1896 Pamir falls to Russia.
1901 The British draw another line, and the North-West Frontier Province becomes a separate entity from the Punjab.
In Afghanistan, Habibullah succeeds to the throne.
1907 At the Anglo-Russian Convention, Russia agrees that Afghanistan is outside its sphere of influence, and Britain agrees not to occupy or annex the country.
1914 World War I breaks out. Afghanistan is neutral.
1917 The Great October Socialist Revolution takes place in Russia. The Bolsheviki abrogate the secret protocols of the Tsarist regime, and grant independence to previous rump states such as Bokhara. Later they change their minds and nibble them up again.
1919 Constitutional monarchy is adopted in Afghanistan. Amanullah Khan succeeds to the throne. At this point the issue of Afghan independence is as inflammatory as Pushtunistan will be after World War II. Declaring his country’s complete autonomy from any foreign power, Amanullah strikes at British holdings along the frontier, precipitating the Third Afghan War. Allegations are made that the British use chemical warfare against the Afghans. After some inconclusively bloody events, the British recognize Afghanistan’s independence, but not before the Russians do. This year Afghanistan receives its first Soviet subsidy.
1921 A Soviet-Afghan treaty is signed recognizing current frontiers. The Khanate of Bokhara falls to the Soviets. Throughout the decade, various revolts against Soviet power take place in Central Asia, but without success.
1926 The Soviets and the Afghans sign a Pact of Neutrality and Mutual Non-Aggression.
1928 Having taken a leaf from Peter the Great’s book, Amanullah tours Europe and returns to abolish the veil, open coeducational schools and begin construction of a new capitol. Religious leaders encourage revolt. Amanullah is deposed by Bacha Saqqao.
1929 One of Amanullah’s generals, Muhammed Nadir Khan, comes out of exile to depose and execute Bacha Saqqao. He then takes the throne as Nadir Shah, and repeals Amanullah’s reforms.
1931 “Soviet-Afghan economic relations unfailingly responded to the interests of Afghanistan. A new Soviet-Afghan treaty in 1931 on neutrality and mutual nonaggression helped strengthen Afghanistan’s independence” (Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd ed. [trans.], vol. II).
1933 Zaher Shah, last king of Afghanistan, succeeds to the throne upon the assassination of his father (November 8).
1934 The United States officially recognizes Afghanistan.
1935 The Germans, Japanese and Italians begin economic activities in Afghanistan. The Nazis explain that whereas Japanese are only “honorary Aryans,” Afghans are true Aryans.
1936 The Soviets are refused permission to establish a trade mission in Afghanistan.
1939 World War II breaks out. Afghanistan is again neutral.
1940 The Soviet Union agrees in principle to Nazi Germany’s suggested Four-Power Pact, in which “the Soviet Union declares that its territorial aspirations center south of the national territory of the U.S.S.R. in the direction of the Indian Ocean.” Buhrhanuddin Rabbani, future leader of Jamiat-i-Islami, is born in Faizabad.
1941 Britain and Russia request that Afghanistan expel all nondiplomatic Axis personnel. Afghanistan responds by expelling all nondiplomatic personnel.
1942–43 The United States and Afghanistan exchange diplomatic missions.
1946 A year after the end of World War II, American firms begin operating in Afghanistan. Over the next few years, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. both give the country development loans and aid.
1947 British India is partitioned into India and Pakistan. Hindu-Muslim hostility creates bad feeling between the two countries from the start. Resettlement of Indian Muslims in Pakistan and Pakistani Hindus in India is accompanied by mutual atrocities. The North-West Frontier Province is given the choice of belonging to India or to Pakistan. It selects the latter. But some Pathans say it should have been given the option of independence, since the tribal areas in the N.W.F.P. are not mere territories but sovereign khanates.
In both Pakistan and Afghanistan there is growing agitation for a “Pushtunistan,” or separate state for the Pathan tribes, who live in the border areas of both countries. Afghan Pathans call upon Pakistan to hold a plebiscite in the N.W.F.P.; Pakistan refuses. When Pakistan applies for membership in the United Nations, Afghanistan casts the sole dissenting vote by reason of the Pushtunistan issue.
1948 Pakistan and Afghanistan exchange ambassadors.
1949 In the course of quelling unrest in the tribal areas, Pakistan air-bombs the village of Moghulgai, 2,100 yards inside Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Afghan Afridi tribesmen meet inside Pakistan to found Pushtunistan. Riots ensue.
The “Liberal Parliament” is established in Afghanistan. Some freedom of the press is permitted. A student movement springs up.
1950 Pakistan stops petroleum traffic to Afghanistan for three months. Afghanistan and the Soviet Union sign a four-year barter agreement. The student movement becomes more aggressive, attacking Islam and the Royal Family.
1951 Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, is assassinated by an Afghan. In Afghanistan, the student union is dissolved.
1952 The Soviets establish a trade office in Kabul. They export enough grain and cement to allow the Afghans to lift rationing on these commodities. Due to continuing unrest, all non-government newspapers are closed. Mr. Hafizullah Amin, a man of considerable ambition, becomes Cultural Officer of the Embassy of the Royal Government of Afghanistan in Washington, D.C. “The future is hidden from us,” says Wittgenstein. “But does the astronomer think like this when he calculates an eclipse of the sun?”*
1953 Muhammed Daoud, first cousin of Zaher Shah, becomes Prime Minister of Afghanistan. Daoud requests military aid from the United States and is refused.
1954 The U.S.S.R. loans Afghanistan $3.5 million. Pakistan signs a Mutual Security Agreement with the United States. Daoud requests military aid from the United States and is refused.
1955 A war almost breaks out over the Pushtunistan question. Pakistan closes the border for five months. Soviet Premier Bulganin says that his country supports Afghanistan’s demands for a plebiscite. The peace-loving democratic peoples of the U.S.S.R. offer the Afghans arms to use against the Pakistanis, and award them a $100 million development loan. Daoud requests military aid from the United States and is refused. Amin joins the staff of U.S.A.I.D. in Kabul. The 1931 Soviet-Afghan Treaty of Neutrality and Non-Aggression is extended for another ten years.
1956 The Afghans make “major development agreements” with the Soviet Union. The United States funds a $15 million airport in Kandahar. Amir Sayyid ’Alim Khan, the last ruler of Bokhara, dies in exile. Afghanistan receives $25 million in military aid from the Soviet Union and East Bloc countries. Some of this money is used to construct airfields, which the Soviets will find very convenient in 1979. In reaction to Daoud, the Islamic Movement, the nucleus of the religious Mujahideen factions, is formed by professors in Kabul. Rabbani becomes a member.
1957 Women announcers begin working for Radio Afghanistan.