Age 11 Sharbat Gula Age 28 Age 11 Sharbat Gula Age 28

Afghanistan:Afghanistan:

A Brief HistoryA Brief HistoryPashtun ChildrenDari (East Persian) Alphabet            

Quick FactsQuick Facts• Slightly smaller than TexasSlightly smaller than Texas• 31.8 million people31.8 million people• Literacy: 43% Men Literacy: 43% Men

12.6% Women12.6% Women• 4 main languages; 30 minor4 main languages; 30 minor• 99% Muslim99% Muslim• HDI: 169 of 187HDI: 169 of 187

Early AfghanistanEarly Afghanistan• 323 B.C. Alexander the Great323 B.C. Alexander the Great

• 642-998 Arab rule; Islam 642-998 Arab rule; Islam introducedintroduced

• 998-1219 Turkish rule998-1219 Turkish rule

• 1219-1747 Mongol rule1219-1747 Mongol rule

• 1747 Loya Jirga elects king1747 Loya Jirga elects king

Problems with Problems with BritishBritish

• 1839-1842 Anglo-Afghan War1839-1842 Anglo-Afghan War

• 1878-1880 21878-1880 2ndnd Anglo-Afghan Anglo-Afghan WarWar

• 1919 31919 3rdrd Anglo-Afghan War Anglo-Afghan War

• 8/19/1919 Independence Day8/19/1919 Independence Day

1928-1933 1928-1933 • 1928: King Amanullah 1928: King Amanullah

abdicated: modernization abdicated: modernization ends; sharia (strict Muslim ends; sharia (strict Muslim law) introduced.law) introduced.

• King Mohammad Nadir King Mohammad Nadir Khan (1929-1933) gradual Khan (1929-1933) gradual reforms; assassinated.reforms; assassinated.

((1933-1973) King Mohammed 1933-1973) King Mohammed Zahir ShahZahir Shah

• Some reformSome reform• 1964 Liberal Constitution: 1964 Liberal Constitution:

parliament createdparliament created• Growth of extremist partiesGrowth of extremist parties• 1973 King fled to Italy; died 1973 King fled to Italy; died

August 2007August 2007• Mohammed Daoud Khan, Mohammed Daoud Khan,

cousin, est. republic: reforms failcousin, est. republic: reforms fail

1978-1992 Communist Rule1978-1992 Communist Rule• Daoud and family murderedDaoud and family murdered• People’s Democratic Party of People’s Democratic Party of

Afghanistan (Communists) Afghanistan (Communists) seize power.seize power.

• US Ambassador murderedUS Ambassador murdered• Soviet advisors arrive.Soviet advisors arrive.• Babrak Karmal, Prime MinisterBabrak Karmal, Prime Minister

1978-1992 Communist Rule1978-1992 Communist Rule• 1978: Shi’ia Muslim military 1978: Shi’ia Muslim military

officers rebel: 100 Soviet officers rebel: 100 Soviet advisors and their families advisors and their families murdered.murdered.

• 1979 USSR invades1979 USSR invades• Afghanis flee to Pakistan and Afghanis flee to Pakistan and

Iran to organize resistance.Iran to organize resistance.

1978-1992 Communist Rule1978-1992 Communist Rule• Mujahideen: Muslim Mujahideen: Muslim

resistance to Soviet rule (7 resistance to Soviet rule (7 main main groups; some hostile togroups; some hostile to the Westhe West)t)

• Supported by US, Saudi Supported by US, Saudi Arabia, China, and EgyptArabia, China, and Egypt

• Receive weapons Receive weapons

1978-1992 Communist Rule1978-1992 Communist Rule• Soviet VietnamSoviet Vietnam

• RefRefugeesugees flee to cities.flee to cities.

• PDPPDPAA divides into 2 factionsdivides into 2 factions

• Geneva AccordsGeneva Accords

• 2/15/1989 Soviets leave2/15/1989 Soviets leave

Civil WarCivil War• 1989-1992 Communists led 1989-1992 Communists led

by Najibullah vs. Muhjahideenby Najibullah vs. Muhjahideen

• 1992 Muhjahideen win1992 Muhjahideen win

• Peace accords failPeace accords fail

• 1993-1996 21993-1996 2ndnd Civil War Civil War

• 1996 Taliban Wins1996 Taliban Wins

TalibanTaliban• Extreme Islam: no rights for Extreme Islam: no rights for

women (wear burka); women (wear burka); atrocities; destruction; natural atrocities; destruction; natural disastersdisasters

• Give sanctuary to Osama bin Give sanctuary to Osama bin LadenLaden

Osama bin LadenOsama bin Laden• Plans Nairobi, Dar Es Salaam Plans Nairobi, Dar Es Salaam

bombings of US embassies.bombings of US embassies.

• 9/11/20019/11/2001

• 10/7/2001 US and allies invade10/7/2001 US and allies invade

• June 2002 Loya Jirga selects June 2002 Loya Jirga selects Hamid Karzai as 2 year Hamid Karzai as 2 year president; 2004 elected president; 2004 elected

Current EventsCurrent Events• December 19, 2005 National December 19, 2005 National

Assembly inaugurated.Assembly inaugurated.• 2003-2009 Renewe2003-2009 Renewedd TalibanTaliban

insurgency; NATO trinsurgency; NATO troops oops • President Obama’s President Obama’s surge.surge.• $3 billion illegal trade $3 billion illegal trade in opiumin opium

and heroin poppies.and heroin poppies.• July 2011-2014 US witJuly 2011-2014 US withdrawalhdrawal

AshrafAshrafGhaniGhani(2014-)(2014-)