Taliban Bans Opium

July 30, 2000
Taliban Bans Opium

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
Hamid Karzai Elected

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 Deploys in Afghanistan

NATO conducts security operations in Kabul in its first non-European operational deployment.

Karzai Becomes Leader of Afghanistan

October 8, 2004
Karzai Becomes Leader of Afghanistan

Through November, Afghanistan holds first democratic presidential elections; Hamid Karzai is declared the winner.

Afghans Vote

September 11, 2005
Afghans Vote

Through December, first parliamentary elections are held in more than 30 years, with warlords and strongmen winning majority.

Afghanistan Opium Production

August 30, 2007
Afghanistan Opium Production

Opium production soars to record high, UN reports.

Karzai is Re-elected

June 30, 2009
Karzai is Re-elected

Hamid Karzai re-elected as president.

More U.S. Soldiers Deployed to Afghanistan

December 31, 2009
More U.S. Soldiers Deployed to Afghanistan

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 Plans Exit

NATO agrees to pass control of security to Afghani forces by end of 2014.

Karzai Negotiates to Keep US Troops

November 30, 2011
Karzai Negotiates to Keep US Troops

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 Office

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 Withdrawal

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

Afghan army takes command from NATO of all military and security operations.

Ghani Wins Presidential Election

September 30, 2014
Ghani Wins Presidential Election

Ashraf Ghani wins presidential election, after sharing power with Abdullah Abdullah.

NATO Withdraws from Afghanistan

December 31, 2014
NATO Withdraws from Afghanistan

NATO officially withdraws from combat missions. Violence reignites across the country.

American Troops Remain

March 31, 2015
American Troops Remain

President Obama announces that U.S. will delay troop withdrawal, requested by President Ghani.

Nangarhar Offensive

February 29, 2016
Nangarhar Offensive

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 Killed

Taliban leader Mullah Mansour is killed in an American airstrike.  

NATO Leads in Afghanistan

July 25, 2016
NATO Leads in Afghanistan

NATO assumes control of security across Afghanistan, replacing American leadership of coalition forces.

Bomb in Kandahar kills 5 UAE diplomats

January 10, 2017
Bomb in Kandahar kills 5 UAE diplomats

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
More than 30 people killed in Islamic State attack in Kabul

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
U.S. sends more troops to fight Taliban

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
Bomb-laden ambulance explodes in Kubul

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