1926 Emir Amanullah founded an Afghan monarchy
1950's Afghanistan developed close ties with the Soviet Union during the cold war
1978 Military coup Afghanistan became a Marxist regime
1979 Soviets launched an invasion of Afghanistan
1989 Soviet withdrawal
1992 Islamic rebellion - in-fighting between rebel groups
1996 A group of Islamic students calling itself the Taliban seized control of Kabul
1996 The Taliban took over the government of Afghanistan but the government was only recognised by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates
August 20, 1998, U.S. cruise missiles struck a terrorist training complex in Afghanistan believed to have been financed by Osama bin Laden
September 2001 anti-Taliban guerrilla leader Ahmed Shah Masoud of the group referred to as the Northern Alliance was killed by suicide bombers
September 11 2001 - Taliban terrorists - al-Qaeda members - attacked New York's World Trade Center Towers and the Pentagon
October 7 2001 - The Taliban refused to turn over Bin Laden and the U.S. and its allies began daily air strikes against Afghan military installations
December 7 2001 - the Taliban regime collapsed
December 2001 - Afghanistan interim government formed
June 2002 - Hamid Karzai became President
2002 - 2003 - Peacekeeping forces entered the country
March 2003 - US Offensive against Kandahar and al-Qaeda members
August 2003 - NATO assumed command of peacekeeping troops
January 4, 2004 - New constitution introduced
April 2004 - US Offensive along the Pakistan border against al-Qaeda members.