Chronology of Afghanistan

1747 - Afghanistan is officially unified by Ahmed Shah as the Durrani Empire after centruies of fighting among the Moghuls and Safavids. Ahmed Shah ruled from 1747-1773.

1809 - Afghanistan disintegrates into three principalities: Kabul, Kahdahar, and Herat.

1837 - Iran back by Russia invades Herat. The Afghan army, supported by the British, defends the country successfully.

1839-1842 - In the First Afghan War, the British attempt to extend their empire to include Afghanistan. Dost Mohammad retains control but becomes a British Ally.

1863 - Dost Mohammad takes Herat and reunites the kingdom.

1878-1880 - The Second Afghan War of Britain Beginning of the second Afghan-British War. The British withdraw from Afghanistan and Abdur Rahman takes control of the country.

1919 (April) - Amanullah Khan becomes the new emir and immediately declares Afghanistan free of British control.

1919 (May-October) - The Third British Afghan War was probably shortened by First World War. The British are forced to recognize the sovereignty of Afghanistan.

1923 - Amanullah signs the first Afghani constitution.

1933-1946 - Through World War II, Afghanistan remains neutral.

1947 - Britian withdraws from India and Pakistan is granted independance.

1953 - Prince Daoud becomes Prime Minister of Afghanistan.

1963 - Border with Pakistan closed over territory dispute. The royal family demands the resignation of Prime Minster Daoud and king Zahir Shah takes control of the country.

1964 - King Zahir grants a new constitution, which bars royal family from parliment, grants freedom of speech and of the press, and gives women the right to vote. 1973 King Zahir is overthrown by Daoud with support of the Soviet Union. Daoud suspends the1964 constitution and proclaims new Afghan Republic, electing himself president.

1978 - In a coup led by the Afghani Communist Party, President Daoud and thirty members of his family are killed. Mohammad Taraki is named Prime Minister and the country becomes the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. However, uprisings led by Islamic radicals weakened the new regime and in 1979 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in an attempt to rescue it.

1979-1989 - The Soviet war with several Muslim factions in Afghanistan. The United States supported all radical Islamic organizations with billions of dollars in arms and by supplying arms manufacturers that flourished on the Pakistani border. Over 100 stinger surface-to-air missiles were never returned despite CIA efforts to repurchase them.

1989-1996 - Once the Soviet army left Afghanistan, the various radical Muslim factions began fighting among themselves. 1995 Military forces of the Taliban captures Harat and begins its rise to power. 1996 The Taliban captures Kabul and imposes harsh Islamic law across the nation and Mulla Mohammad Omar declares himself supreme leader.