1901
Amir Abdur Rahman dies,  his son Habibullah succeeds him. Slows steps toward modernization

1907
Russia and Great Britain sign the convention of St. Petersburg, in which Afghanistan is declared outside Russia's sphere of influence.

1918
Mahmud Tarzi (Afghan Intellectual) introduces modern Journalism into Afghanistan with the creation of several newspapers.

1919
Amir Habibullah is assassinated, and succeeded by his son Amanullah popularly known as the reformer king. The first museum in Afghanistan is established at Baghe Bala.

1921
Third Anglo-Afghan war:  Once again, the British are defeated, and Afghanistan gains full control of her foreign affairs. Amanullah Khan initiates a series of ambitious efforts at social and political modernization.

1923
Amanullah Khan changes his title from Amir to Padshah (King).

1929
King Amanullah Khan is overthrown by Habibullah Kalakani. After the fall of Amanullah Khan, Mahmud Tarzi seeks asylum in Turkey. The Rise and Fall of Habibullah Kalakani, popularly known as "Bache Saqaw" Nadir Khan takes the throne; his tribal army loots government buildings and houses of wealthy citizens because the treasury was empty. Habibullah Kalakani, along with his supporters, and a few supporters of Amanullah Khan are killed by Nadir Khan.  Now Nadir Khan establishes full control.

1930
Pro-Amanullah Khan uprising put down by Nadir Khan (May). Nadir Khan abolishes reforms set forth by Amanullah Khan to modernize Afghanistan.

1933
Nadir Khan assassinated by a college student, and his  son, Zahir, inherits  the throne. He rules until 1973. King Zahir Shah's uncles serve as prime ministers and advisors until 1953.

1934
The United States of America formally  recognizes  Afghanistan.

1938
Da Afghanistan Bank (State Bank of Afghanistan) is incorporated.

1939
Minor pro-Amanullah Khan uprising (January 15)

1940
King Zahir Shah proclaims Afghanistan neutral during World War Two.

1949
Afghanistan's Parliament denounces the Durand Treaty and refuses to recognize the Durand line as a legal boundary between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

1953
Prince Mohammad Daoud becomes Prime Minister. Mahmud Tarzi dies in Turkey at the age of 68.

1954
The U.S. rejects Afghanistan's request to sell military equipment to modernize the army.

1955
Mar 29 - April 1: The Pashtunistan issue flares up with Pakistan.
Diplomatic relations severed with Pakistan.  Anti-Pakistan demonstrations  in Kabul.
Daoud turns to the Soviet Union for military aid. 

1956
Soviet Union and Bulgaria agree to help Afghanistan. Close ties between Afghanistan and USSR.

1959
The Purdah (veil)  is made optional, women begin to enroll in the university which has become co-educational. Women begin to enter the workforce, and the government.

1961
Pakistan and Afghanistan come close to war over Pashtunistan.
April 26: Afghanistan breaks diplomatic relations with Pakistan

1963
King Zahir Shah demands Daoud's resignation. Dr. Mohammad Yusof  becomes Prime Minister.
May 29: Joint-Afghan-Pakistani communiqué announces re-establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries

1965
The Afghan Communist Party was secretly formed in January. Babrak Karmal is one of the founders. In September, first nationwide elections are held under the new constitution. Babrak Karmal was elected to the Parliament. He is ccused of instigating riots. King Zahir Shah asks Yussof to form the second government.

1969
Second nationwide elections. Babrak Karmal and Hafizullah Amin are elected.

1972
Mohammad Moussa becomes Prime Minister.

1973
July 17th: Zahir Shah is on vacation in Europe, when his government is overthrown in a military coup headed  by Daoud Khan and PDPA (Afghan Communist Party). Daoud Khan abolishes the monarchy, declares himself President---Republic of Afghanistan is established.

1974
UNESCO names Herat as one of the first cities to be designated as a part of the world’s cultural heritage.

1975-1977
President Daoud Khan presents a new constitution. Women's rights confirmed. Daoud starts to oust suspected opponents from his government.

1976
Apr. 23: The League of Red Cross Societies said that about 100,000 people in Afghanistan had been left homeless by earthquakes, torrential rains, and floods
Jun 7: Pakistan President Bhutto met with President Mohammad Daoud.
July 4: Indian Premier Indira Ghandi arrived in Kabul for a three-day visit.
Dec. 9: More than 50 people were reportedly arrested and accused of a plot to overthrow the government

1977
A new constitution is approved (Feb. 24).An agreement had been reached in Kabul to resume air links between Pakistan and Afghanistan (March 29). Minister of Planning Ali Ahmad Khurram was assassinated in Kabul (Nov. 16).

1978
Feb. 21: President Mohammad Daoud left Kabul for Belgrade on an official visit to Yugoslavia.
Feb. 24: A trial of 25 people accused of plotting to assassinate President Daoud had begun in Kabul.
April 17: Mir Akbar Khaibar, one of the founders of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), was assassinated in Kabul.
April 27: Members of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) gained power in a coup led by insurgents in the armed forces. The military revolutionary council formed a new government.
April 29: The government radio reported that Defense Minister Ghulam Haidar Rasuli, Interior Minister Abdul Qadir Nuristani, and Vice President Saeed Abdulillah had been killed in the coup along with President Daoud and his brother Mohammad Naim
April 30: A "Revolutionary Council" was proclaimed. Nour Mohammad Taraki was named president and premier of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and Babrak Karmal vice president.
May 6: Taraki claimed Afghanistan was "nonaligned and independent."
Aug. 18: Kabul Radio announced that a plot to overthrow the government had been foiled and Defense Minister Abdur Quadir had been arrested for his role in the plot.
Aug. 23: The politburo of the PDPA ordered the arrest of Planning Minister Sultan Ali Kishmand and Public Works Mohammad Rafi for their parts in the conspiracy
Sep. 9: Pakistani Chief Martial Law Administrator Mohammad Zia-ul Haq met with Chairman of the Revolutionary Council Nour M. Taraki at Paghman, near Kabul.
Sep. 22: Taraki dismissed six ambassadors who had been appointed in July. All were members of the Parcham section of the PDPA.
Dec. 3: Taraki arrived in Moscow for talks with Soviet leaders
Dec. 5: Afghanistan and the Soviet Union signed a 20 year treaty of friendship and cooperation in Moscow. (Later Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan based on this agreement)

1979
January 28: The first uprising activities started against the government in eastern part of the country
Feb. 14: U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Adolph Dubs was taken hostage by terrorists in Kabul. Afghan forces rushed the building in which he was being held and he was slain.
Mar. 27: Foreign Minister Hafizullah Amin was named Premier Minister of Afghanistan.
Apr. 30: Taraki said Pakistani President Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq was "involved" with attacks on border positions in eastern Afghanistan.
Sep. 15: Kabul Radio reported that Interior Minister Aslam Watanjar and Frontier Affairs Minister Sherjan Mazdouryar had bee removed from their posts.
It was reported that gunfire and explosions had occurred in Kabul following the announcement of the cabinet dismissals.
Sep. 16: Radio Kabul reported that President Taraki had asked to be relieved of his government positions because of "bad health and nervous weakness." Hafizullah Amin took all the power of Kabul regime.
Oct. 9: Kabul Radio announced that Taraki had died. President Amin publishes a list of 12,000 killed by Taraki regime.
Dec. 26: A U.S. government spokesman said that in the past 24 hours there has been "a large-scale Soviet airlift" to Kabul, raising Soviet military involvement in Afghanistan to "a new threshold."
Dec. 27: Fighting broke out in Kabul and Hafizullah Amin was overthrown and executed. Former Deputy Premier Babrak Karmal assumed the post of president of " Revolutionary Council

1980
January 1: Afghanistan said it had invited Soviet troops into the country "in view of the present aggressive actions of the enemies of Afghanistan,"
Jan. 14: The General Assembly voted by 104 to 18 with 18 abstentions for a resolution which "strongly deplored" the "recent armed intervention" in Afghanistan and called for the "total withdrawal of foreign troops" from the country.
Feb. 15: The New York Times cited "White House officials" as saying the U.S. had begun an operation to supply light infantry weapons to Afghan insurgent groups.
Feb. 22: Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev said that the Soviet Union would withdraw its troops from Afghanistan "as soon as all forms of outside interference" were "fully terminated."
Demonstrations and rioting against the government and the Soviet Union took place in Kabul.
Dec. 25: Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat said that he had "sent weapons" and would "send more weapons" to Afghan insurgents.
Dr. Najibullah is brought back from USSR to run the secret police.

1981
May 9: Pakistan officials estimated the number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan at 2 millions.
Aug. 22: Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat said in a U.S. television interview that the U.S. had been buying old Soviet-make arms from Egypt and sending them to rebels fighting Soviet forces in Afghanistan.

1983
January 19: UN Deputy Secretary General Diego Cordovez began a peace mission to Geneva, Tehran, Islamabad, and Kabul to resolve the Afghan crisis.

1984
UN sends investigators to Afghanistan to examine reported human rights violations.

1985
January 18: The U.S. announced it would increase its aid to Afghan Mujaheedin in 1985 to approximately $ 280 million.

1986
April 2: The U.S. reportedly agreed to supply hundreds of Stinger missiles to Afghan Mujaheedin.
May 4: Babrak Karmal resigned as secretary general of the PDPA because of "ill health," according to Kabul Radio. He was replaced by Najibullah, former head of KHAD, the secret police.
May 19: The seventh round of UN-sponsored indirect talks Afghanistan and Pakistan resumed in Geneva.
May 28: Najibullah announced that a bicameral parliament would be established "within a few month," on the basis of "free and democratic elections."

1987
July 20: Afghan leader Najibullah met with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and raised the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan.

1988
May 15: Soviet troops begin withdrawal from Afghanistan.
June 7: President Najibullah addressed the UN General Assembly for peace solution of crisis in Afghanistan.
Jun. 9: President Najibullah said that 243, 900 soldiers and civilians had died in ten years of war in Afghanistan.

1987
Najibullah proposes ceasefire, but the Mujahideen refuse to deal with a "puppet government". Mujahideen make great gains, defeat of Soviets seen eminent.

1988
Peace accords signed in Geneva. Mujahideen continue  to fight against Najibullah's regime. Afghan guerrillas elect Sibhhatullah Mojadidi as head of their government-in-exile.
May 15: Soviet troops begin withdrawal from Afghanistan.
June: President Najibullah addressed the UN General Assembly for peace solution of crisis in Afghanistan.
Jun. 9: President Najibullah declared that 243, 900 soldiers and civilians had died in ten years of war in Afghanistan.

1989
Feb. 15: the last Soviet soldier left Afghanistan. Experts agree that at least 40,000-50,000 Soviets lost their lives in action, besides the wounded, suicides, and murders.
Nov. 14: Mujaheedin launched a three-pronged attack on Jalalabad which was repulsed.
Dec. 31: President Najibullah called for PDPA to change its name.

1990
March 6: Defense Minister Shahnawaz Tanai launched a coup against President Najibullah. Gullbodin Hekmatyar support the coup against Najibullah.
May 21: Fazil Haq Khaliqyar a nonparty member appointed as premier minister.
May 28: Kabul government convenes a Loya Jiraga in preparation for amending the constitution.
June: Most of European embassies were reopened in Kabul.
Aug. 29: Najibullah leaves for official visit to Delhi.
Sept. 3: Najibullah participates in UN conference at Paris, pays courtesy to French minister of foreign affairs
Nov. 19: President Najibullah arrived in Switzerland for discussions with Afghan Personalities and Switzerland mediator role for formation of coalition government in Afghanistan.

1991
April 16: President Najibullah offers a new amnesty to all Afghans living abroad who accept to return to Afghanistan.

1992
March: A 51-member leadership council presided over by Sibghatollah Mojadadi, the head of the National–Islamic Salvation Front of Afghanistan (Jebeheyeh Nejateh Meli Islami Afghaistan), is convened.
April: The Mujahideen take Kabul on April 15. President Najibullah resigned from the power in order to form a broad-based government according the UN agreement. Najibullah is protected by UN. Mujahideen leader Sibghatullah Mojaddedi takes over as interim president after a UN-brokered peace deal, although Russian-backed Najibullah continued to command the Afghan army
May: Ahmad Shah Masood of Jamiat-i-Islami party is named defense minister of the Mojaddedi government
Dec: Burhanuddin Rabbani is declared president under a multi-party accord of the mujahideen

1993
Mediation by Pakistan and Iran led to the Islamabad Accord, a peace treaty, and Hikmatyar became prime minister. 

1994
The Taliban was formed in Kandahar in 1994 by Islamic students who take a radical approach to interpreting Islam. The Taliban militia and advance rapidly against the Kabul government. Dostum and Hekmatyar continued to clash against Rabbani's government, and as a result Kabul is reduced to rubble.

1995
Massive gains by the Taliban. Increased Pakistani and Iranian interference.
September: The Taliban enter the Panjshir valley northeast of Kabul, the stronghold of ethnic Tajik commander Ahmed Shah Masood

1996
June: Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, head of Hezbi-Islami, having been eliminated as a military power, signs a peace pact with Rabbani, and returns to Kabul to rule as prime minister.
Sept 27: Taliban militia force President Rabbani and his government out of Kabul. After the capture of Kabul, the Taliban execute Najibullah. Alliance between Government, Hezbi Wahdat, and Dostum Oppression of  women by the Taliban--women must be fully veiled, no longer allowed to work, go out alone or even wear white socks. Men are forced to grow beards. Buzkashi, the Afghan national sport is outlawed.
Oct 10: Masood's faction as well as those of ethnic Uzbek general Abdul Rashid Dostam and the pro-Iranian Shiite Hezb-i-Wahdat sign accord
Oct 12-19: Masood's forces retake the strategic town of Jabul Siraj and Charikar, north of Kabul, from the Taliban.
Nov 29: Taliban push back opposition troops

1997
Jan 16: Taliban retake Charikar and Bagram
Jan 23: Taliban gain Jabul Siraj and Gulbahar, at the mouth of Panjshir
May 19: A major Dostam ally, General Abdul Malik, launches a revolt along with senior commanders
May 24: Dostam flees as Taliban tanks and trucks enter his main centre in the strategic northern town of Mazar-i-Sharif
May 28: Taliban driven from Mazar-i-Sharif as Malik turns against them and is backed by Hezb-i-Wahdat
May 30: Hezb-i-Wahdat take Ghorband valley while Masood forces grab Jabul Siraj
July 20: Anti-Taliban forces led by Masood retake areas north of Kabul
July 24: Masood-led forces move to within 20 kilometres (12 miles) of Kabul
July 29: Taliban halt opposition advances north of Kabul
Aug 21: Taliban militia lose ground north of Kabul. Street battles erupt in Mazar-i-Sharif between troops loyal to Malik and those of Dostam
Sept 8: Taliban supreme leader Mulla Mohammad Omar claims Mazar-i-Sharif is besieged
Sept 12: Dostam returns to his northern base
               Anti-Taliban fighters regain lost ground and restore their order in Mazar-i-Sharif
Oct 4: Opposition troops flush out Taliban from Mazar-i-Sharif airport.
Oct.: Massacre of Taliban Militia in Mazar-i-Sharif. Grave of 2000 Taliban Militia uncovered.

1998
March : U.N. negotiator tries to get peace talks started, wins preliminary agreement.
April 17: The US Ambassador to UN Bill Richardson Talks. He was the first US high rank diplomat who visited Kabul since1974 for talks with Taliban regime.
April 26: The Taliban and its opponents hold first face-to-face talks under the auspices of the United Nations
May 7: Talks deadlocked between Afghan fractions; Taliban launch offensive attacks against North Alliance.
August 15-20: Taliban begins attack on northern provinces of Afghanistan. August 18, Taliban captured the large city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Abdur Rashid Dostum left the city and Taliban completely controls the city. The situation become intensive at the border with Tajikistan and Russian begins sending new troops to the border.
Aug 20: Thirteen days after 224 people died and 5,000 were wounded during a double attack on US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, the United States bombs extremist training camps. Their aim was to wipe out Saudi-born dissident Osama bin Laden, a "guest" of the Taliban. Approximately, 80 cruise missiles lunched at Paktia and Jelalabad.
August 27: A large demonstration of Muslims begin all around the world against the US strikes of Afghanistan and Sudan. In Jelalabad, East part of Afghanistan, people attack UN representatives.
Aug. 30: The Taliban forces captured city of Mazar-i-Sharif and controlled almost 90% of Afghanistan.
Sept 13: The Taliban gains control of 90 percent of the country, but is only recognised as the legal government by Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

1999:
March 12: Talks begings between Taliban representatives and Opposition Forces in Ashghabad, capital of Turkmanistan
March 16: Both sides, Taliban and Opposition agreed on the creation of a new shared government, an exchange of prisoners and negotiations.
July: Another round of peace talks in Tashkent between the representatives of the Supreme Defence Council and the Taleban ended on 24 July with no resolution to the conflict.  On 28 July the Supreme Defence Council forces and the Taleban exchanged heavy fire in the north.
Sept: The UN declared Afghanistan the world’s largest opium producer with a 4600 tonnes record for 1999.
October: Taliban completely took over of the Afghan largest city Mazar-i-Sharif. General Abdur Rashid Dostum fled the country to Turkey.
Nov. 14: The UN Security Council imposed sanctions on Afghanistan when Taleban officials refused to hand over Usama bin Laden, a Saudi millionaire accused of planning bomb attacks against the US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya in the summer of 1998. The sanctions included air embargo.

2000
Feb 5: The Ariana Airline Boeing 727, with 165 passengers, on a flight from Kabul to the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif. is hijacked. The plane lands at Stansted, 30 miles north of London after stop over in Uzbekistan, Kazkhistan and Moscow. 14 hijackers surrender while all the passengers were released unharmed after three days stand off.
Taliban control 90% of the territory of Afghanistan but fighting continues between forces loyal to Ahmad Shah Massoud and Taliban in northern part of Afghanistan.
Nov 3: Taliban agree to UN-backed peace talks.
Nov 12: Taliban threaten action against Russia and allies in central Asia if they continue to support Masood.
Nov 20: A peace plan drawn up by former king Zahir Shah, still living in exile in Rome, is rejected by the Taliban.
Dec 20: UN sanctions are renewed. Taliban walk out of peace talks.

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