Chronology of 20th Century Afghan History
| 1901 Habibullah, son of Abdur Rahman, accedes peacefully to throne 1907 Visit of Habibullah to India 1911 Pan-Islamic nationalist Mahmud beg Tarzi established first intellectual periodical, Seraj-ul- Akhbar 1914 First World War; Habibullah remains neutral in face of call for Pan-Islamist Jihad against British 1919 February: Habibullah assassinated; son Ahamanullah takes throne. May: Attack on British India; Third Afghan War June: End of war after British aerial bombing of Kabul and Jalalabad August: Peace treaty allows Afghanistan independence from British in conduct of foreign policy 1921 Treaties with USSR and Turkey 1923 Pushtun tribal revolts new Khost due to Amanullah's reforms Establishment of Delegation Archeologique Francaise en Afghanistan (DAFA) 1925 Soviet troops occupy Utra Tagai island on Oxus 1926 Non-aggression treaty with USSR; Soviets withdraw from Utra Tagai 1927 Amanullah departs on world tour 1928 Amanullah promulgates further far-reaching westernising reforms Queen Soraya appears unveiled in public November: serious uprising near Jalalabad and Kabul 1929 January: Amanullah abdicates; brother Inayatullah King for three days before abdicating Tajik warlord Bacha Saqao takes throne in Kabul July: General Nadir Khan (descendant of Dost Mohammed) returns to Afghanistan and defeats Bacha Saqao; is declared King. Many of Amanullah's reforms rescinded 1932 Foundation of Kabul University 1933 Nadir Assassinated; 19 years old song Zahir Shah assumes throne; with his uncles as regents 1936 US representative to Tehran visits Kabul 1939 Second World War; Afghanistan remains neutral 1942 Diplomatic relations established with US 1944 Alliance with China 1946 Afghanistan joins the UN
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1947 British withdrawal from India/Pakistan, tension with Pakistan over Durand Line 1950 Treaty of friendship with India 1951 Agreement with US for economic development 1952 Inauguration of Helmand Dam Project Discovery of old fields near Sheberghan 1955 Border incidents and riots in Kabul over Pushtunistan question 1956 Inauguration of Five-Year Plan with Soviet aid 1959 Abolition of requirement to wear veil US president Eisenhower visits Kabul 1960 Salang Highway and tunnel started with Soviet aid 1961 Borders close with Pakistan in Pushtunistan flare- up; economic crisis 1962 Second Five-year Plan 1963 Kabul Kandahar Highway constructed with US aid February: Crisis trade protocol with USSR March: New administration formed with Mohammed Yusuf Resolution of Pushtunistan conflict and re-opening of borders 1964 Opening of Salang Highway Inauguration of Democratic constitution with bi-cameral parliament 1965 Democratic elections; including female suffrage Yusuf resigns; Prime Minister Mohammed Maiwandwal Communist Nur Mahmmed Taraki founds people's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) 1966 First female cabinet Minister, Kubra Nurzai Communist periodical, Khalq, founded by Taraki, later suppressed 1967 Maiwandwal resigns through ill-health; Nur Ahmad Etemadi becomes Prime Minister Inauguration of Supreme Court PDPA breaks into 'Khalq' faction under Taraki, and 'Parcham' under Babrak Karmal 1969 Disturbances at Kabul University Second Parliamentary election 1971 Afghanistan hit by server drought and famine Etemadi resigns after deadlock in legislature; Abdul Zahir becomes Prime Minister 1972 Abdul Zahir resigns after continuing difficulties in government; technocrat Musa Shafiq appointed Prime Minister
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