Taliban Bans Opium
July 30, 2000
Taliban leaders forbid farmers from growing opium poppy plants, citing religious edicts. Afghan farmers are growing 75% of the world’s opium exports.
Hamid Karzai Elected
June 30, 2002
With U.S. toppling of the Taliban, the Grand Council elects Hamid Karzai as interim head of state.
NATO Deploys in Afghanistan
August 1, 2003
NATO conducts security operations in Kabul in its first non-European operational deployment.
Karzai Becomes Leader of Afghanistan
October 8, 2004
Through November, Afghanistan holds first democratic presidential elections; Hamid Karzai is declared the winner.
Afghans Vote
September 11, 2005
Through December, first parliamentary elections are held in more than 30 years, with warlords and strongmen winning majority.
Afghanistan Opium Production
August 30, 2007
Opium production soars to record high, UN reports.
Karzai is Re-elected
June 30, 2009
Hamid Karzai re-elected as president.
More U.S. Soldiers Deployed to Afghanistan
December 31, 2009
U.S .President Obama announces decision to deploy 30,000 soldiers, stating that U.S. will begin to withdraw from Afghanistan by 2011.
NATO Plans Exit
November 30, 2010
NATO agrees to pass control of security to Afghani forces by end of 2014.
Karzai Negotiates to Keep US Troops
November 30, 2011
President Karzai negotiates with tribal elders for U.S. to keep troops 10 years after 2014 withdrawal deadline.
Taliban Opens Office
January 31, 2012
Taliban opens an office in Qatar to begin launching peace talks with U.S. and Afghan government.
NATO Plans Withdrawal
May 31, 2012
NATO plans to withdraw foreign troops by the end of 2014.
Afghan Army Takes Command from NATO
June 30, 2013
Afghan army takes command from NATO of all military and security operations.
Ghani Wins Presidential Election
September 30, 2014
Ashraf Ghani wins presidential election, after sharing power with Abdullah Abdullah.
NATO Withdraws from Afghanistan
December 31, 2014
NATO officially withdraws from combat missions. Violence reignites across the country.
American Troops Remain
March 31, 2015
President Obama announces that U.S. will delay troop withdrawal, requested by President Ghani.
Nangarhar Offensive
February 29, 2016
The Afghan government, with U.S. support, carries out its Nangarhar Offensive, a 21-day push that reportedly expels Islamic State fighters from eastern provinces.
Taliban Leader Killed
May 23, 2016
Taliban leader Mullah Mansour is killed in an American airstrike.
NATO Leads in Afghanistan
July 25, 2016
NATO assumes control of security across Afghanistan, replacing American leadership of coalition forces.
Bomb in Kandahar kills 5 UAE diplomats
January 10, 2017
11 people were killed, 5 of which were UAE diplomats, and 17 other wounded in a bombing in Kandahar. The Taliban denied carrying out the attack, claiming it was a product of “internal local rivalry”
More than 30 people killed in Islamic State attack in Kabul
March 8, 2017
Militants dressed as medics opened fire and set off explosives at a hospital in Kabul. Over 30 people were killed and 50 wounded after the attack, which the Islamic State claimed responsibility for.
U.S. sends more troops to fight Taliban
August 21, 2017
United States Defense Secretary Mattis dispatches additional troops to Afghanistan in an effort to win America’s 16-year war against the Taliban.
Bomb-laden ambulance explodes in Kubul
January 28, 2018
A suicide bomber drove an ambulance laced with explosives past a police checkpoint in Kabul, near government offices and foreign embassies. The Taliban took responsibility for the attack, which killed at least 95 people and insured over 150 others
