Amir’s first encounter with Assef in the novel is described immediately after we find out that Afghanistan’s monarchy was overthrown and in its place a republic was formed. By introducing us to the ‘sociopath’ which is Assef, the author is reflecting the change in power in a negative light as he links the vile character to the new government. ‘I’ll tell Daoud Khan to remember that if they had let Hitler finish what he had started, the world would be a better place now’ is a truly frightening prospect. Not only do we find out the extent of Assef’s insanity as he happily associates himself with a person who is regarded as one of the evillest person to walk this earth, but the fact that he comes from a family which has connections to powerful people is even more worrying. Khaled Hosseini uses Assef to symbolise the changes in power in Afganistan as his morbid values first come to light after the first change in power in the country, and they become a fact of life as Assef reappears when the Taliban have control of Afghanistan.
The Russian invasion of Afghanistan is presented as a chance of escape from Amir. After betraying his only true friend, Hassan, the author shows us how the communist invasion of Afghanistan drives them to America. As America is a symbol for freedom, Amir and Baba’s migration is not simply an escape from the new power presiding in Afghanistan but for Amir it is an escape of the mind as he is running away from the tragic event that occurred in that alleyway. The change is power in Afghanistan is reflected by the author in the impact it has had on their lives. Although they have escaped the Soviets, and Amir has escaped his past, they’re lives a far cry from the wealth and luxury they enjoyed in Afghanistan. This shows how the conflict occurring due to different groups wanting power in Afghanistan had a devastating effect on the lives of many citizens as they could not live their lives peacefully.
On his road to redemption, Amir returns to an Afghanistan which has changed greatly. By running away, the author has ignored major events in Afghan history involving the Soviets. This heightens the effect of his return as the Afghanistan which is under Taliban rule seems to be a completely different country to the one Amir left. The appalling description of Kabul highlights the change the country has undergone due to the Taliban, ‘The buildings that hadn’t entirely collapsed barely stood, with caved in roofs and walls pierced with rocket shells. Entire blocks had been obliterated to rubble’ reflects on how the changes in power in Afghanistan have ruined a once beautiful and peaceful city. The author uses Amir’s initial shock in entering Kabul to show how different it had changed, although he had grown up there he could barely recognise it.
Finally, the novel ends shortly after the Twin Tower attacks and the American and allied forces invasion of Afghanistan. Although Amir’s viewpoint of this new change in power is optimistic, ‘Soon after the attacks, America bombed Afghanistan, the Northern Alliance moved in, and the Taliban scurried like rats into the caves’, the use of the word bomb highlights the fact that the conflict has still not ended and the author is suggesting that the period of transitioning for America to install themselves as the new power in Afghanistan will cause further damage to the country and its people.
In conclusion, the author shows reflects the changes in power in Afghanistan throughout the novel by merging Amir’s experiences with that of what the country experienced as a whole. Every change in power had an important effect on Amir’s life and the author uses his feelings to show us how a peaceful country ended up into a period of conflict which still hasn’t finished. Although the story ends well for Amir, his quest for redemption completed, Afghanistan is shown to still be going through tough times due to the conflicts over who is in power and the objectives and actions of those in power in Afghanistan.