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The British in Afghanistan c.1830-1919 The British became the major power in the Indian sub-continent after the Treaty of Paris in 1763 but the collection of petty princes and warring tribes that made up Afghanistan did not really concern the British until the 19th-century. It was not until then that the Russian Empire began to push for an advantage in the Afghan region to place pressure on British India. The major power in Afghanistan was [Dost Mohammed]? Khan. Between 1818 and 1835 he had united most of the Afghan people under his rule. In 1837 the British had approached him with an alliance fearing a Russian-Persian joint conquest of Afghanistan. However the British and Dost Mohammed fell out and the British decided to invade. In 1839 between April and August the British conquered the lowlands and the cities of Kandahar in the south, Ghazni and Kabul the capital. Dost Mohammed surrendered and was 'exiled' in India, the British set-up [Shah Shuja]? as the new ruler. But much of the country was still in active opposition to the British, with Dost Mohammed's son [Akbar Khan]? being especially active. In November 1841 a senior British officer, Sir Alexander 'Sekundar' Burnes, and his aides were killed by a mob in Kabul. The substantial remaining British forces in their cantonment just outside Kabul did nothing immediately. In the following weeks the British commanders General Elphinstone and McNaghten? tried to negotiate with Akbar Khan, but at a meeting McNaghten? was killed. Then in January 1842 following some unusual thinking by Elphinstone the British and their folowers left Kabul to return to Peshwar. The number of people is variously estimated as 15-30,000. Despite Akbar Khan promising safe passage the British group was attacked throughout their journey. Eight days after leaving Kabul one survivor made it to Jalallabad?. Shah Sujah was murdered and Dost Mohammed regained his throne, ruling until 1863. Dost Mohammed was suceeded by his son [Sher Ali]? (Akbar Khan died in 1845). Following an amount of in-fighting in the 1860's, Sher Ali made some approaches to the Russians, who had extended their influence in Turkmenistan. So in November 1878 the British invaded again and took Kabul again. Sher Ali fled to northern Afghanistan but died in Mazar-i-Shariff before he could organise any forces. The British appointed Shir Ali's son [Yaqub Khan]? as successor and enforced the signing of the Treaty of Gandumak. This was a extremely unfavourable treaty and set the Afghan people against the British. In a replay of 1841 the British managed to have their Kabul garrison annihilated. By 1881 the British had had enough, despite the victorous slaughter at the [Battle of Maiwand]? in July 1880 - they left. The British gained some territory and retained a little influence but in a clever stroke they placed [Abdur Rahman]? on the throne. A man of such supple loyalties that he was acceptable to the British, the Russians and the Afghan people. He ruled until 1901 and was followed by his son Habibullah. At the Convention of St. Petersburg in 1907 Russia agreed that Afghanistan was outside her sphere of influence. Habibullah was killed by nationalists in 1919 and replaced by his son Amanullah Khan. Amanullah declared full independence and sparked the Third Anglo-Afghan War. After a rather desultory conflict the British agreed to full autonomy. In August 1919 the treaty was signed. Afghanistan 1979 to 2000 Afghanistan was invaded and occupied by the Soviet Union in 1979. But in spite of massive destruction of the land the Soviets were forced to withdraw ten years later due to a demoralized army and lack of support at home. The anti-communist mujahadin? forces supplied and trained by the United States, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and others. Fighting subsequently continued among the various mujahadin factions, but the [fundamentalist Islam]?ic Taliban movement has been able to seize most of the country. In addition to the continuing civil strife, the country suffers from enormous poverty, a devastated infrastructure, and widespread live mines. The last two years they have also been suffering a drought. External Links and References[HISTORY: For Ages, Afghanistan Is Not Easily Conquered, New York Times, 9/18/2001] |
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#REDIRECT History of Afghanistan |
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