The document outlines the political history of Afghanistan from 1933 to 2001. It notes that Mohammed Zahir Shah became King in 1933. In 1953, his cousin Mohammed Daoud Khan became Prime Minister and sought closer ties with Russia. Daoud Khan was forced to resign in 1963 due to economic issues. In 1973, while Zahir Shah was abroad, Daoud Khan abolished the monarchy and became President. Conflict and unrest continued throughout the Soviet occupation in the late 1970s and 1980s, and after they withdrew in 1989. The Taliban seized power in 1996 and imposed a strict interpretation of Sharia law until being removed by U.S. and British forces in 2001 after 9/11.

1. 1933
Mohammed
Zahir Shah
becomes
King.
1953
Mohammed
Daoud Khan,
the King’s
cousin and
brother in law
becomes Prime
Minister. He
wanted a
closer
relationship
with Russia
and a distant
relationship
with Pakistan.
1963
Daoud was
forced to resign
because
disputes with
Pakistan led to
an economic
crisis and King
Zahir Shah took
a more active
role in ruling
Afghanistan.
1971-1973
While Zahir Shah was
receiving treatment
for eye problems in
Italy, Daoud abolished
the monarchy and
took over the
country. He declared
Afghanistan a
Republic and became
prime minister.
1978-1979
Daoud’s changes didn’t
work well. An important
member of the opposing
party the People’s
Democratic Party of
Afghanistan (PDPA) was
shot. The PDPA overthrew
the government in April
and became the
Democratic Republic of
Afghanistan. The PDPA
invited the Soviet Union
to make Afghanistan
more modern and to
rebuild. But the
government were
unpopular. They were
very cruel and murdered
many citizens particularly
the religious citizens. The
Soviet Union intervened.
The American
government were
unhappy and trained the
citizens to fight the
communists.
1989
The Soviets
withdrew from
Afghanistan
and were faced
with anger
from other
countries. The
war between
the muslim
fighters and
PDPA
continued.
1992-1996
The muslim
fighters won and
overthrew the
government.
They formed a
new government
and called the
government the
Islamic State
Government. The
Islamic State
Government
didn’t work and
The Taliban seized
power. The
Taliban seized
Kabul in 1996.
The Taliban
introduced a
warped version of
Islam including
banning
entertainment
and responsible
for massacres.
2001
Al Qaeda a
group based in
Afghanistan
committed a
terrorist
attack on the
Twin Towers.
The Taliban
refused to
hand the
leader over.
The U.S. and
Britain
invaded. The
Taliban were
forced from
power but
today, still
continue to
regroup.