The conflict in Afghanistan: A timeline

Kabul:

• 1979: The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan. Mujahedeen - Islamic fighters - from across the globe, including Osama bin Laden, come to fight Soviet forces.
• 1989: Last Soviet troops leave Afghanistan.
• 1996: The Taliban take control of Afghanistan, imposing fundamentalist Islamic law. Osama bin Laden takes refuge in the country.
• September 2001: After the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush gives the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over bin Laden; the Taliban refuse, and in October the US leads a campaign that drives the Taliban out of major Afghan cities by the end of the year.
• 2002: Hamid Karzai becomes interim president of Afghanistan. The Taliban continue to wage guerrilla warfare near the border with Pakistan.
• 2004: New constitution is ratified, making Afghanistan an Islamic state with a strong president. Later, Mr. Karzai wins the country's first presidential election.
• February 2009: President Obama orders 17,000 additional troops to Afghanistan.
• August 2009: President Karzai wins re-election in a vote marred by fraud.
• December 2009: President Obama issues orders to send 30,000 troops in 2010, bringing the total American force to about 100,000.