Historical Context Flashcards
What is the historical timeline of Afghanistan shown in A Thousand Splendid Suns? (5 points)
Pre-Communist Afghanistan (1933-1978)
Communist Afghanistan (1979-1989)
Mujahideen Rule (1992-1994)
Taliban Rule (1994-2001)
Karazi (US-aided) Afghanistan (2001-2021)
What was pre-Communist Afghanistan like? (3 points)
Under the rule of King Zahir Shah, Afghanistan was a monarchy, representing stability and continuity
He held power until 1973 when his cousin, Prince Daoud Khan, led a coup and established a republic
Women had rights but the country was still a patriarchal society
How did Communist Afghanistan come to be and what was it like? (3 points)
A communist coup known as the Saur Revolution took place
The People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) seized power - established a communist government and had Afghanistan adopt socialist and communist ideologies
Initiated radical reforms, including land redistribution, women’s rights, and secularization of society
Who were the Mujahideen? (2 points)
A group composed of various factions with different ethnic and ideological backgrounds
Included Afghan tribesmen and villagers - Pashtuns, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazaras etc.
What was the major issue with the Mujahideen rule? (5 points)
There was intense factional fighting and power struggles - different factions frequently clashed for control of key cities and regions
Civilians often found in the crossfire - significant casualties and displacement
Effects:
+ Destruction and displacement
+ Economic activity declined rapidly with the disruption of agriculture
+ Abuse of human rights (arbitrary detentions, torture, and killings)
How did the Mujahideen majorly impact Afghan history? (2 points)
USA, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and other countries provided weapons, training, and financial aid to them - saw them as a means to weaken the Soviet Union
They played a significant role in the eventual withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan in 1989 - led to the rise of the Taliban
Who were the Taliban? (3 points)
A group of former fighters took over Kandahar
Group quickly grew into the Taliban and pacified nearby areas, promising security and restoration of order
Took over Kabul in 1996 - killed Najibullah, the former president, and took control of over 2/3 of the country
How did the Taliban’s rule end? (3 points)
Terrorist leader Osama bin Laden fled to Afghanistan in the wake of al-Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks.
As the Taliban refused to hand him over, US military and allies invaded and quickly overthrew the Taliban.
However, the Taliban leadership survived in southern Afghanistan and across the border in Northern Pakistan, from which they continued to battle against international troops and Kabul National Security
Who ruled Afghanistan after the Taliban fled? (4 points)
Hamid Karzai was sworn in as the first President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in 2004
He faced many challenges:
+ Resurgence of the Taliban, and their continued attacks
+ Inability to build up Afghan institutions - became unpopular
+ Allegations of government corruption
