20/2018

Ghani announces a unilateral ceasefire with the Taliban for Eid, but Taliban later rejects it.

08/10/2018

Taliban launches fierce attack on Ghazni, a strategically important city south of Kabul and north of Kandahar.

08/02/2018

Taliban reported to have eliminated the Islamic State in northern Afghanistan. Also, US forces have been told to restrict their operations to the more populated and strategically important areas of Afghanistan, in a strategy that has been employed in previous years.

07/19/2018

Taliban confirms that it has halted attacks on Afghan civilians since the recent ceasefire.

07/16/2018

There are reports that the US has said it is open to direct talks with the Taliban, with or without the Afghan government, though the latter is preferable.

06/30/2018

Government ends ceasefire with Taliban but calls for peace talks.

06/18/2018

Taliban rejects Afghan government offer to extend ceasefire.

06/06/2018

Government orders a ceasefire with Taliban for Ramadan until 6/20.

12/25/2017

Atta Mohammed Noor refuses to leave office, despite official position that he has resigned.

12/18/2017

Pres Ghani fires governor Balkh Province, Atta Muhammed Noor, a leader of the Jamiat-I-Islam Party, but the governor rejects the command, calling for civil disobedience. Jamiat-I-Islam holds half the seats in the coalition government. It could bring the government down, but many of its members are highly independent. After Ghani’s relationship with Abdullah ruptured, Ghani began negotiating with Noor, but negotiations broke down and Abdullah has criticized Noor.

12/12/2017

Tension over scheduling of Afghanistan’s elections, now delayed by two years.

10/17/2017

Taliban strikes across Afghanistan.

08/21/2017

US Pres Trump commits to more troops in Afghanistan and challenges Pakistan to stop terrorists and calls on India to invest in Afghanistan.

08/06/2017

Iran increasingly supporting former rival Taliban against Afghan government.

07/18/2017

Abdul Rashid Dostum, still officially a vice-president, is barred from landing in northern Afghanistan, but the incident shows the continuing strains within the government.

06/25/2017

China attempts to ease relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

06/20/2017

Afghan government aiding breakaway faction of the Taliban, known as the Renouncers, in fight against main Taliban. The Renouncers are followers of Mullah Mohammad Rasoul, who broke away from the main group when Mullah Omar’s death was reported in 2015, years after it occurred.

05/04/2017

After long negotiations, warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar allies with Afghanistan's government, in what is seen as a step to peace. He appealed to the Taliban to negotiate peace.

05/2017

Abdul Rashid Dostum, accused of ordering murder and rape, leaves for Turkey.

04/24/2017

After devastating Taliban attack against security forces and increasing concerns about Taliban strength, Afghan defense minister resigns. US considering more troops.

03/23/2017

Taliban captures important district in Helmand.

03/23/2017

Afghan Taliban says it met with Pakistanis to discuss peace talks scheduled for 4/17.

03/20/2017

Pakistan re-opens border with Afghanistan.

02/01/2017

Afghanistan government reported to have lost control of substantial territory to Islamic State and Taliban.

12/26/2016

Government expresses concern about a meeting between Russia, China, and Pakistan that discussed a peace plan for Afghanistan but did not include any Afghan representatives.

12/20/2016

Afghan Taliban says it is ready for peace talks with the US if the group’s leader is removed from a UN blacklist and all foreign forces are removed from the country, conditions that the Afghan government has always rejected.

12/13/2016

Political rival of Dostum, Ahmad Ischi, accuses Dostum of having him beaten and raped while in custody and threatening to kill him. Dostum’s office calls the accusation false and says Ischi was questioned, but not abused, while in custody of the security forces for supporting the opposition.

11/12/2016

Parliament dismisses two cabinet ministers for poor performance despite pleas from Ghani and Abdullah.

11/11/2016

Parliament dismisses three cabinet ministers for poor performance, in frustration over the lack of progress in reforming the governmental system.

10/31/2016

Former Taliban chief negotiator Sayed Muhammad Tayeb Agha publicly reveals a letter he wrote last summer to Akhundzada about reconciliation and talks to the western press about the need for the Taliban to become part of Afghanistan’s political life and independent from the Pakistani intelligence agency. Agha is still part of the Taliban, though no longer the negotiator.

10/24/2016

In an emotional speech, Dostum suggests that he would foment unrest if his faction is not given more attention. Dostum’s position has increased attention to the ethnic divisions in Afghanistan. His supporters are largely Uzbek, while Ghani’s are primarily Pashtun and Abdullah’s Tajik.

10/18/2016

There are press reports that the government and the Taliban have restarted peace talks in secret. The government does not comment. The Afghan army is having some success against the Taliban in the south.

10/05/2016

EU and Afghanistan agree on a plan to return Afghan migrants in Europe to Afghanistan.

09/22/2016

Government signs peace agreement with Hezb-i-Islami (Islamic Party), led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. The agreement will end fighting by the group in return for which it will be able to participate in politics and Hekmatyar will be able to return from exile.

09/01/2016

Clashes between supporters of Vice-president Dostum and followers of Habibullah Kalakani, a Tajik also known as the Bandit King, who seized the Afghan throne in 1929 and was subsequently deposed and killed. The followers wanted to rebury Kalakani on a hill that is important to the Dostum group, which is largely Uzbeki. Government security forces were deployed to end the fighting. Dostum is also unhappy that Ghani has tried to mend ties with Abdullah, who has recently complained that Ghani is not following the agreement between them. Government has slowed.

08/14/2016

Government forces having difficulty defending capital of Helmand province against Taliban.

05/29/2016

Taliban strike hard against Afghan police in Helmand province.

05/25/2016

Taliban said to elect Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada as new leader. He is described as more moderate and perhaps therefore more willing to negotiate.

05/22/2016

Fighting in Afghanistan increasingly occuring between different Afghan groups in addition to the resurgent Taliban.

05/21/2016

US drone strike kills Taliban leader Mullah Aktar Muhammad Mansour. First US strike in Baluchistan, Pakistani headquarters of Taliban. Pakistan objects to the incursion into its territory, which happened without its knowledge.

05/14/2016

Taliban declares war on Islamic State.

05/03/2016

Taliban benefitting from large opium crop this year.

02/23/2016

Power is restored in Kabul after three weeks, following US airstrikes north of the capital that allowed work crews to fix power lines. Fighting between the Taliban and the Afghan National Army had prevented the work from being done.

01/31/2016

US carrying out attacks against group allied with the Islamic State.

01/18/2016

Election commission sets elections for 10/15/16. However, Abdullah objects because election reforms have not been put in place. No immediate response from Ghani.

01/11/2016

Discussions in Islamabad about opening up new discussions with the Taliban by the US, China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, at least partially in response to the gains in territory in Afghanistan by the Taliban. However, the Taliban has has signaled any interest in the talks.

12/24/2015

Taliban religious leaders criticize Mullah Mansour for his crackdown on commanders, another indication of division within the group.

12/23/2015

Taliban advancing through Helmand Province.

12/20/2015

Several former Karzai cabinet ministers form the Council of Protection and Stability in opposition to the government, although some others left the group even before its formal announcement, saying that the demands are insufficient. The primary demand is for elections in the near future.

12/20/2015

Pakistani Taliban declares war on Islamic State, objecting to al-Baghdadi’s claim to be caliph.

12/11/2015

Pakistan and Afghanistan agree to restart talks with the Taliban, but the Taliban, which has scored recent successes on the battlefield, has not agreed to join the talks. Ghani is criticized for talking to Pakistan at all, and his intelligence chief quits in protest over the decision to begin talks again.

12/02/2015

Taliban denies that Mansour has been killed.

12/01/2015

Afghan government reports that Taliban head Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour has been killed in an argument.

12/01/2015

Taliban kill commander of a major splinter group that had allied with Islamic State, Mullah Mansour Dadullah.

11/11/2015

After seven Shiites are beheaded in a southern province by Islamic State fighters, a massive demonstration in Kabul calls for greater security or Ghani's resignation.

10/15/2015

US extends its combat commitment to Afghanistan past the planned 2016 end date. Instead drawing down the current force about 10,000, that number will continue until the end of 2016 or early 2017, when it will be reduced by about half.

10/14/2015

Taliban leave Kunduz, but begin attack on a city in the south. Islamic State also making progress against the Taliban elsewhere in the country.

09/28/2015

Taliban capture strategic northern provincial capital Kunduz after a summer-long siege.

08/31/2015

Ten months late, the reform commission delivers a set of proposals about electoral reform, the first step in holding new parliamentary elections Disagreement between Ghani and Abdullah held up the recommendations. Some believe the recommendations, which would give more power to factional parties in parliament, are closer to Abdullah's ideas. There is agreement on the need for constitutional changes, but that would require a loya jirga, whose members would in part be chosen by parliamentary elections. The government of Ghani and Abdullah is supposed to end by late 2016, but it will be difficult to make all these steps forward by then.

07/30/2015

Taliban confirms 2013 death of Mullah Omar and elects Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour as new leader.

07/29/2015

Government says that Mullah Omar died in 2013, of natural causes, in a Pakistan hospital.

07/28/2015

Taliban continues to make gains, now in the north, which used to be an anti-Taliban stronghold.

07/09/2015

Afghans insist that the representatives were authorized by Taliban deputy leader Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour. The dispute increases speculation of a division within the Taliban over negotiations.

07/08/2015

Qatar office of Taliban says that those who met with Afghans were not authorized to do so.

07/07/2015

Government officials meet with Taliban officials in first openly acknowledged talks between the two sides. The Taliban, however, says the talks, which were brokered by Pakistan and held in Islamabad, are not authorized by them.

06/21/2015

Taliban attacks parliament building

06/20/2015

Taliban representatives talking informally about peace agreement with political leaders, business people, and others, though not with the government.

06/19/2015

With parliamentary term to end on 6/20 but no political agreement about elections, parliament extends its term indefinitely. Ghani’s office says that a date for elections will be set by the end of the month.

05/04/2015

Informal talks between government and Taliban produce a positive statement. Both sides agreed that the Taliban should open an office in Qatar to facilitate negotiations, that discussions can include the constitution of Afghanistan, and that withdrawal of all foreign troops is not a precondition for further talks.

03/25/2015

US to delay drawdown of troops in 2015 and perhaps beyond, in order to maintain counterterrorism efforts in the country.

03/20/2015

Central government taking over many functions of the ministries, while the discussions about the power-sharing agreement with Abdullah are at a standstill. The government insists it is not trying to rule autocratically, but only trying to maintain trust in the government, though many doubt this explanation.

02/12/2015

In a rare moment of goodwill between the two countries, Pakistan gives Afghanistan credit for helping to capture Taliban fighters who attacked a school in Peshawar in 12/14.

02/12/2015

A captured Al Qaeda computer has provided information that has led the US to expand its covert program in Afghanistan against militants.

01/21/2015

Reports that part of the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, led by Mullah Muhammad Omar in Helmand, has split off and declared allegiance to the Islamic State.

01/19/2015

Some cabinet candidates dropping their candidacy due to either their own problems or attacks by others.

01/12/2015

Government at last releases list of cabinet nominees.

11/30/2014

Unable to form a government that all can agree on, Ghani dismisses his cabinet, but that says agreement on a new one is still weeks away. The deputy ministers will take charge.

11/24/2014

Surge of violence by Taliban.

11/13/2014

Disagreements about cabinet between Ghani and Abdullah.

11/12/2014

Opium poppy harvest at a new record.

11/05/2014

Afghanistan currying favor with China by pursuing Uighur militants. Additionally, by showing China that they were often trained in Pakistan, it hopes to drive a wedge between China and Pakistan.

10/27/2014

Last allied troops leave Afghanistan.

09/30/2014

US and Afghanistan sign agreement about forces remaining in Afghanistan that envisions approximately 12,000 NATO forces for the next ten years.

09/29/2014

Ghani and Abdullah Sworn In

Ghani is sworn in and appoints Abdullah chief executive.

09/25/2014

Abdullah confirms that he will join government, 9/21/14. Election commission says it will announce the winner of the election without releasing the vote count. This is part of the agreement between Abdullah and Ghani.

09/20/2014

Abdullah and Ghani agree to a unity government in which they will share power. Abdullah or his nominee will be the chief executive of the government, with the powers usually given to a prime minister. Ghani will retain the powers of the president as prescribed in the constitution and will be described as the winner of the election.

09/10/2014

As Abdullah continues to distance himself from the results of the election recount, Ghani outlines plan for a new government while still saying he will continue in negotiations.

08/26/2014

The voting audit is such “a joke,” Abdullah spokesman says, that Abdullah may have to quit the race entirely.

08/23/2014

Examination of votes shows serious and widespread fraud, so extensive that it may disrupt the government.

08/03/2014

Disputes over vote counting threaten to disrupt process.

07/26/2014

Taliban increasing its sway over territory outside its traditional strongholds as US troops prepare to leave.

07/17/2014

Haqqani network launches several attacks in Afghanistan and seems to be extending its territory in eastern Afghanistan.

07/13/2014

US Secretary of State Kerry negotiates a deal to recount all votes in the election under international observation. Abdullah and Ghani both agree to abide by the outcome. They also agree to enlarge the powers of the prime minister. Under the agreement, the winner of the vote count would appoint the loser or a candidate of his choice as a “chief executive” with powers to be agreed upon. Then later the constitution would be amended to create a parliamentary democracy.

07/08/2014

After tense negotiations, Abdullah retreats from stand and asks supporters to allow him time to negotiate.

07/07/2014

Abdullah rejects results of election commission and says that he will form his own government.

07/06/2014

Election commission reports preliminary results that Ghani won with 56% of the vote.

06/23/2014

6/23/14. Election official that Abdullah accused steps down, though he maintains his innocence of charges.

06/22/2014

Abdullah group releases recordings that, it says, record election officials and aides to Ghani discussing stuffing ballot boxes and manipulating the vote. A phrase used in the recordings, which are partial, for stuffing the ballot box is “bring the sheep fat.”

06/19/2014

Abdullah says he cannot accept any result sanctioned by the election commission. His supporters are likely to begin street protests.

06/18/2014

Abdullah says he is boycotting election process after election commission rejects his pleas for a halt in vote counting. He says that as many as two million of the seven million votes cast are fraudulent and that a member of the election commission has been working to throw the election to Ghani.

06/16/2014

Abdullah supporters accuse Karzai and his coterie of manipulating voting in the runoff.

05/15/2014

Abdullah and Ghani accept the results placing Abdullah substantially ahead but lacking a majority. A runoff between them will begin on June 14, with results to be announced no later than July 22.

05/11/2014

Third-place finisher Zalmay Rassoul endorses Abdullah. However, one of his two vice-presidential running mates refuses to follow suit.

04/28/2014

Taliban surprisingly inactive during voting and after, either because of fear of public backlash or because of internal dissension.

04/20/2014

Abdullah is said to have 44% and Ghani 33% with about half the votes counted.

04/13/2014

In extremely returns (about 10% of the votes in 75% of the provinces), Abdullah leads with about 42% and Ghani has about 38%, suggesting a runoff election will ensue. However, increasing reports of fraud call the outcome into question. Other candidates unite to decry release of early results.

04/05/2014

Turnout in voting is very high outside of areas controlled by the Taliban.

03/09/2014

3/9/14. Muhammad Qasim Fahim, former leader of the Northern Alliance and a vice-president, dies of a heart attack. A Tajik, he was an important moderating factor between the Tajiks and the Pashtuns in Karzai’s government, notably after the 2009 election with a Tajik, Abdullah Abdullah, came in second and disputed the legitimacy of the voting. His brother partly owned the Kabul Bank that collapsed in 2010.

03/05/2014

Qayum Karzai, brother of the president, is persuaded to renounce candidacy for president, at the urging of his brother. Hamid Karzai says that if Qayum wins, observers will think Hamid Karzai helped him to perpetuate a dynasty. Hamid Karzai is said to support the former foreign minister, Zalmay Rassoul, who was required to quit the ministry in order to run for president. A jirga met and agreed to support Qayum, but Hamid persuaded them to change their vote.

02/26/2014

Frontrunner in election campaign for vote on April 5 is Ashraf Ghani, a former World Bank official, whose candidate for first vice-president is Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, still a powerful warlord.

02/11/2014

US decides to wait on decision about troop levels until after Afghan election, scheduled for April.

01/09/2014

Karzai releases a number of war prisoners contrary to US desires, angering some legislators in US. He said there was not enough evidence to prosecute them.

11/24/2013

Although Loya jirga approves an immediate signing for security agreement, Karzai says he will not sign until after further negotiations, including an agreement by the US to stop raids in Afghan homes, and that he would nullify any agreement that would be in place if there are any more such raids. Most candidates for president have said they would sign the agreement.

11/21/2013

Karzai, in presenting the agreement to the loya jirga, supports the agreement, but says if the loya jirga approves it, he will wait until after the presidential elections next spring to sign it. US officials say the postponement will make it impossible for them to plan to have any troops in Afghanistan in 2014 at all. Afghan security forces have urged a quick signing of the deal.

11/20/2013

US and Afghanistan reach accord on maintenance of US troops in the country for at least another decade. The security agreement must now be voted on by a loya jirga.

11/05/2013

Haqqani network losing support as its ties to Pakistan and its increasingly secular aims are revealed, leading to a sharp drop in violence in Khost and other areas in eastern Afghanistan once dominated by the network and allowing government to develop somewhat.

10/30/2013

Afghan officials say they will travel to Pakistan to meet with a Taliban leader that Pakistan imprisoned because, the Afghans say, he was trying to open peace talks with Afghanistan. Pakistan had denied this, but said that the leader had been released, though the Taliban said he had not. Today’s announcement was seen as a positive step.

10/28/2013

Revelation of Afghan attempts to work with the Pakistan Taliban in its struggle against the Pakistani military. Afghanistan has long complained about Pakistan’s protection of elements of Al Qaeda as part of their efforts to have power in the region. US military discovered the Afghan strategy and captured a Taliban militant as he was on his way to Kabul for secret talks. An Afghan official was reported to say that the alliance could give Afghanistan leverage in future talks with Pakistan, in that it could offer to back off from its support of these militants.

10/27/2013

NATO reduces its projected force in Afghanistan and plans for fewer combat trainers and more managers to handle the distribution of the $4 billion in aid.

10/15/2013

As fighting season nears an end in Afghanistan, Afghan troops are seen as holding their own against the Taliban, although with heavy casualties.

10/12/2013

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Karzai resolve most, though not all, issues concerning US troop status in Afghanistan.

10/04/2013

Afghanistan and US reach a stalemate in talks about continuing US military presence, raising the possibility that all American troops would withdraw in April 2014.

07/31/2013

Civilian casualties increasing.

07/17/2013

Karzai signs new election law, increasing confidence that elections will run as scheduled in April 2014.

06/25/2013

Taliban using office in Qatar to present a moderate face to the world, while mounting major attack on center of government in Kabul. Members of the office are former diplomats or officials in deposed government, evidently led by Tayeb Agha.

06/19/2013

Karzai cuts off talks about with US about keeping troops in Afghanistan after 2014 after it is discovered that Taliban office in Qatar represented itself as an embassy of the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.” US complains to Qataris. Many Afghan political leaders felt betrayed by the US acceptance of talks directly with Taliban.

06/18/2013

Taliban proposes direct talks with US and opens office in Qatar for discussions. In an unrelated move, as planned, US hands over control of internal security to Afghanistan forces.

06/17/2013

Reports of a plan to form a united non-Pashtun alliance, perhaps involving force, led by Gen. Abdul Dostum.

05/09/2013

Karzai says NATO bases can remain in the hands of NATO forces after they leave at the end of 2014.

05/02/2013

Afghan government expected to face large budget shortfall in regard to the 40% of the nonsecurity government budget it is expected to provide, IMF reports. The rest is covered by international agencies and donors, who cover all of its security spending.

03/28/2013

Taliban extending power in Karachi, bombing offices of Awami National Party and pushing out other gangs.

03/05/2013

First conviction in the bank scandal.

01/16/2013

Taliban attacks headquarters of the National Directorate of Security, the Afghan intelligence agency, in Kabul.

01/11/2013

US and Afghanistan agree to that US troops will play only a supporting role earlier than formerly planned, beginning in the spring of 2013, which will also allow for an earlier withdrawal of the troops. The NATO mission ends in 2014.

01/08/2013

US government, unable to come to an agreement with Afghanistan about immunity for prosecution for US soldiers in Afghanistan, says that is open to removing all troops after 2014.

12/20/2012

Informal talks between representatives of many major factions in Afghanistan begin in Chantilly, France. Both the Taliban and the Northern Alliance are attending, though no one expects a major step forward from this meeting.

11/14/2012

Pakistan frees at least seven senior Afghan Taliban prisoners, rekindling hope that it may be ready to help broker peace talks for the region.

11/12/2012

Powerful warlord Ismail Khan, minister of energy and water, calls on his followers to reorganize and defend the country against the Taliban as western military is leaving, a sign of lack of confidence in the government. Khan, based in Herat, was one of the strongest forces among the mujahedeen fighting the Soviets.

08/04/2012

Parliament votes to remove the two top security officials in Karzai's cabinet, the defense minister and the security Minister, both of whom the United States has depended on in its transition out of Afghanistan, saying it is a move to fight corruption. Karzai agrees to the removal, but asks both to stay on until replacements are found.

06/28/2012

Informal contact between government and insurgents suggest that peace negotiations may resume. The Taliban, however, says that its policy has not changed and it only wanted to clarify that in the talks.

05/01/2012

US and Afghan government sign agreement about future commitments of the United States to Afghanistan, closing an era in the war. It sets up a commission to deal with problems such as burning of Korans, night raids, and US forces and their relationship to Afghan National Security forces.

04/15/2012

Multiple coordinated attacks in Kabul and elsewhere. The death toll is low, the number of attackers also low, but they were able to disrupt Kabul. The Afghan National Security Forces were sent to respond with minimal help from NATO.

03/15/2012

After massacre by US soldier of 16 Afghans near a remote base, Karzai demands that all allied troops pull back to their bases by 2013. Taliban calls off talks with Americans.

02/23/2012

Burning of Korans by US military sets off days of violent protests across Afghanistan, some perhaps encouraged by Iran or other outside forces. Military authorities said the Korans were being used by prisoners to relay messages and although marked for disposal, were not meant to be burned.

02/15/2012

Karzai says that his representatives have begun talks with the Taliban and the American government.

01/30/2012

Karzai said to be considering open second line of talks with the Taliban in Saudi Arabia.

12/28/2011

Karzai agrees to allow the Taliban to set up an office in Qatar, intended to provide a channel for discussions. He does not mention his previous demand that the Taliban stop fighting before being allowed to open the office.

11/16/2011

In new loya jirga, Karzai outlines plan to keep American military in Afghanistan for years after the 2014 deadline to withdraw troops.

08/21/2011

Election commission says it will change some results, removing nine members of parliament and reinstating nine that had been previously disqualified. Head of the commission implicitly acknowledges that it is a political compromise with the intention of getting the government moving again. Karzai had been unable to appoint a cabinet or supreme court justices because of the uncertainty. Some members of parliament had armed themselves after the special court announcement months ago that 62 members of parliament would be removed.

08/10/2011

Karzai closes special court that he had set up to review the results of the 2010 parliamentary elections. The election commission is given authority to make final decisions in all cases.

07/12/2011

Karzai’s brother Ahmed Wali Karzai, head of the Kandahar provincial council, is killed by the Taliban.

07/05/2011

Brawl erupts in Parliament as it discusses impeaching Karzai about a special court set up to review allegations of fraud in the election. The court is not recognized by anyone other than Karzai and the legislators have all been sworn in. Total breakdown between Karzai and Parliament.

06/22/2011

Obama schedules troop withdrawals, removing 10,000 troops by the end of 2011, 20,000 more troops by the end of 2013, and continuing withdrawals thereafter until all troops are gone by each shift the end of 2014.

05/27/2011

American officials have met with a senior aide to the Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, at least three times in recent months exploring the possibility of peace talks.

05/08/2011

First attack of the Taliban previously announced spring offensive paralyzes Kandahar for more than thirty hours.

05/02/2011

Osama bin Laden is killed in a raid on a small compound in Pakistan. He was said to have been shot in the head and buried at sea, because many Muslims believe bodies should be buried within a day.

03/16/2011

Increased interest in negotiations between government and the Taliban as NATO military success continues and US prepares to draw down troops.

02/21/2011

Mid-level Taliban, wearying of continued brutal fighting and losses, begin to break with top leaders.

01/31/2011

Head of central bank disputes reports of the size of Kabul Bank's losses and says the bank is operating normally.

01/30/2011

Losses at Afghan central bank may be as much as $900 million, and dealing with this may severely strain the financial structure of Afghanistan.

01/19/2011

Karzai delays opening new parliament at the request of a court-appointed to hear complaints from losing candidates.

12/28/2010

Disparate Islamist groups beginning to work together and coordinate attacks, probably due to military pressure from NATO forces. Evidence involves Quetta Shura of Mullah Omar, the Haqqani network, the Hekmatyar clan, Lashkar-e-Taiba (a Punjabi group), and Tehrik-i-Taliban. The Haqqani network, founded by Jalaluddin Haqqani, became famous in the war against the Soviets.

12/14/2010

Year-end review of military situation notes progress in Taliban’s home state of Kandahar and elsewhere in the south, but regression in the north, where warlords compete with Taliban for domination and the government can barely keep up.

12/06/2010

Government backtracks on banning security firms, allowing most to continue to work with approval of the government until the contracts expire.

11/22/2010

Supposed Taliban leader who had had talks with government and US officials turns out to be an imposter. The man, who may not have been connected to the Taliban in any way, was given large sums of money.

11/08/2010

Corruption investigation against Karzai aide Mohammed Zia Salehi, who may also be a CIA agent, is dropped. Karzai intervened to free him from prison because of what he called heavy-handed treatment by the Major Crimes Task Force. Salehi was then placed under house arrest and required to report to the attorney general’s office regularly.

11/07/2010

Some reports of progress in civil society and reduction of Taliban forces reported in Marja, but US government is unsure whether it is long-term progress or a temporary success and it may take up to nine months to be sure, until the winter is over.

10/25/2010

Karzai affirms that he receives bags of cash and that American leaders have known of it for some time. Iran first denies the statement, but confirmed it after Karzai’s statement.

10/24/2010

Karzai reported to receive $1 to $2 million in cash from Iran every month, through his chief of staff, who also schedules meetings that provide anti-American viewpoints and information to Karzai. Karzai also said to be considering moderating his ban of private security guards. Many development and aid projects say they will leave Afghanistan if they do not have this security.

09/28/2010

Karzai names 70-member peace panel to negotiate with Taliban.

09/26/2010

Federal prosecutors in New York investigating corruption allegations against Mahmoud Karzai, creating a problem for US government. The NSA has also wiretapped him over several months, before the Kabul Bank crisis. He ran restaurants in New York before 9/11/2001.

09/18/2010

Widespread irregularities and logistical problems with voting for parliament. 12 people are killed by insurgents and many others are afraid to vote.

09/07/2010

Kabul Bank Scandal

Largest bank in Kabul, Kabul Bank, is found to be nearly bankrupt. Karzai’s brother Mahmoud is a major shareholder, and profited greatly. Much of the money seems to have been embezzled, or the equivalent of it. Another major shareholder is brother of Karzai’s vice-president, Gen. Muhammed Qasim Fahim. The connection between Mahmoud Karzai and Haseen Fahim is probably the reason Muhammed Fahim was named vice-president. The bank gave millions of dollars to the Karzai campaign.

08/25/2010

Aide that was arrested by anti-corruption unit, then released on Karzai’s insistence, is said to be a CIA informant. Karzai, however, appears more worried that the aide, Mohammed Zia Salehi, may reveal corruption within his administration.

08/17/2010

Karzai says that all private security services in Afghanistan must end within four months. Most of their employees are Afghans, but they are sometimes employed by warlords to increase their power.

06/26/2010

Pakistan says it might be able broker a peace agreement between Afghanistan and the Haqqani network.

06/15/2010

Reports by some former Taliban that the Taliban are responding to peace feelers from jirga. Some of their names have been taken off the UN blacklist. However, many of the younger Taliban leaders are not even on the blacklist.

06/14/2010

Militant fundamentalist group Lashkar-e-Taiba increasing its attacks in Afghanistan, although its focus remains India. The group was long supported by Pakistani intelligence and may still be, despite official denials. Recently retired Pakistani military officers are known to have been behind Lashkar’s attack in Mumbai that killed 169. Based now in the tribal areas of Pakistan, it may be more of a threat in Afghanistan than Al Qaeda, because its members are from the region and less resented than the Arabs of Al Qaeda. Factions of LeT seem to have broken away and are acting independently and in concert with Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Pakistan seems to be giving tribal areas safe haven in case they return to power in Afghanistan.

06/13/2010

US officials reveal that immense deposits of precious metals have been discovered, worth perhaps $1 trillion.

06/11/2010

Because of mixed results of offensive in Marja, a planned offensive for the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar is scaled back and slowed down.

06/06/2010

Two of Karzai’s top officials, both considered good managers by the West, are forced to resign. Many inside and outside of Afghanistan are concerned that Karzai is surrounding himself with allies rather than competent people.

06/02/2010

Jirga for peace opens, with the aim of bringing Taliban into the peace process

04/20/2010

Assassination of a highly popular deputy mayor, Azizullah Yarmal, at prayer in a Kandahar mosque, profoundly shakes confidence in government. US and NATO forces are beginning a substantial push against the Taliban in Kandahar.

04/07/2010

Yielding to international pressure and the threat of losing millions in aid, Karzai fires two election officials seen as condoning fraud, but diplomats fear their replacements may be no better.

04/01/2010

Karzai says fraud in last election was the result of actions by the UN election commission, western governments, and the media.

03/31/2010

Lower house of parliament rejects Karzai’s bid to take over the only independent voting fraud monitor, the Electoral Complaints Commission.

03/23/2010

Islamic Party presents 15-point peace plan to government. It calls for withdrawal of foreign troops beginning 7/10, well ahead of US timetable. However, they appear willing to negotiate. They also say that the Taliban will abide by the terms of an agreement, though the Taliban disputes this.

03/22/2010

Karzai meets with insurgent group, the Islamic Party, led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, to discuss peace, which also means how the party would share in power. Hekmatyar was an anti-Soviet insurgent in the 1980s and considered one of the most vicious. He was also prime minister before the Taliban took control in 1996.

02/12/2010

Major offensive against Taliban in South.

01/27/2010

Karzai announces new effort to reconcile with individual Taliban members. However, previous efforts have been unsuccessful because those who return generally find neither money, homes, nor jobs, and they are often threatened by Taliban and rejected by their neighbors.

01/24/2010

Parliamentary elections delayed until 9/18/10 because of lack of money, continuing violence, and logistical problems. UN and others applaud move so that election procedures can be improved. Also increased push for talks with Taliban; UN officials call for government to take some people off its terrorist list in order to promote talks.

12/01/2009

US elects to send 30000 more troops to Afghanistan and demands that Karzai reduce corruption. President Obama says he will start bringing troops back in 2011.

11/02/2009

Election commission, still insisting that Karzai won a majority of the votes in the election, names him president.

11/01/2009

Abdullah pulls out of election runoff scheduled for 11/7, saying that he thought it would be as fraudulent as the previous one.

10/27/2009

Karzai’s brother Ahmed reported being paid by the CIA. He has also been rumored to be in the drug trade.

09/20/2009

Commander of Middle East forces, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, reports to US president that more troops are needed to stop insurgency. Obama says he will consider all options.

09/08/2009

90% count of vote gives Karzai 54% and Abdullah 28%, but UN commission says there was “clear and convincing evidence of fraud” and ordered a partial recount.

08/26/2009

Early returns, about 10% of votes, put Karzai in close race with Abdullah Abdullah, his strongest opponent, each with about 40%. The announcement seems calculated to maintain calm. Growing evidence of vote fraud, however.

08/24/2009

Cabinet minister says Karzai has 68% of the vote with 90% counted, though he won only 55% in the last election

08/20/2009

Election called a success by Karzai despite some attacks and intimidation by Taliban. Turnout expected to be much lower than the 70% of previous election.

08/16/2009

Preparation for voting very disorganized in some areas, especially those dominated by Pashtuns. The Pashtuns often support the Taliban because many powerful offices in government are held by Tajiks. Many are not registered and some areas will not have polling places. Taliban has threatened to cut off the finger of anyone who votes. An inked finger is the sign that a person has voted.

06/24/2009

Though his popularity remains very low, Karzai seems invincible in election, having co-opted or sidelined his most serious rivals. He is widely seen as America’s choice, though the Obama administration has criticized his government severely. People seem unhappily resigned to five more years of his administration.

05/04/2009

Karzai names powerful former warlord, Muhammad Qasim Fahim, as vice-presidential candidate. He was Karzai’s vice-president early in the regime, but was moved out when Karzai tried to move away from traditional power blocs.

05/03/2009

Leading possible candidate for president, Governor of Nangarhar Province Gul Agha Shirzai, pulls out of race after talking with Karzai. No explanation.

03/29/2009

Supreme Court says that Karzai may lawfully remain in power until elections in order to maintain stability. The opinion is not binding on the legislature.

03/26/2009

With US/NATO building up military operations in Afghanistan, Afghan Taliban and Pakistani Taliban say they will begin a new offensive in Afghanistan. Although the two are natural allies (the Pakistanis being an offshoot of the Afghanis), they have diverged somewhat as the Pakistanis focused on gaining ground in Pakistan, which they have done in the western provinces, including Swat. US announces that it will increase forces beyond the 17,000, mainly trainers, and also set benchmarks for progress in Afghanistan and prod governments in the region to take more responsibility in the fighting.

02/28/2009

Karzai orders elections moved up to April or May.

02/17/2009

US President Obama, following military recommendations, orders 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan. Violence continues and 2009 death toll is highest since Taliban was ousted in 2001.

01/29/2009

Election commission says it must delay voting until August in order to be properly prepared. However, the Constitution says that Karzai’s term ends on 5/22 and that elections must be held 30 to 60 days before that. Opposition leaders say they will stop recognizing his authority after 5/22.

11/18/2008

Taliban reject Karzai’s offer.

11/16/2008

Karzai offers to guarantee the safety of leader of Taliban, Mullah Muhammad Omar, if he agrees to negotiate a peaceful settlement to end the war. US has offered $10 million for his capture. Karzai says if other countries disagree with this policy, they will have to remove him as president or remove their troops.

10/11/2008

Karzai reshuffles cabinet following corruption charges, including a recent NY Times article that said his brother was involved in drug-selling.

09/25/2008

US and Pakistani forces exchange fire. US forces say they were in Afghan territory, Pakistanis say they were in Pakistan.

09/03/2008

US troops pursue Al Qaeda fighters from Afghanistan to Pakistan, perhaps signaling a new broadening of the war there.

08/18/2008

Fighting reaches a new peak with a coordinated attack on largest American base. Kabul seems almost besieged.

06/29/2008

Taliban gaining strength, especially in Pakistan, where the Pakistanis have begun attacking them, especially around Peshawar, where they had set up bases.

06/25/2008

Government accuses Pakistan, through its ISI intelligence service, of assassination plot.

04/27/2008

Assassination attempt on Karzai disrupts Afghan national day military parade. Taliban takes credit, saying it wanted to show that it could disrupt the event and strike in the heart of Kabul.

09/25/2007

Four months after parliament votes to remove the foreign minister on grounds of incompetence, he remains in his job, protected by Karzai, who says the vote was illegal and political. Opposition legislators are threatening a boycott.

03/01/2007

Opposition largely coalesces in the National Front, which is advocating constitutional changes to weaken the presidency and give more influence to political parties. It is largely led by former members of the Northern Alliance, the mostly non-Pashtun resistance group of the Soviet war.

02/27/2007

Suicide bomber kills 23 Afghans one mile from where US Vice President Dick Cheney is staying.

01/29/2007

Karzai offers to negotiate with Taliban.

12/10/2006

Militants in North Waziristan (Pakistan) are openly flouting terms of peace agreement with Pakistan by helping Taliban in Afghanistan. Militants are now effectively in control of the province and are spreading their power over neighboring provinces.

09/27/2006

In visit to Washington, Karzai and Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan criticize each other for the resurgence of the Taliban.

08/01/2006

Pakistan President Musharraf signs truce with militants in North Waziristan, probably where bin Laden is hiding. Terms of the agreement include a ban on help for Taliban in Afghanistan.

05/29/2006

Large riots in Kabul after military convoy vehicle has a brake failure and kills several Afghans.

05/21/2006

Parliament rejects budget because salaries for civil servants, including teachers, are not increased enough. International donors are not willing to pay for this without administrative reform, Karzai says. It is the first time parliament has voted on a budget. Afghanistan’s budget is $836 million, of which $500 million will be raised internally and the rest from foreign sources. A separate budget of $1.2 billion, called the development budget, comes entirely from foreign aid. The Afghan calendar year (and budget year) began on March 21.

05/02/2006

Taliban increasingly apparent in rural south, as NATO troops, which have said they would not fight terrorists, are to take over from US troops.

04/20/2006

Broad support for Karzai’s cabinet.

04/19/2006

Although Karzai has reduced the dominance of former Northern Alliance members in his cabinet, parliament expresses opposition to many of his choices and outcome of vote on it on 4/20 is unclear.

03/27/2006

Rahman to be freed as prosecutors find themselves running out of time. They have one month in which to bring a case.

03/26/2006

Convert’s case is returned to prosecutors because of “gaps,” and his mental condition may be evaluated. Finding him unstable could remove him from the religious court’s hands.

03/23/2006

US and other western nations protest the arrest of a Christian convert, Abdul Rahman, for apostasy, which is punishable by death. However, the Ulema, the national religious council, which is conservative, is calling for the death penalty. Afghanistan’s constitution, although it accords religious freedom to citizens, also says that no law can contravene sharia. Crimes under sharia are handled by the religious court system, which is separate from the civil courts

03/01/2006

Attacks, notably suicide bomber attacks, by Taliban and Al-Qaeda have risen steadily in the past year.

12/20/2005

Upper house elects as chairman an ally of Karzai, Sebaghatullah Majadeddi.

12/19/2005

Parliament convenes for the first time.

12/10/2004

Drought in Afghanistan enters seventh year. Recently years have had a little more than .1 inch of rain.

10/24/2004

Although not all the votes are counted, Karzai appears to have a majority in voting for president.

10/09/2004

Voting goes on peacefully, although opponents of Karzai charge fraud.

08/11/2004

Election board approves 17 candidates to oppose Karzai.

08/04/2004

Defense minister and vice president Marshal Muhammad Qasim Fahim says he will not support Karzai in October elections and instead would back former education minister Yunus Qanooni. Fahim was dropped from Karzai’s ticket last week, and will take other officials with him, but he has promised to encourage a peaceful election.

03/21/2004

Son of warlord Ismail Khan, provincial governor of Herat, slain in attack on a government commander whom he believed was responsible for assassination attempt on his father.

11/14/2003

Local conflicts continuing.

08/19/2003

Fourth attack on Afghan government in two days. Remnants of Taliban are held responsible.

01/04/2003

Loya Jiraga Agrees to New Constitution

Loya jirga agrees to a new constitution that provides for a directly elected president, and independent judiciary, and a two-chamber national assembly. The nation will be called the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan with Islam a "sacred religion." Religious freedom is guaranteed according to laws to be enacted. There will be two vice-presidents. The two houses are called a Wolesi Jirga or "house of the people" and a Meshrano Jirga or "house of elders." Pashto and Dari and the official languages, with other languages to be considered official in their regions. Elections to be held in six months.

01/01/2003

Loya Jirga adjourns with little progress toward writing accord on constitution. Main conflict is between Karzai and his Pashtun group and Islamist leaders and ethnic minorities of the north. 48% of the members refused to vote on amendments meant to break up the impasse, leaving the group in disarray.

11/03/2002

Karzai fires 15 top officials in provinces, in an attempt to undermine power of the warlords, in the wake of serious fighting in the north between Dostum and Atta Muhammad.

06/13/2002

Karzai overwhelmingly elected president for a two-year term.

06/11/2002

Rabbani throws his support to Karzai as president.

06/10/2002

After controversy over statements that seemed to indicate he would run for high office that delays opening of loya jirga, former king Zahir Shah says he will not be a candidate for any executive position in the new government.

05/01/2002

Currency, called the afghani, is now nearly worthless as Northern Alliance warlords unload hoarded money they had printed.

04/03/2002

Following cancellation of visit by former king Mohammed Zahir Shah, government arrests 160 believed to be involved in plot to topple government. Most are members of Hezb-e-Islami, a militant group predominately Pashtuns led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

01/30/2002

Fighting breaks out between rival warlords in town south of Kabul.

01/03/2002

While Karzai begins to construct government, Rabbani remains a powerful figure, holding court in a government home near Karzai's. Karzai, a Pashtun, is something of an outsider among government officials, most of whom are Tajiks, like Rabbani, who appointed them.

12/09/2001

Kandahar falls, ending Taliban rule.

12/04/2001

Marines to support attack on last Taliban holdout, Kandahar. Pashtun fighters will make the assault, however. Talks in Bonn, Germany, among anti-Taliban political groups produce a plan for an interim government. There will be a chairman, five deputies, and 23 ministers. The chairman will be Hamid Karzai. It will take control on 12/22 for a term as long as six months, during which it must prepare for a loya jirga, or grand council of all the political, religious, tribal, ethnic, and cultural groups. Plan also call for a UN security force in Kabul and perhaps elsewhere.

11/25/2001

Last large garrison of Taliban in the north, Kunduz, falls. Some foreign Taliban surrendering and then rebelling as they are kept in temporary prison. US marines arrive in Afghanistan to pursue Taliban leaders and Al Qaeda leaders on the ground.

11/15/2001

With Taliban collapsing, British and American troops land in Kabul to help keep order. Elsewhere, warlords are beginning to assert authority in some areas.

11/13/2001

3000 Northern Alliance troopers enter Kabul to keep order. Taliban retreating toward the south as southern tribes mass around Kandahar.

11/12/2001

Taliban withdraws from Kabul, having already lost much northern territory. It hopes US will stop bombing so they can fight on equal terms with Northern Alliance. Alliance troops stop short of entering Kabul, abiding by US agreement with Pakistan that a new government will be installed.

10/18/2001

US special forces operating within Afghanistan, probably from bases in Pakistan.

10/15/2001

Afghani negotiators reportedly asking for a halt in bombing and more time to convince Mullah Omar to hand over bin Laden. US Secretary of State Colin Powell meets in Pakistan with Mullah Abdul Wakil Muttawakil, Taliban's foreign minister, apparently without Omar's authorization, indicating a split in Taliban.

10/14/2001

Bush again rejects Taliban offer to send bin Laden to a neutral country for trial.

10/07/2001

US bombs targets throughout Afghanistan from planes and with cruise missiles. Aim is to destroy Afghan air defense to allow for aid drops and to weaken Afghan defense against Northern Alliance, notably at Mazar-i-Sharif. Overall strategy is to break up terrorist network and also to support internal overthrow of Taliban.

10/02/2001

Taliban offers to negotiate over transfer of bin Laden to third country.

09/21/2001

Afghanistan says it will not deliver bin Laden unless US provides proof of his crimes.

09/20/2001

Council of clerics asks bin Laden to leave Afghanistan voluntarily, but vows holy war if US attacks.

09/19/2001

Bush demands bin Laden be turned over to US and orders heavy bombers to Afghan region.

09/18/2001

Taliban refuses to give us bin Laden without clear proof. Also says that the demand must come from Arab League. Not clear where bin Laden is. Taliban is still led by (now) Mullah Mohammed Omar.

09/17/2001

US forces Pakistan to send team to Afghanistan to demand handover of bin Laden, destruction of his training camps, or face military response, possibly including invasion, that would attempt to remove Taliban from government.

09/15/2001

Massoud dies. His place is taken by Mohammed Fahim.

09/11/2001

September 11th, 2001

Kabul airport hit by missiles, said to be from guerrillas. Afghanistan denies any involvement in attacks in US and says bin Laden was not involved either.

09/10/2001

Suicide government bomber wounds Defense Minister Massoud.

02/06/2001

Taliban seems to have significantly reduced opium poppy production.

12/20/2000

After tough new sanctions imposed by UN (led by US and Russia), Taliban pulls out of talks on ending civil war, refuses to hand over suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden, and bars US and Russian goods.

09/05/2000

After a summer of increased guerrilla attacks, leaders of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan vow to coordinate response. Guerrillas are staging in central Fergana Valley and are believed to be supported by Afghanistan, either for religious expansion or to facilitate drug trade or both.

05/08/2000

New peace talks begin.

11/24/1999

Taliban again offers unconditional negotiations about bin Laden.

10/14/1999

Opposition claims victory in north. UN votes to impose sanctions on Taliban, unless it turns over Osama bin laden, Saudi-born militant behind bombing of American embassies in Kenya.

09/27/1999

Taliban, still failing to get UN recognition, threatens to further reduce international cooperation.

10/12/1996

Two remaining guerrilla factions, one led by Abdul Rashid Dostum (ethnic Uzbek who sided with Soviet Union, and whose backers currently include India, Iran, and Russia) and Ahmad Shah Massoud, longtime guerrilla leader and Defense Minister in Rabbani's government.

09/25/1996

Taliban captures Kabul, sending Rabbani government fleeing, and accusing Pakistan of helping Taliban.

02/15/1995

New army of Afghan patriots and fundamentalists called the Taliban has taken control of 40% of the country in the last 6 months. Their strength has forced Muslim leaders to the bargaining table, increasing prospects for real peace.

03/01/1994

Spring/94. Brother Omar, a Taliban, or student, rouses villagers to punish soldiers who raped a girl in his village, the beginning of the fundamentalist Taliban movement.

01/02/1993

Heavy factional fighting in Kabul between soldiers of President Burhanuddin Rabbani and those of Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum. It was the first fighting between Rabbani and Dostum, who is based in a northern city, Mazar-i-Sharif.