Briefing NotesObjectivesThe materials and activities in this option are independent and require little additional background information. It is advisable to use recent examples of media coverage of a relevant story but below is a summary of the surrounding events for the story featured.Recent Afghani HistoryNote: Information for this story is from www.afghan-web.com/history

1947	Britain withdraws from India. Pakistan is carved out of Indian and Afghan lands
1949	Afghanistan's parliament refuses to recognise the Durand line as a legal boundary between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
1954	The US rejects Afghanistan's request to buy military equipment to modernise the army.
1955	Prime Minister Daoud turns to the Soviet Union for military .
	The Pashtunistan (occupied Afghan land) issue flares up.
1956	Kruschev and Bulgaria agree to help Afghanistan.
1961	Pakistan and Afghanistan come close to war over Pashtunistan.
1973	Military coup headed by Daoud Khan and the Afghan Communist Party (PDPA). Khan abolishes the monarchy, declares himself President. Republic of Afghanistan is established.
	Khan abolishes the monarchy, declares himself President.
	Republic of Afghanistan is established.
1978	Communist coup: mass arrests and torture occur.
Jun 1978	Afghan guerrilla (Mujahidin) movement is born.
1979	Mass killings, two presidents are killed
Dec 1979	Soviet Union (Russia) invades
1984	UN sends investigators to Afghanistan to examine reported human-rights violations
1987	Government proposes ceasefire, but the Mujahidin refuse to deal with a 'puppet government'. Mujahidin make gains
	Mujahidin make gains
1988/9	Peace accords signed in Geneva.
	Soviet Union defeated by Afghanistan, with total Soviet withdrawal on 15 February 1989.
	Mujahidin continue to fight against Najibullah's regime
15 Apr 1992	The Mujahidin take Kabul and Afghanistan.
	The Mujahidin form an Islamic State/Islamic Jihad Council
1994	The Taliban militia is established.
	Kabul is reduced to rubble.
27 Sep 1996	Taliban militia force President Rabbani and his government out of Kabul.
	After the capture of Kabul, the Taliban execute Najibullah.
	Oppression of women by the Taliban. Men are forced to grow beards.
	Tensions rise as Afghan government accuse Pakistan of aiding the Taliban.

Afghani Asylum Seekers/Story UpdateBecause of the harsh regime and oppression in Afghanistan, even the act of fleeing for asylum is seen to endanger an individual. In 1998 only 65 out of 1,600 Afghans who sought refugee status in Britain were refused permission to stay. After the Stansted 'hi-jack' in February 2000, which involved 142 people, the Home Secretary, Jack Straw, granted refugee status to 2 passengers and rejected 27 other appeals for asylum. A further 73 people returned voluntarily to Afghanistan. Of the remaining 40 passengers, 34 are the subject of criminal charges, and 6 still await a decision on their case.In January 2001 the case against those accused of planning the hijacking went to court and sparked further accusations of Immigration Service staff using intimidation to encourage Afghanis to return home.