20 Afghan and international officials agree in principle to a UN peacekeeping force, which will help rebuild Afghanistan.
declares that al-Qaeda has been destroyed in Afghanistan. bombards a complex of caves where he is believed to be hiding. 11 Bin Laden's forces retreat to mountains near Tora Bora in eastern Afghanistan. While the Taliban have been completely removed from power, former Taliban soldiers show up in nearby villages and continue to push the Taliban's policies. 9 The Taliban surrender Kandahar and withdraw from the city.
No agreement, however, is made on the fate of Mullah Omar and Osama bin Laden. 6 The Taliban agree to surrender Kandahar. 5 Hamid Karzai, an Afghan tribal leader, is chosen to head an interim government by the delegates in Bonn. Mullah Omar reportedly tells the remaining Taliban forces to "fight to the death." Meanwhile, the Northern Alliance agrees to the presence of international peacekeeping forces. Afghan leaders represent 4 factions: the Northern Alliance the "Rome Group," representing former Afghan King Mohammad Zahir Shah the "Peshawar Group," representing Afghan refugees in Pakistan and the "Cyprus Group," representing an Iranian-backed group of Afghan exiles. 27 Afghan leaders meet with UN representatives in Bonn, Germany, to work out guidelines for a post-Taliban government. This is the first major incursion of U.S. 25 Hundreds of marines land near Kandahar to combat Taliban and al-Qaeda forces. A CIA agent, about 30 Northern Alliance soldiers, and more than 500 Taliban prisoners are killed.
The prison held several hundred Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters, many of them foreign, who had surrendered in Kunduz. special forces and air strikes help subdue a prison revolt in Mazar-i-Sharif. The Taliban deny knowing the location of Osama bin Laden. The Taliban in Kandahar announce they will continue to fight and claim to still control the provinces of Kandahar, Helmand, Oruzgan, Zabol, and part of Ghazni province. 21 Taliban commanders in the city of Kunduz plan to meet with Northern Alliance leaders to negotiate a surrender. 15 The eight foreign aid workers held since August are freed as the Taliban flees Kandahar. There are reports of lawlessness from Mazar-i-Sharif. 12 Northern Alliance forces capture Herat and advance toward Kabul. 11 Three international journalists are killed near Taloqan in a Taliban ambush. air support, take cities of Mazar-i-Sharif and Taloqan from the Taliban. 9 Northern Alliance forces, with help of U.S. The Taliban calls for a jihad against America if U.S. efforts to arrest bin Laden and appeals to his nation for support. Pakistan's president, General Musharraf, pledges support for U.S. Pakistan pulls diplomats from Afghanistan but maintains ties. Saudi Arabia and the UAE cut off diplomatic ties.
They also suggest that they will allow him to be tried by Muslim clerics. The Taliban offers to turn over bin Laden if presented with evidence of his guilt. demands that the Taliban hand over bin Laden and al-Qaeda members. Within a week more than 4,000 people a day try to cross into Pakistan. Terrorist attack on World Trade Center and Pentagon. Massoud dies from his wounds several days later. Northern Alliance Commander Ahmed Shah Massoud is wounded in a suicide bombing, allegedly by al-Qaeda operatives. AugustĮight Christian foreign-aid workers are arrested for proselytizing. Taliban bans the use of the Internet, playing cards, computer discs, movies, satellite TV, musical instruments, and chessboards, after declaring them against Islamic law. Religious minorities are ordered to wear tags identifying them as non-Muslims Hindu women are required to veil themselves like other Afghan women. Ignoring an international outcry, the Taliban blow up two 2,000-year-old Buddhist statues in the cliffs above Bamian. The UN adds an arms embargo against the Taliban. Updated Aug| Laura Hayes and Borgna Brunner Key dates in the history of the Taliban and Contemporary Afghanistan