Why this matters now
Anglo-Afghan Wars are tested for: “Great Game” Anglo-Russian rivalry over Central Asia; Tripartite Treaty 26 June 1838 (Auckland + Ranjit Singh + Shah Shuja); 1st war disaster (only Dr Brydon survived retreat from Kabul Jan 1842); 2nd war under Lord Lytton; Treaty of Gandamak 26 May 1879 (Yakub Khan); Cavagnari massacre 3 Sept 1879; 3rd war 1919 under King Amanullah Khan; Treaty of Rawalpindi 8 August 1919 — Britain recognised Afghan independence; 19 August Afghan National Day. Britain abandoned its “forward policy” in NW India.
First War (1839-42)
Cause: Lord Auckland (GG 1836-42) feared Russian influence + Persian siege of Herat 1837-38; wanted pro-British ruler in Kabul. Tripartite Treaty 26 June 1838: British + Ranjit Singh + ex-Shah Shuja Durrani — restore Shah Shuja to Kabul throne; depose Dost Mohammad Khan.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct 1838 | “Simla Manifesto” declared war on Afghanistan. |
| April 1839 | Army of the Indus (~21,000) under Sir John Keane crossed Bolan Pass. |
| April 1839 | Captured Kandahar. |
| July 1839 | Captured Ghazni. |
| Aug 1839 | Shah Shuja installed at Kabul. |
| Nov 1839 | Dost Mohammad surrendered + exiled to Ludhiana. |
| 1839-41 | British garrison at Kabul under Major-General William Elphinstone + Resident Sir William Macnaghten. Shah Shuja deeply unpopular. |
| 2 Nov 1841 | Akbar Khan (Dost Mohammad’s son) revolt at Kabul. Macnaghten killed 23 Dec 1841. |
| 6 Jan 1842 | British garrison began retreat from Kabul to Jalalabad — 4,500 troops + 12,000 camp followers. |
| 13 Jan 1842 | RETREAT FROM KABUL DISASTER — harassed by Afghans through snowy passes (Khurd-Kabul, Tezeen, Gandamak). Only Dr William Brydon reached Jalalabad alive. ~17,000 perished. |
| April 1842 | Shah Shuja assassinated at Kabul. |
| Oct 1842 | British “Army of Retribution” under Pollock + Nott + Sale recaptured Kabul + burnt Kabul Bazaar. |
| Nov 1842 | British withdrew. Dost Mohammad restored to throne. Status quo ante. Total cost: Rs 15 crore + 20,000 lives. No territorial gain. |
Second War (1878-80)
Cause: Russia advanced into Khiva 1873 + Khokand. Lord Lytton (Viceroy 1876-80) demanded Sher Ali Khan accept British Mission. Sher Ali received Russian Mission June 1878. Lytton sent ultimatum; war.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Nov 1878 | British 3-pronged invasion via Khyber + Kurram + Quetta. |
| 21 Feb 1879 | Sher Ali died at Mazar-i-Sharif fleeing. |
| 26 May 1879 | TREATY OF GANDAMAK — signed by Yakub Khan (Sher Ali’s son): Afghanistan ceded Khyber Pass, Pishin, Sibi, Kurram + British Resident at Kabul + Afghan foreign affairs under British control. |
| 3 Sept 1879 | CAVAGNARI MASSACRE — British Resident Sir Louis Cavagnari + entire mission killed at Kabul by Afghan soldiers. |
| 1879-80 | British army under General Frederick Roberts reoccupied Kabul; Yakub Khan abdicated. |
| 27 July 1880 | BATTLE OF MAIWAND — Ayub Khan defeated British force (~1,200 killed) — greatest British defeat in Afghan campaigns since 1842. |
| 1 Sept 1880 | Roberts marched 320 miles from Kabul to Kandahar in 22 days; defeated Ayub Khan at Battle of Kandahar. |
| 1880 | Abdur Rahman Khan installed as Emir (with British recognition + subsidy) — ruled 1880-1901; cooperative with British. |
Third War (1919) + Treaty of Rawalpindi
Cause: Emir Habibullah Khan assassinated 20 Feb 1919; succeeded by son Amanullah Khan. Amanullah seized opportunity post-WWI to demand full independence + sovereignty over foreign affairs. Declared war on British India 6 May 1919 — launched cross-border raids into NWFP.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 6 May 1919 | Amanullah declared war. |
| May-Aug 1919 | Inconclusive frontier battles — Khyber + Waziristan + Khost. |
| 17 May 1919 | RAF bombed Jalalabad + Kabul. |
| 3 June 1919 | Armistice. |
| 8 August 1919 | TREATY OF RAWALPINDI — Britain recognised Afghan independence + sovereignty over foreign affairs. |
| 19 Aug 1919 | Afghan National Day (Jashne Esteqlal — Independence Day). |
Significance: British abandoned forward policy; Afghan independence in foreign relations. Amanullah Khan modernized Afghanistan (1920s); overthrown 1929 by Habibullah Kalakani + then Nadir Shah; ruled until 1979 Soviet invasion. Afghanistan’s 1919 independence celebrated annually.
UPSC angle
Know ANGLO-AFGHAN WARS 3 WARS 1839-1919 GREAT GAME Anglo-Russian rivalry Central Asia; FIRST 1839-42 LORD AUCKLAND GG 1836-42 feared Russian + Persian siege Herat 1837-38, TRIPARTITE TREATY 26 JUNE 1838 (Auckland+Ranjit Singh+ex-Shah Shuja Durrani) restore Shah Shuja depose DOST MOHAMMAD KHAN; Oct 1838 SIMLA MANIFESTO; Army of the Indus ~21000 Sir John Keane crossed Bolan Pass April 1839; captured Kandahar April 1839+Ghazni July 1839+Kabul Aug 1839 (Shah Shuja installed); Dost Mohammad surrendered Nov 1839 exiled Ludhiana; British garrison Kabul Maj-Gen WILLIAM ELPHINSTONE + Resident Sir WILLIAM MACNAGHTEN Shah Shuja unpopular; AKBAR KHAN (Dost Mohammad son) revolt 2 Nov 1841 MACNAGHTEN KILLED 23 Dec 1841; British retreat began 6 Jan 1842 (4500 troops + 12000 camp followers); RETREAT FROM KABUL DISASTER 13 JAN 1842 harassed snowy passes Khurd-Kabul+Tezeen+Gandamak ONLY DR WILLIAM BRYDON reached Jalalabad alive ~17000 perished; Shah Shuja assassinated April 1842; Oct 1842 ARMY OF RETRIBUTION Pollock+Nott+Sale recaptured Kabul burnt Bazaar; British withdrew Nov 1842 DOST MOHAMMAD RESTORED status quo ante Rs 15 crore cost + 20000 lives no territorial gain; SECOND 1878-80: Russia advanced Khiva 1873+Khokand, LORD LYTTON Viceroy 1876-80 demanded Sher Ali accept British Mission; SHER ALI received Russian Mission June 1878; Lytton ultimatum; Nov 1878 British 3-pronged invasion Khyber+Kurram+Quetta; SHER ALI DIED 21 FEB 1879 Mazar-i-Sharif fleeing; TREATY OF GANDAMAK 26 MAY 1879 YAKUB KHAN: Afghanistan ceded KHYBER+PISHIN+SIBI+KURRAM + British Resident Kabul + Afghan foreign affairs under British; CAVAGNARI MASSACRE 3 SEPT 1879 Sir LOUIS CAVAGNARI Resident+entire mission killed Kabul Afghan soldiers; British Gen FREDERICK ROBERTS reoccupied Kabul Yakub Khan abdicated; BATTLE OF MAIWAND 27 July 1880 AYUB KHAN defeated British ~1200 killed greatest British defeat since 1842; Roberts marched 320 mi Kabul-Kandahar 22 days defeated Ayub Battle of Kandahar 1 Sept 1880; ABDUR RAHMAN KHAN installed Emir 1880 (British recognition+subsidy) ruled 1880-1901 cooperative; THIRD 1919: Emir Habibullah Khan assassinated 20 Feb 1919 succeeded AMANULLAH KHAN seized opportunity post-WWI demanded full independence; declared war 6 May 1919 cross-border raids NWFP; 17 May 1919 RAF bombed Jalalabad+Kabul; 3 June 1919 armistice; TREATY OF RAWALPINDI 8 AUG 1919 Britain recognised AFGHAN INDEPENDENCE+sovereignty foreign affairs; 19 AUG AFGHAN NATIONAL DAY Jashne Esteqlal Independence Day; Amanullah modernized 1920s overthrown 1929 by Habibullah Kalakani then Nadir Shah; Afghanistan 1919 independence celebrated annually.
Frequently asked questions
How many Anglo-Afghan Wars were fought?
Three — 1st (1839-42), 2nd (1878-80), 3rd (1919). All driven by British fear of Russian expansion in Central Asia (“Great Game”).
What was the Kabul retreat disaster?
On 6-13 January 1842, the British garrison of 4,500 troops + 12,000 camp followers retreated from Kabul. Harassed by Afghans through snowy passes; only Dr William Brydon reached Jalalabad alive. ~17,000 perished — worst military disaster in British imperial history.
What was the Treaty of Gandamak?
Signed 26 May 1879 by Yakub Khan ending the 2nd war (briefly). Afghanistan ceded Khyber Pass + Pishin + Sibi + Kurram + accepted British Resident at Kabul + ceded foreign affairs. Later broken by Cavagnari massacre Sept 1879.
When did Afghanistan gain independence?
Through the Treaty of Rawalpindi on 8 August 1919 after the 3rd war. King Amanullah Khan secured British recognition of Afghan sovereignty over foreign affairs. 19 August is Afghan National Day.