British Interventions in Afghanistan and the Afghans' Struggle to Achieve Independence

249 Pages·2016·2.59 MB·English

University of Oran 2
Faculty of Foreign Languages
Doctoral Thesis Submitted in British Civilization
Entitled:
British Interventions in Afghanistan and the Afghans’
Struggle to Achieve Independence (1838-1921)

Presented and submitted Publicaly by by:
Mr Mehdani Miloud
in front of a jury composed of
Jury Members Designation University
Pr.Bouhadiba Zoulikha President Oran 2
Pr. Lahouel Badra Supervisor Oran 2
Pr. Moulfi Leila Examiner Oran 2
Pr. Benmoussat Smail Examiner Tlemcen
Dr. Dani Fatiha Examiner Oran 1
Dr. Meberbech Fewzia Examiner Tlemcen

2015-2016
Dedication
To my daughter Nardjes (Nadjet)
.
Abstract

The British loss of the thirteen colonies upon the American independence in
1783 moved Britain to concentrate her efforts on India. Lying between the
British and Russian empires as part of the Great Game, Afghanistan grew
important for the Russians, for it constituted a gateway to India. As a result,
the British wanted to make of Afghanistan a buffer state to ward off a
potential Russian invasion of India. Because British-ruled India government
accused the Afghan Amir of duplicity, she intervened in Afghanistan in 1838
to topple the Afghan Amir, Dost Mohammad and re-enthrone an Afghan
‗puppet‘ king named Shah Shuja. The British made their second intervention
in Afghanistan (1878-1880) because the Anglo-Russian rivalry persisted. The
result was both the annexation of some of the Afghans‘ territory and the
confiscation of their sovereignty over their foreign policy. Unlike the British
first and second interventions in Afghanistan, the third one, even though short,
was significant because it was instigated by the Afghan resistance. Imbued
with nationalist and Pan-Islamist ideologies, the Afghans were able to free
their country from the British domination. As a result, Afghanistan got its full
independence in 1921.

Key words: Afghanistan, British intervention, India, Great Game
Acknowledgement
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisor Pr.
Badra. Lahouel for her kindness, patience, guidance and, above all, for
teaching me how to be a ‗successful researcher.‘Thanks a lot, Madam.
I am thankful to all the members of the jury, namely, the
President:Professor Bouhadiba Zoulikha, to Professor Moulfi,
Professor Benmoussat Smail, Doctor Dani Fatiha and Doctor
Meberbech Fewzia for having devoted their precious time to reading my
work.
Table of Contents

Table of Contents………………………………………………………………... I
Acronyms………………………………………………………………………… III
List of Maps……………………………………………………………………… IV
List of Charts…………………………………………………………………….. V

Introduction……………………………………………………………………… 1

Chapter One: Historical Background to the British Interventions ………….. 10
in Afghanistan ( prior to 1838 )
I. Modern Afghanistan and the Foreign Conquests of the Country………… 11
II. The Foundation of Afghanistan and its Internal and External Challenges…… 23
III. British Imperialism in the Indian Subcontinent……………………………… 32
IV.The Origins of the British First Intervention in Afghanistan……………….. 39

Chapter Two: British First Intervention in Afghanistan (1838-1842)……….. 54

I. Documents Relating to the First British Intervention in Afghanistan……… 55
II. The Warring Parties‘ Military Strategies ……………………………………... 57
III.The British Capture of Afghanistan Major Cities……………………………. 64
IV.King Shuja‘s Inability to Consolidate his Power…………………………….. 70
V. British Dilemma in Afghanistan………………………………………………. 72
VI.The Outbreak of the Afghan Insurgency……………………………………... 74

Chapter Three: British Second Intervention in Afghanistan (1878-80)……... 99

I. Russian Imperialism in Central Asia …………………………………………. 100
II. British Reaction to the Russian Expansion Policy and its Effects on
Afghanistan………………………………………………………………… 108
III.The Afghan Amir between the Russian Advance toward Afghanistan and the
British Failed Assurances…………………………………………………... 120
IV.The Outbreak of the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878)…………………….. 122
I
V. Amir Abdurrahman‘s Efforts to Build a Modern State………………………... 137
Chapter Four: The Rise of the Afghans’ National Awakening and the
Achievement of their Independence (1900-1923)………….. 144

I. The Emergence of Afghan Nationalism……………………………………… 146
A.Pan-Islamism and its Effects on the Afghan Elite………………………… 148
B.The Durand Line and its Effects on Afghanistan…………………………. 151
C.The 1907 Anglo-Russian Convention and its Effects on Afghanistan……. 161
D. Mahmud Tarzi and the Young Afghans‘ Reformist Movement ………... 169
II. British Third Intervention in Afghanistan (1919)…..………………………... 179
III.The Rawalpindi Treaty and the Achievement of Afghanistan Independence
(1919-1921)…………………………………………………………………. 183

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………… 195

Glossaries………………………………………………………………………. 201

Bibliography…………………………………………………………………… 205

Appendices……………………………………………………………………… 222

224

II
List of Acronyms

 CIA: Central Intelligence Agency
 CID: Committee of Imperial Defence
 EIC : The East India Company
 FIC : The French Indian Company
 FATA: The Federally Administered Tribal Areas
 NWFP: The North West Frontier Province
 RAF: Royal Air Force

III
List of Maps
Page
Map 1: Ethnic Groups in Afghanistan………………………………………… 8
Map 2: Ahmad Shah Durrani‘s Afghan Empire………………………………. 21
Map 3 The Great Game: British and Russian Expansion (1846-1900)……… 37
Map 4: The Routes Taken by the Invading Forces…………………………… 60
Map 5: British Retreat from Kabul…………………………………............... 88
Map 6: Central Asian States……………………………………………... 102
Map 7: Russian Penetration in Western Central Asia in the 19th C. …………. 104

Map 8: The Second Anglo-Afghan War: the Invasion Routes………………... 126
Map 9: Afghan State with Modern Boundary Highliting Durand Line with 154
Pakistan

Map 10: Tribal Distribution in the North West Frontier Province.................... 1 5 8

156

IV
List of Charts

Chart 1: Genealogy of the Sadozai Family 28
Chart 2 : Genealogy of the Barakzai Family 31

V
VI