Afghanistan conflict

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[edit] Afghan Civil War

Afghanistan is a nation seemingly tailor made for conflict. A crossroads for migration, invasion and conquest have made Afghanistan a highly heterogenous nation. Though dominated by the Pushtun peoples, approximately half the population, many other ethnic groups are present. These include the Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Turkmen, Kirghiz and a number of smaller groups scattered across the country. Religion also plays its part - 80% of the people are Sunni Muslims while the remaining 20% are Shia. Though each speak their own language, and have their own customs and culture, each group also speaks one or both of the official languages of Afghanistan, Dari or Pushtu. Tribal and inter-tribal rivalries, feuds and conflicts have made conflict a common thread of life in Afghanistan.

[edit] Chronology of Pre-Civil War Afghanistan

[edit] This is not intended to be a comprehensive history, but rather an indication of the consistent conflict and strife that has occurred in Afghanistan throughout history.

522-486BC

 Persian Empire takes Afghanistan, but is plagued by constant tribal revolts.

329-326BC

 Alexander the Great takes Afghanistan, tribal revolts continue.

1st-3d C. AD

 Kushan Empire arises and expands throughout the region.

652

 Sunni Islam introduced.

9th or 10th C.

 Shia Islam introduced.

1219-1221

 Genghis Khan invades.

1370-1404

 Rule of Tamerlane.

1451-1526

 Buhlul seizes Delhi and founds Lodi Dynasty Uprisings are quelled, but recur under later rulers.

1504-1519

 Babur, head of Mughal Dynasty, seizes Kabul

1520-1689

Bayazid Roshan (killed 1579) and Khushhal Khan Khattak revolt against Mughal government.

1708

 Mirwais Khan Hotak takes Kandahar from Safavids and founds Hotaki Dynasty.

1725

Afghans begin to lose control of Persia.

1736-1738

Nadir Shah occupies SW Afghanistan and later takes Kandahar.

1747

Nadir Shah assassinated. Under Ahmad Shah Abdali (1747-1773),a Durrani, Kandahar is recaptured and modern Afghanistan is established. Abdali also defeats the Mughals and takes Herat from the Persians, creating an empire that extends from Central Asia to Delhi, and from Kashmir to the Arabian Sea. It is the greatest Muslim empire of the 18th Century.

1776

Capital moved from Kandahar to Kabul due to tribal revolts, which continue into the 19th Century.

1795

Persians invade Khurasan

1799-1826

Constant internal revolts plague Afghanistan.

1826-1836

Dost Mohammad Khan  takes contol from Kabul and forms the Barakzai Dynasty, but is plagued by conflict with the Persians, and Sikhs. Dost Mohammad Khan is proclaimed as Amir al-mu' minin (commander of the faithful). He was well on the road toward reunifying the whole of Afghanistan when the United Kingdom, in collaboration with ex-king (Shah Shuja, the son of Timur Shah and grandson of Ahmad Shah Durrani, founder of the Durani Dynasty.), invade Afghanistan.

1839-1880

First Anglo-Afghan War (1839-1842), Dost exiled to India and Shah Shuja installed as puppet, but is killed in April of 1842. Conflict continues, and British are annihilated, with only one survivor of 16,500 soldiers and 12,000 dependents making it to Jalalabad. Dost returns in 1843, to rule until 1863. This is shortly followed by the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1843-1880) after Mohammad Akbar Khan seizes local control around Kabul and Dost Mohammad Khan returns to power.

1865

Russia takes Bukara, Tashkent and Samarkand.

1863-1879

Sher Ali(Dost's son), Mohammad Azam and Mohammad Afzal battle for control of Afghanistan. Sher Ali prevails, ruling from 1868-1879.

1885

The Panjdeh Incident which occurred when Russian forces seized Afghan territory north of the Oxus River around an oasis at Panjdeh.

1921-1933

The Third Anglo-Afghan War breaks out and the British are again decisively defeated. In 1921, Afghanistan gains full control of its affairs and becomes a truly independent nation. However, assassinations, coups and revolts plague the nation.

1954-1961

The U.S. rejects Afghanistan's request to buy military equipment to modernize the army. Prime Minister Prince Mohamad Daoud turns to the USSR for aid. The issue between Pakistan and Afghanistan over Pashtunistan flares up in both 1955 and 1961. Afghanistan grows closer to the USSR.

1965 The Communist (Maoist) Party of Afghanistan, after the election of its leader, Babrak Karmal, instigate riots. 1973

Zahir Shah is deposed in a military coup supported by Daoud Khan and the Communist Party of Afghanistan. Daoud abolishes the monarchy and declares himself President.

1978

In a bloody Communist coup, Daoud is killed and Nur Mohammad Taraki seizes power, with Babrak Karmal as his Deputy Prime Minister. Mass arrests and tortures take place, Taraki signs a friendship treaty with the USSR and the Mujahideen movement is formed.