nrupatunga
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Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan, 1839-42 - By William Dalrymple
The story of the First Anglo-Afghan War, with striking parallels with what's going on in the region today.
Prelude
The book actually begins in 1809 when british india 1st sends an embassy to Shah Shuja, ruler of Kabul who is currently in Peshawar(2nd capital) asking for alliance. Shah shuja is also the grandson of Ahmed shah abdali. The durrani empire built by ahmed shah was built on collapse of 3 other empires i.e. mughals to south-west, Uzbeks in north and safavids in west was by then well on its way to disintegration as well. This embassy from a previously hostile neighbour, who had ensured due its well-discilined/trained army had made impossible the raids into india which had beena one of the primary source of afghan income. However timely it may have been from shuja's pov, the real reason for the embassy was far far away in Europe. British wanted to pre-empt any napoleonic- russian advances over its crown jewel. Napolean in his prime had secretly concluded a deal with Russian tsar to take away british jewel with an joint army via Persia. British get to know this via spies within tsar's entourage and hence an urgency from british to conclude an alliance.
Though shuja himself is thrown out by his rivals within Afghanistan and had to be exiled to Ludhiana with british embassy still in Peshawar. The new ruler Dost mohammed khan from a rival pathan clan places himself in saddle of Kabul. British look after shuja in Ludhiana, shuja tries unsuccessfully thrice to take back his kingdom. Finally after nearly 3 decades in exile, things look better for shuja as unlike previous times when british had only provided money and diplomatic support this time was prepared to fight along with him or rather lead the charge in what is known as 1st Anglo-Afghan war in 1839. This was being done because of THE GREAT GAME being played by british-russia in central asia. Though dost was interested to get into an alliance with british, due to their own misunderstandings of ground realities and ego clashes between various officials within british india, they allow russia to get into an alliance with dost mohammed khan.
War begins
The plan being british and shuja take the path of sind and baloach lands and then to Kandahar before going to kabul, while Sikhs ( who had by then lost peshwar to afghans) and shuja's son attack Peshawar and then to Kabul. Without actually getting to know the landscape the british army struggles in arid path taken by them. They loose a lot of camp followers and also soldiers due to lack of water/food. Also they would be harassed by baloach tribes on course of their path. Finally when they do make into pathan lands of kanadahar, the entire army along with horses/camels would be exhausted to the core and unable to put any meaningful fight. Afghans without knowing this, hearing about the huge army out there surrender themselves in Kandahar. Once Kandahar is lost, one by one cities fall without any fight as lot of deserters join them them and let british know of various weak points in the forts making the job easier. Once ghazni falls within 3 days of siege due to deserters letting know of the weak point of the fort, dost mohammed khan opens for negotiations with british , but his offer is rejected. Then he tries to rally the Kabul elites, and makes an emotional speech. But since by then the news of defeats reaching Kabul, nobody supports him. Hence dost mohammed khan flees into exile to Bukhara. Thus the army reaches Kabul with very less fighting to do on their side.
Aftermath and Retreat
Once british establish themselves and shuja on throne, they do everything to undermine him. Things worsen over a period 2 years where over ride every suggestion shuja gives them and make themselves an enemy of various tribes. They cut down the subsidies (bribes as they see it) to various tribes and also objecting various practices of the afghan society and most importantly insult various tribal leaders who then swear revenge against british. Also british would have sent back lot of troops back to india. Once the revolt starts, british again neglects advice from shuja to act decisively against revolters in kabul instead does nothing. Once revolters scent blood, they go on offensive, meanwhile shuja locks himself in a heavily fortified fort in the city. The massacre of the british begin, again mainly due to their own inaction even then. By then dost mohammed khan arrives to rally the rebels, though he surrenders himself to british the rebels find a capable replacement Akbar khan (son of dost mahammed). Meanwhile dost mohammed is sent into exile to Ludhiana. But akbar khan continues to harass the british. Finally when british having lost many of their lot go for retreat back into plains of Indus to safety. But they are continually harassed and killed, massacred by afghans.
With no food, and it being winter of 1842 many of soldiers die of cold in the mountains. Finally when the news of this massacre reaches british india, they plan to send an army of retribution. As the honour and dignity of british is at stake here. On course of the way to Kabul, they see piles and piles of bodies massacred by afghans previously, which infuriate the army even more. So this time its reversal, british army awear revenge and raid/pillage/burn/kill everyone, every village on the way to Kabul. In between shuja is killed over a perceived insult by his godson by the king to his family. Shuja's sons imprisoned in Kabul by akbar khan, escape the prison and join british. Though this time the british have come only for revenge and not support/place anyone on throne. Akbar khan fails in stopping the better armed and better trained army, flees towards central asia again. Once british enter Kabul, they go on a rampage burning the entire city. They leave as soon as they come.
With british going back, akbar khan returns and deposes the shuja's sons. British realise that in the ensuing chaos maybe only dost mohammed khan can bring some order in Afghanistan and release him from captivity in Ludhiana. So over a period of 3 years and having achieved nothing in Afghanistan apart from spending around 15 million and loosing thousands of troops, they return back to india. This war was a costly one nearly emptying the coffers of india and also failed to achieve anything militarily or strategically. Dost mohammed returns and establishes himself.
The story of the First Anglo-Afghan War, with striking parallels with what's going on in the region today.
Prelude
The book actually begins in 1809 when british india 1st sends an embassy to Shah Shuja, ruler of Kabul who is currently in Peshawar(2nd capital) asking for alliance. Shah shuja is also the grandson of Ahmed shah abdali. The durrani empire built by ahmed shah was built on collapse of 3 other empires i.e. mughals to south-west, Uzbeks in north and safavids in west was by then well on its way to disintegration as well. This embassy from a previously hostile neighbour, who had ensured due its well-discilined/trained army had made impossible the raids into india which had beena one of the primary source of afghan income. However timely it may have been from shuja's pov, the real reason for the embassy was far far away in Europe. British wanted to pre-empt any napoleonic- russian advances over its crown jewel. Napolean in his prime had secretly concluded a deal with Russian tsar to take away british jewel with an joint army via Persia. British get to know this via spies within tsar's entourage and hence an urgency from british to conclude an alliance.
Though shuja himself is thrown out by his rivals within Afghanistan and had to be exiled to Ludhiana with british embassy still in Peshawar. The new ruler Dost mohammed khan from a rival pathan clan places himself in saddle of Kabul. British look after shuja in Ludhiana, shuja tries unsuccessfully thrice to take back his kingdom. Finally after nearly 3 decades in exile, things look better for shuja as unlike previous times when british had only provided money and diplomatic support this time was prepared to fight along with him or rather lead the charge in what is known as 1st Anglo-Afghan war in 1839. This was being done because of THE GREAT GAME being played by british-russia in central asia. Though dost was interested to get into an alliance with british, due to their own misunderstandings of ground realities and ego clashes between various officials within british india, they allow russia to get into an alliance with dost mohammed khan.
War begins
The plan being british and shuja take the path of sind and baloach lands and then to Kandahar before going to kabul, while Sikhs ( who had by then lost peshwar to afghans) and shuja's son attack Peshawar and then to Kabul. Without actually getting to know the landscape the british army struggles in arid path taken by them. They loose a lot of camp followers and also soldiers due to lack of water/food. Also they would be harassed by baloach tribes on course of their path. Finally when they do make into pathan lands of kanadahar, the entire army along with horses/camels would be exhausted to the core and unable to put any meaningful fight. Afghans without knowing this, hearing about the huge army out there surrender themselves in Kandahar. Once Kandahar is lost, one by one cities fall without any fight as lot of deserters join them them and let british know of various weak points in the forts making the job easier. Once ghazni falls within 3 days of siege due to deserters letting know of the weak point of the fort, dost mohammed khan opens for negotiations with british , but his offer is rejected. Then he tries to rally the Kabul elites, and makes an emotional speech. But since by then the news of defeats reaching Kabul, nobody supports him. Hence dost mohammed khan flees into exile to Bukhara. Thus the army reaches Kabul with very less fighting to do on their side.
Aftermath and Retreat
Once british establish themselves and shuja on throne, they do everything to undermine him. Things worsen over a period 2 years where over ride every suggestion shuja gives them and make themselves an enemy of various tribes. They cut down the subsidies (bribes as they see it) to various tribes and also objecting various practices of the afghan society and most importantly insult various tribal leaders who then swear revenge against british. Also british would have sent back lot of troops back to india. Once the revolt starts, british again neglects advice from shuja to act decisively against revolters in kabul instead does nothing. Once revolters scent blood, they go on offensive, meanwhile shuja locks himself in a heavily fortified fort in the city. The massacre of the british begin, again mainly due to their own inaction even then. By then dost mohammed khan arrives to rally the rebels, though he surrenders himself to british the rebels find a capable replacement Akbar khan (son of dost mahammed). Meanwhile dost mohammed is sent into exile to Ludhiana. But akbar khan continues to harass the british. Finally when british having lost many of their lot go for retreat back into plains of Indus to safety. But they are continually harassed and killed, massacred by afghans.
With no food, and it being winter of 1842 many of soldiers die of cold in the mountains. Finally when the news of this massacre reaches british india, they plan to send an army of retribution. As the honour and dignity of british is at stake here. On course of the way to Kabul, they see piles and piles of bodies massacred by afghans previously, which infuriate the army even more. So this time its reversal, british army awear revenge and raid/pillage/burn/kill everyone, every village on the way to Kabul. In between shuja is killed over a perceived insult by his godson by the king to his family. Shuja's sons imprisoned in Kabul by akbar khan, escape the prison and join british. Though this time the british have come only for revenge and not support/place anyone on throne. Akbar khan fails in stopping the better armed and better trained army, flees towards central asia again. Once british enter Kabul, they go on a rampage burning the entire city. They leave as soon as they come.
With british going back, akbar khan returns and deposes the shuja's sons. British realise that in the ensuing chaos maybe only dost mohammed khan can bring some order in Afghanistan and release him from captivity in Ludhiana. So over a period of 3 years and having achieved nothing in Afghanistan apart from spending around 15 million and loosing thousands of troops, they return back to india. This war was a costly one nearly emptying the coffers of india and also failed to achieve anything militarily or strategically. Dost mohammed returns and establishes himself.
