The first Anglo-Afghan war was between Britain and Afghanistan in 1838-1842. During the 19th century, the progression of Russia to the Caucasus and Middle Asia forced England to defend Afghanistan. The embassy, sent to Kabul in 1808, for the first time establishing friendly relations with Shah-Shuja, gave the British a better understanding of Afghanistan, which until then was completely unknown to them.
Negotiations that had begun between Russia and Afghanistan, as well as the movement of Persian troops to Herat, carried out under the influence of Russian diplomacy in Tehran, proved sufficient for England to declare war on Dost-Muhammad, an Afghan ruler in 1838.
War
By April of 1839, the Indo-British army concentrated on Quetta, and then continued on to Kandahar and Ghazni, meeting no resistance. Indo-British troops entered Kandahar without a fight on April 25. Further away lay Ghazni. This city was defended by a garrison under the leadership of Gayder Khan, the son of Dost-Muhammad. The city’s garrison fought to the last man. About 1,000 people fell in battle including Gayder Khan.
Dost-Muhammad made the decision to leave Kabul to meet the Indian army, and battle on the banks of the Kabul-dar’ya. His army detachments betrayed him. Then he allowed his troops to surrender to Shah-Shuja, and with a small handful of devotees retreated to Bamyan. On August 7, Shah-Shuja quietly entered Kabul.
The Beginning of Uprising
Shah-Shuja was seated on the throne so the troops could return to India. But in view of the dubious state of affairs, it was decided to return only half of the Indian army, and the remaining troops were to remain in Afghanistan under the command of General Cotton.
The influx of money into the country intensified trade and industrial activity, but then the rise in the price of essentials, the intrusive influx of foreigners into the internal affairs of the country, systematic insults to the religious and family affairs of the people and other reasons brought general discontent to the country.
Insurrection
The British did not intend to leave, settling in the country. This behavior angered the Afghan population. Insurrections and riots began to arise between tribes of Afghanistan. Controlling these outbursts absorbed all the attention of the English.
At the end of September, the eastern Gilsai commanded all the passes leading from Kabul. At the same time, an uprising broke out in Kugistan and between Kabul and Kandahar. On November 2, there was a massacre in Kabul, and one of the first casualties was an Englishman.
Shah-Shuja locked himself in the Kabul citadel of Bala-Gissar and waited for the outcome. At the head of the uprising stood Mohammedia. The British troops removed most of their provisions and artillery supplies. In Kudar, the indignant soldiers of the Kugistan Regiment themselves attacked their British officers. In the Charikar, the Gurkha regiment was besieged by Afghans in its barracks, and forced to leave.
On the first day of 1842, the treaty with the Afghans was sealed. In fulfillment of this treaty, the British were to hand over to the Afghans: Â 1,400,000 rupees, all artillery (with the exception of 9 guns), many different firearms and cold steel, all shells, ammunition, all sick and seriously wounded with two doctors, and finally, six hostage officers. The convoy of the Afghan forces, promised by the treaty, was not honored.
Without receiving the promised convoy, Elphinstone decided to take the road at his own risk, and on January 6, British troops (4,500 combat personnel), with non-combatants (women, children and camp servicemen), emerged from Kabul heading toward Khurd-Kabul gorge. As soon as the rear of the column left the camp, the Afghans attacked. The guns were soon taken away from the British and the whole convoy panicked. Near Jalalabad, where he was with his detachment, General Sal, the Afghans completed the extermination of the Elphinstone detachment. Those who were saved here died later from cold, hunger and deprivation. Of the 16,000 people who came from outside Kabul, the only survivor was Dr. Bryden, who on Jan. 14, wounded and completely exhausted by hunger, reached Jalalabad.
End of the War
Sel successfully fought in Jalalabad, dispersing the Afghan forces, and General William Knott in Kandahar also held fast. Both refused to hand over the positions taken by them to the Afghans, despite the order of Elphinstone, who carried out the treaty on January 1.
To save the remaining units of Sal and Knott in Afghanistan, the following measures were taken: Pollock, who succeeded Wilda, was reinforced with four infantry regiments, cavalry, and artillery, and General Englund’s brigade was moved from Sindh to Kandahar. The latter was met at the Kodjak Pass by the Afghans at the end of March and retreated to Quetta. Pollock was already in Peshawar in February but remained there for two months. The actions of the British were more resolute and successful. Speaking on April 3, Pollock passed a few days before Jalalabad, where he joined with Sal.
After that, the British troops were to either withdraw from Afghanistan or advance deep into the country. Finally, Nott was ordered to retreat from Afghanistan, but in a roundabout way, through Ghazni-Kabul-Peshawar, Pollock was invited to support Nott by moving to Kabul. Nott came from Kandahar, and Pollock from Jalalabad on August 20. Meanwhile, in Kabul, internecine strife continued from the time of Elphinstone’s departure, which significantly weakened the ability of the Afghans to fight. Shelves and Nott moved to Kabul almost unhindered, easily dispersing the disorganized crowds of Afghans. On September 15, Pollock arrived in Kabul, and on the next day, Knott. Hence punitive expeditions were sent to various parts of the country by them, and Kabul was given to the troops for looting. After almost a month’s stay near Kabul, on October 12, the British troops marched on Peshawar. This retreat was like a flight. The detachment of Nott, who brought up the rear, was subjected to continuous attacks by Afghans. In the last days of December, the troops reached the borders of India. At the same time, Dost-Muhammad received permission to return to Afghanistan, where, in view of the death of Shah-Shuja, assumed the throne of the emirs.
Source:
- Khalfin NA The failure of British aggression in Afghanistan
- Henry Havelock. Narrative of the War in Affghanistan.
- Richard Hartley Kennedy. Narrative of the campaign of the Indus in Sind and Kaubool in 1838-9
- James Outram. Rough Notes of the Campaign in Sinde and Affghanistan, in 1838-9
- William Hough. A Narrative of the March and Operations of the Army of the Indus: In the Expedition to Affghanistan in the Years 1838-1839