Kuhzad, Ahmad Ali.

heman Alpnu C M L i b r q
Historical Society of
Afghanistan
MEN
EVENTS
(Through 18 t h and 19 th Century.
Afghanistan)
by
Ahmad Ali Kohzad
P R E F A C E
Mera rind Et-ents through 18th aqd Mth century, Afghanistan.
This is n collection of +=j articles originally written in
Persian anrI publ i sh~t l i n hook .form some years ago, giving
short sketctres c?f sorrze of the irrrportnnt e17ents in .Afghan History
through 18th ancl 19th c~nlrcry.
They also gitle brief biographies qf sorae olitsttrnding I'erso-
ncllitic~s rcho had leading roles on t he scene of those
- < .
historical cren t.*.
n'e hop' &hut publicclCio~r 0.f' arz Lrrglish [sersion oaf' this
hook will be use,ful to our c foreign reari~rs rc-ho may be
interested in lche hisiory oj' olrr country.
AItmuti Ali Kohznd
Contents
Page
1. Ahmed Stla11 and ' rimour Shah
I
2. Zalrlan Shah and a ~ u l i c y of Indian penet rat i o~l
4
3. 'The rnibtake ot Zaman Shah
9
4. The sl ~csess and failure of Zanian Shah 11
5. I n the fort of Ashik. The Shinwari
15
6. Hutnayun 18
7. The Prince Qaisar 23
8. #attles Letween Shah iVIa11rnud and Shah Shuja 27
9. \ i azi r Fateh Khan 30
10. Mul\htarudJowlah : Shair Mohonlt:d Khan ( The Ba~nizai
and Shah Sl~irja ) 33
11. Atl a Itlohan~ed Kh a l ~ Ijalnizdi 38
12. Sirdar hlolia~~lerl Aztlern hha n 42
13. ?'wo kings i n one palace 44i
14. '1'\$o ki ngs 111 one city
49
15. Habil~ullah I\;haii ('l'hr son alld the riches of Sirdar
Azeem Kha11 ) .51
16. l' he Saduzai in I-Ierut (5hah Rlahmud & Kamran in one
cSor~i er of , \ f ~ha nr s t a ~i ) 54,
17. Yar R.loha1r1r.d KI1an Al kozai 59
18. 'l'onerda tlie froritirr delineation 0 4
19. 'Thr ISt~glish interest ~t Herat mat t rrs 09
20. 'l'he st ruggl e of t wo sirilars i n capturing of lia!~ul '73
21. 'I'llc. lliecting of and rlanh of Ayub Shah against I'urdil
l i l ~ d i l at Hala Iii5ar 77
22. 'l'lic ~ I H I I a11(1 t l ~ r pvlrpose of 5hair Dill Khan 8 1
23. 'I'lit: ~cl ~er nt . of 1212 A.H. 8,.
24. Si ~di i r l i ol ~i n 1)il Khan and thc Kandahar
(iovern I I I ~ I I I 80
23. 'I'N o c r n ~ r ~i ng cert ~r~i oni cs ( 'I'he \,orley alld
wh(aa I heads ) 9.3
Th e Forward Policy 96
27. The triparlite treaty : The English t he Sikhs & Shuj a 101
28. How t he gateway of t he Ghazni Citadel was blown up ll(?
29. The battle of spear and the shield 11.3
30. Second November of la1 118
31. The instigator: The hero The viclor: And t he Martyr 121
32. The Abandoning ot Shairpore 6 ~ h January 1840. A.D. 123
33. Ynrlia Ra:l 1 26
34. Istirlif in the leaping fire 1 2?
35. Fateh J u n g ('l'he ki ng of Bala Hisar) 132
36. Nayal ) i \ r ni nul l a b Khan Logari 136
37. The beginning of g r t ~ ~ r a l upr i . i ng against the Engl . sh
in liandahar 141
,38. Akhtar Khan 1)awarl 145
,XI. The rise ant1 f dl l of Kandahar i Sirdars 149
$2. 51l dnr Su l ~ a r ~ rih~lrad hhau r;~id the Herat Government 153
51. Ten months siege of Herat 1 58
42. The revolt of Azad Khan, the governor of Kashmir ant1
t he action of H.M. Timour Shah against hiin 1 62
43. Tirnour Shah Durani and the plan of wazir Shah Wali Khan 165
44. The last days of Amir D o ~ t Moharned Khan 168
45. Amir Shair Ali Khan Struggles with his brothers 171
46 The results of Co-operation 176
I n Ibis article we ' have spoken of four persons; ~ w o of Sodo
Zai and two belonging t o the Barokazais. Twc of them were kings,
and two were their advisers & their Ministers. The qualities o/ the
two later persons her e selfless aevotion to the cause of the nation:
which unfortunatel~ was so much lacking during the 18th &. 19th.
centuries of our country's histor); which was the cause of domestic
struggle, & saopi ng the strength and vitolity of the nation.
* * *
111 the title of this article the names of four persous have
I ,
becn taken. I heir names, during the rei g~i of the Saduzais are so
well known, that every one knows the importance of their personali-
ties. It is qrii te well known that Ah~ned Shah and l' amur Shah-the
father and son-have been k i n g of Durralii-Saduzai dynasty, who
had ascended the throne one after the other. Haji Jamal and Payanda
Khan 1)elonging to the Barakzai Clan-as father and son-were con-
temporary to the above nien tioned kings .
Thc point ~ h i c h we should like to eniphasise in this article,
is that tl~eve two great tlleli of Afghanistan possessed sublime qua-,
lities of helflesl;i~ess, of iingersonal attitude to national service and
appreciation of prudelit measures. The inlportance of the qualities of
b
~lieve no*s of intluence ant1 forsight, it was that exalted them to
the place of P U C ~ honour in the estimation of the king that they
wcrc recllotl~d as the first rank counsellors. In point d fact, too,
the adminiatration of Ahnlcd Shah and that of his son, Tamur Shah
were? st rei ~gt l ~e~red ant1 ~us t ai i ~ed through the wisdom and devoted
co-operation of tllcsa ~~obl es .
On the occabion u l ~ c n the leaders of the Afghan clans used
to c.lec-t ollc of the noblcs fro111 amongst thenieelves as a king at - a
gatlrcring at Ka~iclahar: the clan of Saduzai, from the point of
iiun~bcr of fao~ilies and nulnljcr of men in it, was tlle smallest of them
- 2 -
all ; t o that if [he comparative strength of the number
of householtls of Barakazai an1 Sauduzais were t o lw
judged, the former was almost one ninth or one te~itli iiilies gl-ea-
ter than tlie later. ' Ihe historians seem to think that t l ~r reason of t l l t ~
electioii of Ahmed Shah to the throne was really (Ice to the fact
that his clan was very small,
mid. therefore, so that if hr (:lhniel
Shah) behaved contrary to the interests of tlie entire clans, then it
would be the more easy to ilethrone! hi~iq'froni thc. ruler$hilj of ~ h t \\.holr.
In any case, the qualities, cvliich could Le appreciatctl i l l thc~
Saciu zai Sirdar, he was elected to rule. He )+as clesig~latecl a%
His Majesty Ahmed Shah carrying the title of Duraj clura~r, niea-
ning "the Pear of Lusture"; ancl tlle nation stylet1 h i ~n as the
Father of the Nation. Haji Jalnal kha ~r , the jeader of tlie poc+erful
clan of Barakzais, nho had a great cl~aiict~ for being elt.c~t.(l, tram-
pling under foot the self-betiking clebires-a disease which hat1 over-
taken practically all the leaders of the nation of tlie tirr~c - acc.epliw
the leadership of the Saduzai leader as the ruler of entirc Afghaii-
iston, thus strengthening *he foundation of national integrity .His aclion.
at a very critical time of Afghan history, has left a nohle mark
upon the annals of our country. Ahrnerl Shah, on his part, till ~hc:
end of his
time clid not fail to rejyect the valual~lt- scrviceb of his
p e a t cooperator, ancl bestowecl all consicicratioli conbotrulit wilh ~ h z
Elders position and sacrifice: so that froin the 1~1.y smal 1t.s~ to [he
greatest issues of the realm the the arl\icr of Jalllal Khan \\7as
constantly sought 1) y the king.
Ki ng Ahnlerl Shah rliecl in the y e I . 1. I I . iunl )+a* won
followed by hiu devotetl friend llaji Jan~al Khi111. C i r c i l l n . ho
contrivecl that, aftrr a brief reacljua~rnent. 'I'an~ur >ha11 curl ol ~t , hi t i t '
and Payanda Khan on the other - as thC reapr*csli~c. ho11.q of 111e older
friends - were cast r~pori the ,stagt3 in liti:c> t o l)tv.fortil ~l l ci r cl11tie.r.
Haji Jarnnl Khari had four eon6: Ralli~li Iktl kllan, I'ilyancla Kha~l ,
Haroun Khan and Bahadur Khan, Although after the tlc~ith of Ahnit1rl
Shah, the tleceasetl kitlg'y nrillister - one ~ri \ nl ~(l Shah Wuli K h ~ ~ n -
placed Sulairnan Shall, hi5 ~on-in-law arill thr yoilllgcr of tliv ~ O I I -
of Ahmeti Shah Durrani, ~ c t rlluch t i nl ch h:rcl 1101 ]'a*-c'cl 111,lt
Prince Tamur arriling froin 1It ~ra1, i ri tlf~ff~~rr.lrr.t. 10 t l ~e islit:..s of >I
- 3 -
]3rg11 l l l l l l l h~r 01 clan 110111~s. a*c~ndct l \he t hronr of his f at ht ~r in
lllc !-ear 1773. 4. 11.
In tile first instance, the new kirlg bestou~efl rather lnore of
l l i s jnlerc.$t tc,~.arrl!: tl1e first I,orn of IIaji Jalllal Khan, one nalned
Rahim Da(l Khan, and acknn~vl ~dgcd him as the leader of the great
BsraLsrai Clan; Itui a* he nns devoid of t he c~ualities of leadersllip ,
for he W;IS some\\ hat of a niisrr-the Afghans as a rule ar e not ena-
nloured
a nian \ t ho has not a large table and is not hospitable,
a1111 thus, the ~l eogl c of t he trilles sho~ved their disapproval of the man;
llle Li ng in~pellctl ltp t l ~r s r tribal complaints exalted the second son
of Haji Jalnnl Khan to the leadership of the Barkazai clan, naming
t ~ i m as Sarfaraz Khan. ?'lie newly installer1 lcader of the Barakzais-
I'ayancia Kl i a~~-no\ v known ;IS Sorfaraz Khan made every effort to
+tJr\-t' t l ~ c tle.s~ intere:ts of the atlministration of Taniur Shah. The
First seni ce \ \ i i i cl ~ +I(. rendered. was that he pacified a trouble
\\llic.h hntl ari71.11 acainst l' alnur Shdh on t he part of the minister
oi Al~nlt-tl 511al1 1)urrani. one named Shah Wali Khan - ~ h o incited
a11 ur~cl e of t l ~ c Iatc Ling Ahn~ed Shah - one named Abdul Khalib
h l ~ u n - t o rilisc :I s~allclanl of rev01 I. Despite the fact that Payanda
I\l1n11 1 1 ~ 1 t l I I O ~ llatl a large nu~nl , er of troops. yet Ile managed to win.
I , a ttbr I'a! arlcla Ii11an \\an appoi nt c~l to s e n e ill liashmire with Dila-
\ j ar . liltan ,It.l!ncl Zai . ancl af11.r ilia1 Ile was in charge of revenue
clclltlrtnlvn~ of C)ut,tta and i \j here tllc excellence of his service
\\il,i clctb\)ly apprec-ini(>d . l ' hc Ling \\;Is highly pleased with him
u l ~ f l Ilr !\a> t . ~~l rri . s~cd M it11 t l ~ c Gl ~i Lzai aclmi~~istration to his previoudly
( l i t ntctcl cllltir.5. lIis placr ntuilr tllr rular \ $as now assured , and later
i l l 1 1 1 t h rc\i:li of 'l'anlur Sllnli. \ \ l i t >11 trr\ul)lcb arose i n t he region of
I' (' -lln\\;li' dlvl i l l rI:lll\-il. Itotll of t l ~t >cc' I I ~ O ~ I V C I ~ I C ~ ~ l,eing of great dan-
:;c'r l o L I I I ~ . I I V ( - CI I I I ( ' to I I I C fort~front alld s e r v ~ d lliS ruler, tlltls
c' c~nq~lt~tc~lv h(' (*uril~z I 11r :,t~3(1!. rlllt* for llis mentor. As )Ias
jllllg('tl i l l Iiislor!, l' irnour s11.1h 11:ltl not thost- great qunlitiee
wllich
rsllnr:lr. tv~i+t. (l hi? 1.t-111iirka111f~ l' iitI~(,r; so that i f one were to
I i I t t 1
I i t I
of tllilt age, cll,c woul(l soon
1 1 l*('O\ ( r
11l;lt
11lt' l l l i l l l M 1 1 0 ; 1~; i i l l HI^(] again strc~ngt]lclle(l tile roots of
'1';llllllllr sll;lll 'k roigll
hl' 110 ]I>SS ilt;lrl
[\ypllfy years. ki l l l l l i s valollr,
1 1 I , I i - 1 ,
\\;IS no otIlpr \hall I'avcllltln Khan,
ZAMAN SHAH.
(And a policy of Indian penetration)
Zcman St ch is the third Sad~l zai k,.r;g, ~ k o hcd con:,'dercble
interest in regards to on advance tcwards l ndi a. He was so
intensely devoted l o the project thct, he uoul d not concern
himself with anything b e s i d t hr l i d32. Eva:, if hz saw onything
apart from that proiect, he would at all times sacrif;ce it to the main
issue which consumed his being. No year would he sit i dl e without
thinking c n d Flanfiing as to how he could get to the easternmost
of his one ti me orovince, that is lahore. The East lndia Company,
which b) dinf of it: great effort had made itself the master of
the lor gest parts cf Indian territory, working up Jrom the Bay of
Bengal; naturally cpposed the designs of Zaman Shah; and set
out to remove ihe threat of the danger of Zaman Shah. This article
concerns itself with the description of that struggle).
There is, of courst , no doubt that Ahmatl Shah Ilurrani, the
Founder of t he Sad11 Zai dynasty, on account of his frtvlurwt nlilitary
expeditions, which resulted in t he Battlcs of i'anipat. open eel thc ~ i l l h
of conc4uest of I ndi a; and in the a~i nal n of 18t h. ccntury tlw
records of the Afghan's fighting power ant1 ([uali tics werc fully ack-
nowledged. From amongst the r l e s c ~ n ~ l e ~ ~ t s o f Ahmect 511ah \+as 11i.s
grandson Zaman Shall, the son of Tamur Shah - who upon mounting
the throne in 1793. A. 11. t i l l tho'sr. ~roul~lt>+omc. tin:cs, ~ h c n the i nhi -
nuation of the foreigners arid the r i ~ i ~ l r y of tllrh 1 ~ . o p 1 ~ in the col~llirp
itself Ipronght diffic111tic.s in his path: ha11 ~ i o r ~ngagr r l his attrxrltic,~~
townrtls an Indian esprrli tion.
It ~e e me d t hat some intcrnal power wi~hnut r l o ~ i h t at l cnsl O I I ( . ~
a ypar took him up to the Punjah, F r j that H hilst t h ~ r c , 11e c.olllcl I, l ; rl l
hi8 further proere8.s into the hcart of India ant1 to gi\-ca i t a ~ , r a r * ~ i ~ . ~ ]
form and shape. It ia, nf conrse, unrlisgr~tccl that illis I I ~ ~ C of %arl l n~l
Shah wag not ~nt i r e l p out or hi s own nliritl nlollc\ : f or I l r . w: l ~ ~ i r . ~ l ~ i ~ ~ ~ t
t he r o d that hnd h ~ e n trcwl 1)y his gr a n( l f ~~~l ~t l r , a11,I I!:I~I r~1t.i
succcsn hr*. too, sl l oi ~l ~l perrur it w i t h thtx libr. rt~slllt. IIlll I l r - cl i cl
not appreciate the fact that although there was a clear aimiliarity
J:et\+cen his desires and that ~hir. 11 hi s granclfi~ther 11ad \vishetl ant1
l ~at l achieved the place and rime had no similiarity.
Thc lack of appreciation of this fact , ancl t he raking of a new
rout? prcdcctd failure for hi s eflorts i:ot 0111y in India11 expedi-
tions , Lut also cuntril utcd-a* luncla~ncntal reasons-to his fall at home.
At ~vhat evrr t i ~n e A11rne(3 Shah Durrani attacked India , he pro-
ceded ~ ~ h e r r e v c r he ~ a n t c d t o g o . But Zanlan Shah inspite of
the fact t l l i j t tlie P u ~ ~ j a l ~ formcd a part of his realm , that is of
Saduzai dynasty , and that %aman Shah actually reached Lahore
several times ; he could not take a single step forwrrd heyond
Lahore. The troops of thc Easl 111dia C(1nipnny , who had heen
hasrd in India had f(,und that the clefeat of the Marahtlas at the l i a~l ds
of the Afghans , and the Rattle5 of Panipat hat1 cleared the road
for their march nort1:-west of India : t hey. thereore , skirting the
C;angte ],asin came fort\ar(l and were playing with the then
c.on(li lions i l l [he l'ulijah .
It is rclalc.tL 11.nt t11c. 1)irectors of tllc Ilast 111dia Cc~l i pany,
;111~1 r.cprcialib [ I I o A ( ~ \kho \t('rt> co~~~l i i ct i i i g the penetration l ~ol i cy
ot' in11 criali: nl ' 11 l c raicls to Ij:clio, \ +( r e rxccrci~vtl in 11iil:d 011 account
I O I 1 1 r in Intlin o n O I I ~ hid, . , ancl of h t n
i ~~t c n' s t S I I O\ \ I I I I C. 111- Cz'11.s of I<iissia 111r ot her . These points
are certainly true . But 1111 $11 (ears wcrt- horn ill tile minds of
I i t r I I lkl-t Illtlia C:o~npany nftt.r 175B . A . D . for
t l ~t y 1i:lrl 1 c'cn ~ a l c lling attt nti\c\ly fro111 h e i r di.stant ]lase at
(';~lcntln.tlint 111c.ir firs; ; I I I ( I inirncclint~ danger Mas l l ~ e progress of %aman
Sl l al ~ , th(3 Frrclr~ y; . i hillfi of A!-gl~;~nistan . '1'hf.y noted hat every
l var : II l (nl . 1 I l;c-c. 1 1 1 c . figl?~in(: n~c- r ~ Iroin the l'irall hi l l s, Safai,!
holi un(l I t 1 c 1 hh\l,c-r area t(.gr~thr r ti itti t h t * Afghan troops , tllc
hill:. rn:~rc.l~c~l 1111 t o 1 ullorc . a s 111r la51 frontier town
of 11i. I\ing-
(loln . all11 (%:IS! 11po11 I I i I l u l ~ o l r of Iiltlia all ominous sllaclow .
I.ortl \\ r . l l ~ ~ ~ l ( . 111t- Il:nr;lisll ( ; c, ~~. r nor , who was i n Indian
1 I 1 1
1 I i I I , I i ~p l ) r ~c j a t ~( ] t11e fi1t.t
I h; ~t \\ t1c.11 c n ~2f'gl1;1n I I i l l t hv AfEtln~l nrrbas-ureilw that
illrlllllf'(1 I I I I - I I ~ ~ o r t i o ~ l s ( I S north 111clia-i t
i o l I a child' s play for t he Afghans to conquer India . Vicw-
I I I ~ this fact as early as one hundred and fifty year prior to the
tinie ( in 1797 ) Lord Wellesley devised n scheme hy wich not only
rh,. Afghan progress i s to he stopped making its way further into
~i ort h-Indi a to Lahore ant1 1,eyoncl : 1)ut t he areas of the east and
?ioutt~-east heyond the western regions of the Indus river , includ-
irig t he areas of Sindh ancl Haluchistnn should be s e i z ~d from thcm.
English wr i t er s, like Alphinstone , Hawalsoa . Maleson . Tail
t bt ( ' : ar e all llniterl in expressing thc opliion that , the funciametal
l ~r ~l i c y as laid down- at (lalcutta in t he third quarter of the 18t h
c.tbntury r)f Christian l'ra contrived to a]] sorts of impede-
rnents r flit1 path of Zoman Sha!l Sarlu Zai , whether in the
1,estern Imrders of Afghanistan , or even i n his country itself in
order t o "keep him husy-", so that he may not Re p e r n ~i t t ~d t o
ent er into the eastern part of hi s realm in the P ~ ~ n j a l ) ant1 hi s
plans for a progress in India mav I,e made nu1 ancl void .
To execute [hie policy. the workers for t he Ea31 lntlia com-
pany had tlevisetl ways ancl nlrana : onc such st r at ag~l n was to
h a w him engag,-rl against the ( ) a( l j ar ~s i r ~ t l ~ e ~ v t ~ s l c r ~ ~ frontiers
of Afghanistan so that the i~ttention of t t 1c1 SLI I ~I I Zais ~ni gl i t I ) t *
tlivertetl in t h n ~ (lirecliol~ . 0 1 1 I I l i e t i o ~ , i l l t h ( ~ Kast :
i t wa9 so thought that t l ~ t Sikh I'aja -lioultl r1i nt ur. l ) the. pr.a(:c3
o f hie kingclnni i l l t t i t . T' \ ~nj al ~.
'I'ht. F:a.st Inclia Com~~nny Ji~coverc~rl a tltbvott:rl "sc~rvant" of their'8
at Hushar. a nierc.iln~~t ol' Irar.. ~ h r , lived at Homhay, hy the name
of' hlahtli : l l i fillan . anrl wllo 1ta.q an Indian sulbject . 43 ttle East
Company'.ci v i r ~ point *as imperialist ant1 fncgnloriinnic nlul they
bere !,\liltling ant1 tising their moral awl niatt.ria1 5trcrlgtli art1
pohpr tclwi1rtjs that end : in t]lr like T I . their "ser~;int"
Milhrli 91i Khiln in Rtrsl~ar , in a,l(lition to trallfl arid lmsincsn .
intt.rtagt~d Ilirnself i r i yo1itic.e: ant1 I I V t a r i c n ~ ~ n~; ~ni puI at i o~~s of
craft rt.lstrtl therclo n~:luagrtl 1,) tiale an inilrlrllcr- at t l i t * I'c.rsia~l
(:ourt . III conwr(uc3nrtS of 111i.: , l i t . arr;lr~gc.rl rrpc~iltt-cl 1 y to sr'11cl Agh:~
!i~,h:rmt-d Sl ~s h an11 Fat~11 41i Shah to tlic frontitlrs of tllr \ \ c+t -
~ P ~ I I parln of Zanran Slial~' e hin,atl,)rn . lire1 to tlosl~a(l . [llcln to
Xishapor ant1 ~rltirnntcly tohi~rrls lierat . 4ftcr ;I yc;lr ; i l r j . ; n ~ -
lish Mission under the leaderhi11 of one nallied Malcoltn undertooh
In carry matters further afield .
hlealltio~e, ot11c.r circulilstailces took shape : for so1116 l i m b thtl
CJacljar Ling* tl~einsel\ es undertook aggressive ~novetileill:, i~gailist
the Afgliati Lings ; \uliilst at other occasions. disgruntletl Afghan
princ-(13, like E'irouz Utltlin and Ii a~i i ran were eiicouraged to produce
disturl~ance 011 the \vestern Sroiitirrs of Afghanistan. Whet1 the Af-
ghan king \ +as tl111s engaged to pacify t he wester11 frontiers of Ili*
realm . thc Sikh Rajas. lilke Sahil, Singh, Gulab Singh. Mahal ~at
Sing11 a~l l l Halijit S~rigll niovecl in t he easter regions of t hr ACglla~~
territory in the rear. ' l herc is little aloul~t that in both of tllcse
cl i sco~i ~for~i i l g i l l o v e ~~l e ~i t ~ east and west, the liitlden hand of the Eaal
Iutlia Conipnny n JS at \\ ork. These activities kept Za~liall Shah, bo~li('
ti111e in t hr West anJ at li~ilt'b ill the Kast wholly occupi el . 0 1 1 all
occasions. ad\antugt. L\ab lahell ill 11ib a1)sence ; 30 that \$ he11 11r \+a*
bo occl~pie(l. a st r ol ~c \\.as acInriiiistt.rc-ci ul)oil hi111 on various point>
i ~~i cl hi3 plans \vtbre dibruptvtl.
Zamall Shah, meiliitinrc~. wah grvatly irltc-restc>cl i11 Irl(li31l nl;~ t1t:r.c
nntl his tlopt: of i i ~nrcl l i i ~g f ur t l ~er into that coii~ltry. thus. l i p g'11,~
little at t enl i o~i ant1 care to that nhi ch hal)penetl it1 the \\ ebt crt ~
fringes of his kiilg(1~1ni. Every year. t l ~erefort ~. after a3su1nio:: po\\tbr.
i l l the year 1793. A. 1). hr usc,.l to i s I'~s11ilwilr. AttocL, i111tI
T,ahorc - al \ +aya, of courac., \vitli the i ~i t ( ~i l t i o~i of' taking aiiotlirr stc.1)
forwartl heyoncl I,:~hort. into t he hr ar t of Illdia. That ~vhi(.tl rat h -I'
s~r ougl y rticouragcd tile AfBha~i hiiig ill hi* desire to e1ltt.r illto 11 e viral
parts of Ir~(li' ~.
ere. the constant invitatiolls of the Nill)itl):, of I)t.lhi.
those of Ou(lh a11t1 of Mysorc..
As t he writers
(Ellgli*ll ) thcllllz('l\.('r
I l a ~ c reconlet1 . thc c.\c.nt of Zan~an Shall'* arrival in Lahore-. 11?t,tl
to crcatc con~i dcr ahl c lrenioorh in Itidia : a i d llis p c ~~( ~t r a t j o r ~ 111,to
1,ahorc. gdvc t l ~ougl i l to Inally iilintls, r e ~a n l i u g the: earlier vic*loric..-
of his grati(1 fat her Alimcd Shah ill t hr la~itl of the Hillcl.
' 1 ' 1 1 ~ Satlu Zai king c~l r g \isitcd ~ I I C l'illljal) I i t 3111 11
as i l l the years: 1783. 179.5. 17CX. 17!)7,179Ck and Sikh Ha j a ~ at t l tB
t i ~ i l c - tv(>r I' hcaitt~rcd
allout in locnlitieb buch H L ~ (;ujrat, Waziral)ntI.
I i~l,c~rt,, i:i.d Fn1111:ur: i11,tl till t S 11icn1 ~t re tlic l akt al s of thc. ?at111
voultl l)e a child's play for
the Afghans to conquer Inclia . View-
rng tl~is fact as early as one l~uiidretl and fifty year prior to the
time ( in 1797 ) Lord Wellesley tlevised a srhenle I,y wich not only
r t 1 . t Afghan progress i s to he stopped making ite way further into
1111rth-Intlia to Lahore and beyonil ; 1)ut t he areas of the east and
.outt1-east beyond the wtastern regions of t he Indus r i ver , includ-
ilia the areas of Sindh ant1 Baluchistan should he seized from theni.
English wri t ers. like Alphinstone , Hawalson , Maleson , Tail
r t c ; ar e all united in
expressing t he opnion that , the fundarnetal
i)olicy as laid down- at Calcutta in the third quarter of the 18th
c*tbntury of Christian Era contrived to place all sorts of impede-
1nent.s in the path of Zalllan Shall Sarlu Zai , whether in the
western borders of Afghanistan , or even in hi:; country itself in
order to "keep him ltusy". so that he may not t)e permitted to
tBnter into thr. eastern part of his realm in the Punjah antl his
plans for a progrrw in Intlia may t)e nia(le slid voi d.
1'0 execute this policy. the workers for the East India com-
pany had cleviwtrl way@ an(] means : one such stratagem was to
have hirn engagpri against the ()atIjarns in the wrlstern frontiers
of' Afghanistan so that t l ~e attention of tllc. Sa1l11 Zais r ~i i gl ~t Iw
tlivertetl in that clirection . 011 the other clirection , i n the F:ast :
i t was so thought that thc Sikh F'ajil slloal~l clistiirt~ the peace
c k f his kingflnm in the Punjall .
The East Inclia Conipany discovert-11 n (It-vote11 "st~rvant" of their's
at Rushar. a ni errhi ~nt or Iral.. N ho lived at Komhag , 1)y the name
nf lbilahrli 41i k;llari . a~i , l ~ h o i t as an Incliim sul)ject . 19 thv 15ast
(:c)mpnny'.c vie^ point was imperialist an11 mcxgi1lornanic nt~tl 1llc.p
wrrp hililt]iIlg using t hri r moral :in(] matf3rial s t r ~' l ) gt l ~ a r f j
p o ~ t l r t o wa t ~ l ~ that vncl : i n tlir l i l \ c . rnnllrltxr . t hei r "ser\ant"
\lalicfi Ali khan in Rushar , i n atlrliticm t o t r i ~~l r ~ antl 1)usi ne~e ,
i l i t ~ r ~ . s t ~ ~ I himyelf i r ~ poliiics : and tbv 1:irious rnanipuletions of
craft relatt-rl thereto rri;~nage(l to have a n inflt~ence s t the 1'ersi;lli
(:ol~rt . In ccln+rrlurncr chf this . hte arrangetl rr.l)cirtetlly to sr,r~rl Agl ~a
\totinmwi bllnh ant1 Fate11 ,4li Shah t o t t l ~ froritier5 of tllc MP P I -
terit v r t ~ of %aman Shatr'e Lingclorn . firqt 10 b l r ~ l ~ i ~ i l . tlieli 10
xi*hti~nbr 31111 ultimnlely t Eler:ir. i1f11.r n yrnr 211 L;IIL:-
- 7 -
lish Mission
under the leatlerhip of one nali~ed Malcolm undc.rto~ll\
l o carry matters further afield .
ItIeant illre, ut her circu~nslances took
shape : for solni: l i n~t . tllc
Qacljar Lings tlirmselves uiitlertooli aggressive ii~oven:eil~b agaitl5l
the Afghan hings : wliilst at other occasionb. disgruntled Afghan
princes. 11he Firouz Utltlin a i d Karriran \vertb encouraged to proclucr
tlisiurl~ancr oli tlie \testern frontiers of Afgllaiiistarr. When the Af-
ghan Ling as ~1111s twgagetl to pacify the western frontiers of hi*
real111 , ~ h c . Sikh Iinjab. like Sahi l ~ Singli. Gulah Singh. Mahaha1
Singh ar~rl IZa~ijit c411igli IIIOVC(I ill tile easter ~egi (~11s of the Afglia~l
lrrritory it1 the rear. ' lhere is little doul ~t that in both of thr>r.
clibculnforiing 1novelrrc.llta eakt and \vest, tlie 11itldt.n hand of the L a s ~
Intlia Coniyany ua* nt \\ urk. 'l'hese activities kept Zar i ~al ~ Sl~oll. >o~nt >
tilile in the West a11J at ti~ritla ill tlltn Eiibt wholly occupi el . 0 1 1 :ill
occasion*, ad\ a ~ ~ t a g e \\a* tdbcri ill l ~ i s il1)bt'll~e ; 30 that c\ 11t*i1 he !+a>
so occupied. a stroke ni t s adnli~iistthred ul)on him on variou* l)oiilt*
and his plans \vrrt. (li?iri~pt(d.
Zalnarr Shah, nleantin~e. \+ah grc.dtly il~tcrestc~d in Iiiclii~tr Ii~attcr..
and his hopc of niarching further into 1l1i1 t country. thu>, Ilr , oc~vl .
l i ttlr ottenLioil ant1 care to thal ~t1iic.h t1al)penecl i l l t 1 1 ~ \ \ (J*Lcr~~
fringes of hib I\ingt10111. Every year. thtxrc.forv. after a.ssulning I)ont1r.
in the year 179,3. A. 1). lit: usrt l to visit I s l i a r . Atlock, :ii111
I,aliorc* - always. of courscN. with the i l i t t l ~~t i on of' t a l i i ~~g at i o~her 5~1' 1)
forwartl ljekoncl I~ilhort. into t he I i r ar ~ of Iti(lia. 'l'hat i\hic*ll rath7r.
stroi~gly encoul.nged the Afghan Iring i11 Iii* tlesire to twtt1r illto 11 e vital
purls of' 111clia. ctt'rcL t11(- C O I I Y ~ ~ I : ~ iiivitatinns of the Nnbwt~? of L) t . l l ~i .
Lhosc: of Ou(iI: aritl of h4ywrtx.
As thc n r i t e r ~ (English ) ttl,>lll.sc.]v,l,-
]la\(- recvrtlctl . the t'\t~rit of Zanlalt Shah' s arrival ill Lrrliorc~. 11.-t~tl
lo c'rtla tr. coi i ~i dr r al ~l c trr~liollr* ill I~i di a : slid his pc. ~~r, tri~ tioli trl)lo
1,iihorc: Garth t hought to ll~aiiy 11ii11ds. regarding thc ~ a r l i c r vit*toric.r
of hi. gra~ltl father Ahmetl Shah io thc land of tllc Hind.
Zai king. As the political encouragement of the East India Company
was responsible in procluci~ig difficulties for Zaman Shah on his
western borders by the Persian kings or his agents; in [he like
rnanner the company's agents-open and covered-acted unceasingly to
incite the Sikh Maharajas again-t their Afghan Over-Lord: and these
Maharajas were encouraged to desire to overthrow tlirir vassalage
for a "ahadow independence" of their own. Colitlitions cotitinue l to
go on like this, till in the year 1799. A.r) Iletuught of a plan of
action in which the spirit of loyalty coulrl be nia l c operati\c; ai d
thought that of those Sikh Rajae,wl~o were faitlllul lo him, more rel-
iance might be made; and the I'unjal) tkrritorit~s niight well Le entr-
usted to their care; (he resorting to some sort o l indirect rule).
Wi t h a view to this, Za~nan Shah plac:c ,I Rar~jit Singh, a nian
of experience, arid elljoying the confiilence of tlte Afghan king up011
the Punjab goverment; so that Ranjit Singh, as the goLerr1or of the
Punjab - Punjab being still the rrnlrn of the Afgharls tool\ charge of
r ,
the a dministration thc-hrr*. Illis stratagenl, at the time \ \ as regartled
as poirit of great staten~anahip; b u ~ i n reality as events revealctl-was
the begirn' ng ,of the cIec.line of the Arg' ~an p:w r a1 cl goirrnintnt in
the Funjal); herause the chief manoeurering hand-that is to say the
hand of the East Intlia Comr,al~ y-wl~o awai tell $0111c3 c.11~11 chi i ~l c~, b 0
much btrengtl~enrl Ranjit Singh, to 0 ~ 1 1 aclvanlagr an11 for his:own
use, of course;
that l l ~ e j,olitical event.; WI I I I ' I I vnlt~rgt~d fro111 that
single act upto the nrlrent
of the Xlohanifd Zai rule. and eit.11 afler
Ar~d in hi8 place sat Zor na~~
Slrah ( on the ki ngl y thronc. )
ZIIIHV ARTICLI:'
The mistake which Zamman Shah made in installinq one
Rahmat C1llah Khan- Wafadar Khan-as his adviser and minister;
and the methods which Wuf sda Khan adopt ed towards the
administotion of the real171, and the advi ce which he gave i o
his kjjlg in regards thereto, contributed to the weekness of the
kingdom and the Afghans. The result wos that the imperialist des-
~gns of the Westerners were proi ected afresh t ~war ds Asia: so
that one of them. quite soon, cast its net through trade for the
acquiring of territory ~n ou- neighbourinq lands cf the East. In
consequence much bl ood was shed, and thereby the intriguers
continued to profit by the ugly si t~~qti ons thus created; and tho
content/!on should be bel i eved which it is stated that they cont-
inued to ~ r o f i t t>y that to the end.
There is little doul t thal mnongst the sons of Tinlour Shah,
the one who was the 111ost competent to rule the country of his fathers,
was Zan~ari Shah. 'l'his lliatter was fully known to the wise rnen who
had experience, li1.e Sirclar l'ay1111(1a kha~l , Qazi Faizullah Khan and
hlullah Abul Ghal'ar Khali. I'rior. therelore. to the tieath of ' rimour
in order to serve the king's falnily and the benefit of the natiun and for
the peace and proa1)erity of ~I l r c.ountry, they hat1 prepared the people
for Za ma ~ ~ Shah's ascend in^ to the ~hr one of hie father : further
more, these gentlemen, had secured the adheaion of %aman Shah's bro-
thers to Zainan Sliah's occupying the throne after 'l'imour Shah. Despite
the fact that opposition did nlar~ifest itself in thi6 regard fro111 such
as Abbas and Mahnlud in Kahul ancl Kandahar and Herat ; yet Sirdar
l'ayunda Khan. due to his wise manipulatiofi and sagacity managed
to overcome: the diffculties, and solved the proldetn in favour of Zalr~
an Shah: till Zanian Shah's rivals, pertly on account of lack of aup-
port' which did not ronie to them, and partly due to the circumetan-
ces of the time, reluclantly agreed to Zaman Shah's ascending the
throne. 'l'hey, Iiowever. wait edfo their opportuuity.
- 10 -
-4s aoor~ %ali~alr Shall after the cleat11 of his fathear,
f i r ~di r ~g hi3 brothers' suh~nissio~r c-oruplete discovered that he was
strong eaoug11: he unfortunately &lowly began to change his at-
ti tucle , ilnd ~s s ur ~l e d a11 autocratic mien . During the course of
these
t ~ v ~ r ~ ~ , . , i t 1)ecalut: apparent that Sirdar Payanda Khan , who
11atl t l ~ c ser\ic,t> of the hi r ~g at 11eart , and was the true worker
for l ~i s a i r I a I o f consideral;)le experience alld a c u e n ~ ~ ~ ,
\ \ a> rrct.tlir~g fro111
the l a \ ot ~r of the ki ng. Another
man , by the
uame of \ \ af ; ~dar Khan rel~laced the great Sirdar Yayanda Khan
as ~~i i ~i i ? t e r of tht' Alga~l 1i i oni l ~~11. This Wafadar Khan, accor-
ding to a contenrpol.ary 11istorian was a rnan of political craft ,
hi h aolt ant1 soothir~g niallllrr? ant1 vorce , which he used to a
fault ei en on occaai o~l ~ ~ t h ~ l ~ htl acted as a Court Jester . His
attitn(lth t o ~ s n l ? thost' LVI I O her)ed under hiru , was full of aro-
g d ~ l ~ e ;irld IlallgI~\illt>a> . ;111d i l l his l,t*ha\iour i n
respect of those
al~okt' him i l l h t ~ ~ t i o n , lira hits su]),ier\ient allti cringilig . He was
afraic1 of ti l t. Ir.ac1 :ll,i,t.ar.anc.t. of ( I i [ficalty or mi*-carriage ill
I . I l o I i i l l i , i d to safe-guard
his ( l ~ n y1ilc.t. i r ~ ~ljnlii~i$trati(, ll, he left ~iotllilig uridunt. to severe
the c.on11t.ctio11 or c.ontacSt I)r>tut>t.n the king and his best to pro-
clucr. a stAll?t* of repllgnailCt3 to\vards the people on the part of
their ruler . 'I'hia nlan posst.+aing such childish traite, who was impel-
It *rl t)y no othvr tl~arl hi? interests, had attained such
rlost. atttsntior~ (jf the bi l l g that t he rnc)llrrrch hat1 placed all po-
tter arltl ild~rlilli~tratio~l i n hi s hands , :lnd %aman Shah was just a
tool in tht- harlcl.; ot' this worthless person . As was but natural ,
the idleah of tllr Li l ~g wt:re poievnerl to such a degree that he
~le\c, u tcdl +ct h ir f11ot ftrr~arfl t o oppose the recognised leaders
of ~)ew~, Ie : untl nota!,ly wu* wurerl towards the Rarak Zais . Al-
thotlgh t t ~r dni ~no~i t y 1 b t . t ~ ~ r . 1 1 the Harakzais and the Satlu Zais ,
which prncluc~rl such tlrastir difficultiee both for the people and
the cour~t-y of' .1fghanista11, irr saitl to helong to other reasons
the rval arrtl the true rcSii*trn of (hi* vo~~f l i ct is that very do-
l i l l t untl illistakt which t)rcruglit W'afarlar Khalr to the chair of a
mi ni s t ~r of t11t: r ~ a l n ~ . 'l'he king' s Fa~ouri t t > . of course , as could
he c=xprctrrl . took afl\ianta#t> of t hat weekness ant1 of that conflict
and the illtreatln~nt reached to 111i.bcarahle extent, it1 regarcis to
thrl ell-n isherr of the coun trv . Quite rla turlly this progrese
of events produced its reaction. Secret societies were born against
the
king and his thoughts . Ul timatel y Sit r persons constitutr~l
, committee in relation the election of thrx king alld his inf
luence and power, so that the importance ~lloultl a l ~ a y s reillail1
* 1
in
the hands of the e1rlt.r~ of the pc.npl(1 . 1 lli* c.omrnitce
resolced
to dethrone the ki ng , to ki l l Rali~riat I' l l al ~ Khan aricl 10
elect Shah Shuja for the
t h r o n ~ of Afgl~ani*lari .
This secret , 110-
ewever, could not
remaill hidden f r on~ thcl iirforlllttrs of [ he hing's
favourite-Rahlnat UIlah Khan-so t l ~r s e secret. r e a c l ~~, l his rars fro111
the lips of the menlhers of the commitlet' it-rlf .
Zanlan Shah , first of all con>iderc~l his own personal saftlt!~ .
and changed his Royal Guards ; and by g i ~ i n g money. gifts hes
towing favours of sorts , capturtd t hr fric3nclsil) of some of the
people and their leaders. Rut hy 1-arious d~il,ious btays . surrounded
them one 1)y one-one of them heing Pqanda klix;~-he managed
to have then assassinated l l j r calling tht.111 for consultation as
ruse. Payanda Khav was one of tlir gl-rat lcatlerh of hi s ~) eo~>l e
whose co.operation had steadied the work of adn~i ni st i at i o~~ ; anrl thus
as soon as he fell a victim of his rivrils at the halldb of' the king
511 the country arose those facts fo high tracdegy whict~ lasted ti1
Second Anglo-Afghan Wars : during times. Great damage itas clone
to the intrests of tlw country and the nat i oi ~ .
THE SlTCCES AND E'AIL(jR+; OF %A MA& SHAl-I.
I.'Of'Hl l l A R'I'ICI.I
The peri od of reign of Zamaii Shall i s an adlnixture of
events both successful and of failure. His si/cl:e:,s us notably in
the realm ot those battles which he ioug!?! clgainst t l ~ e foreig17els.
His failure, was largely due to the pel-soncrl inte:-~5t.s of his Courti-
er, inter-tribal animosities, ond i nl ~r - cl an disc wdc. His ideas were
sound enough, so f ar as they
went, hot in catryina 017 those pro-
jects, his aoubts and prejudices against the
Elders of the Clclns,
prevented their successful conclusion.
111 the tirst instonce, the co-
operation ond help of the Elders ol the clcns, might not have
appeared to him as sigtiificant, bllt in the lost ol:alysis. such doc,bts
-12 -
and un :rusf affected tho solidarity of his kingdom, produced
fundamental weeknesses; which sowed the seed5 of conflict into the
soil of the kingmdom. The rezult being that at last, the Zodu Zai
dynasty tost the throne; and great psrsoncges and importance
deserted the.
In the third aricle of this p e r i d of history, we had mentioned
that prior to the death of King Timour Shah, the Elders of the
clans-impelled notably hy such towering personalities as Sirdar
Yayunda Khan-who were sincere lovers of the power ancl prosperity
of their country; i t wan resolved to set on the throne Zaman Shah,
who p sessecl the qualities of rulership as cornpared to the other
0s
twentyone sona of Timour Shah. Inspite of it all, Zamar ~ Shah was
not able to rule in peace. His hrothers. like I i u~nayun and Mahmud
made all possi1)le efforts to secure the throne. In any case, he per-
iod of rule of Zanlari Shah. as thr. rule of t he Third Sadu Zai king,
had a historical importance. The real imprtance of it is constituted
by the Afghan kink' s battles against thc foreigners. The time was,
when the foreigners from I he wc$t coun trit-s especially from France,
England ant1 Russia were out to introduce their influence in India.
Their approximation to the lnclian continent, the Persian Gulf, str-
ted a disturbance in t h ~ east, such as in Peruia. Mesopotamia and
in the neighbourina cot ~nt ri ee of Afghanistan: so that matters of
confl i ct : ext ded their tentacles in all directions. Zaman Shah we8
to a certain d e g r ~ e aware of these movements. and desired to tahr
advantage of the cirrumstances
fo the 1)c.nefit of hi8 owl1 c o~~nl r y.
so thnt hc ~i a he r l that i l l the inlerior of the country r ~ ~ ~ r l n l tlifficul-
ties may t ~ e removed: nnrl as an ~ x t ~ r n n l pnliry hr. (~)111d pud1 his
efforts to the extent of the cbonqilest+ or liis grailrlqire. Ahme(1 Shnll
llarrnni in Intlia.
'rherr i~ no douht that of' the two al ~ovc mentioned prol)lems,
tile fir91 one: namely the quilling of the internal cliscortl was the
more irrbr'orlnnt. But although ' the in tenal peace was the more desi-
tblac in equal metgure it was riddle1 with diffici~ltiea.
In solving the in terlial difficulties. however, unfortunately im-
pedernents arose froin the Iery first step ; and as time
progressed
they continued to increase in magl~itucle . Regarding the ~i i i st ake of
Zaman Shah, we have aliaeady made a mention in the third article;
that is to say how the Elder of the people I'ayanda Khan. as one
of the Sirdars, had been angered rlue to the appointment of Rahmat
Ullah Khan-Sadu Zai-and Wafadar khan' s appointmrnt as t he Minis-
ter of the Realm ). \Vafadar Khan, ;is inay be recalled was the title
bestowed upon Rahmat Klian, by Zaninri Shah. Also. as ill consequ-
ence of the intrigue from the Favorite of tlie King Paya~i da Khan
and olher leader:, had I)een assassinated. In acldition to this animosity
towards the Rarakzais came into I~eing. Not only t l ~i s hut the' oppo-
sition of thc ))rothers of the Ling. esl)ecinlly that of Mahamud, and
an other group this f'irc. \$as fnrtller fanned into fldriies.
Few will cioul)t the fa(.[ that ' h' afi~dar Klian \ \ ah in tune with
the wishes and \ i eus of his nlasler : an (lit \+as. tl~erefore, possil)le
that due to t he confusion that hat1 arisen, the king nas a l ~ l r to bring
hr Punjal) into tha orhit of his realln : I)y 14rtue OF jzhictl he had
placed Rarljit Sinjit Siiigl~ 0s his governor in the l'unjal) ; that is in
Lahore as a representative of the hingdom of t h c x Ilurrani crown.
Opposition to Zaman Shah , I~o\ \ ever, in 1 1 1 t h iilterior of the
country, from his hrotht rs, continucrl to increase sirict. it hegari i n
tlie I~eginning of his ride. Mahmucl, wlio hacl 11t~c1i ql~ietened. oiice
again raised tlie standard of tlt.scensioii nncl was a c a l i \ el y on ttie war
, .
path. I he antagonism o f !he n a r d %sib was per oniIied 1,s Fat rh
Khan. l'hese cjorncstic i nt r a n9i g~nc i ~s nnd fet~lind of tliscluict of clan-
m e n encourage thc hopes of the foreign elenlents towanls matters
in Afghanistan. 'l'he creepiiig 111) of thv English i o the northern
reaches of India. induced Ranjit Singli lo action3 of disloyalty nncl
wl f-aa~ert i on. In the t3sterii regions, t hrt Qncll:lr I\i ngs o t l'ersia
,gave Inntls and property at Tar Sliaiz to Mallnlud : for Aqn Mo-
hamed Khari nnci Fate11 Ali Shah hat1 an eyc o n Khorasan ; not
only this. hut the Afghan priilre \\.as incitrd to i i ~r odc thc morc into
t11r Afghan tclrritory. Zanian Shah' s ( l i f f i c l ~l t i ~~ Sl)rilllg I I ~ ~wr i o( i i cal l ~.
ant1 withollt a n y desirt> froin the king himself. 3ome times froin t he
directinn nf 1,ahore ~ l l i l s t t l ~ c ~i nl i l i ar disiurl,ancc~ arose from the
direction of Herat. Zaman Shah, however, had to keep on protecting
his realm from both directions,
When Zaman Shah was i n Kandahar in the 1219. A. H. ( Moon
Calendar ) he received a letter from his brot her Shah Shuja, who
was then the governor at Peehawar informing hi m of the reactionary
attitude of Ranjit Singh. The king there upc)n appointed one nametl
Alahir Al i Khan-an Ishaq Zai-as the governor of Kanliahar ; ant1
taking a large army marchd on to Peahawar on his way to the
Punjal). l'hi> wab a time, whe11 Mahmud having taken action against
Herat was on his way lo Hukhara in orrlre to seek assistance from
the Amir of Bokhara. But in Rukhara he was arreested ; but he was
~~s t i ma t e l y ahlt. to escanpe hy way of Khiva and Iehqabad to Tehran;
and jourrley ~ i t h Fateh Ali Shah up to Tarshaiz. Hut these help-see-
Ling comings ant1 goings nothing tangahle resulted. These journeys
did not procluce any reeulte, till, however, one of the Afghan Sird- ;
(Jars. one nametl F a t ~ h Khan, came to join him ( Mahmud. ) The two
thus allied rrsulvect to attach Kandahar by going trough Seistan.
hlahir Al i Kl ~an, who was appointed governor of Kandahar by Zaman
Shah, prioar to hi3 journey to meet Ranjit Sing, taking a body of
troops of fike thousanrl foot and horse soldiers, gave battle-to Mah-
mud and his ally Fateh Khan at Kushk-i-Nakhud ; hnt was defeated ;
and retreated to Iiantlahar. 'l'he city was beseiged, ancl after a seig
of forty two (lay..;. the city was surrundered to Mahurl. Mahr Ali
Khan hurried to Pesbawar to give the news nf the fall of Kandahar
10 Zaman Shah at Yeshawar.
.- 3
Ihe king ill anger, gave np his persuit of Ranjit Singh i n t he
I'unjalr an11 starter1 on the ronll to Kal ~ul ; from where he marcheti
on t o n~e e t the forces of Mahurl ant1 F'etah Khan at Kamlahar hy
way of Ghazni. 'Sen thousanrl c;oltliers, under the com~nancl of hi^ so11
I'rince Nasir ancl Ahrnatl Khan Nour Zai i%ere then serlt o ~ l t towards
Kantlahar. At a plact. calleJ Sar Arl) lying hetween Killat Ghilzia
ancl Xluclur the king' $ commander-Ahmefl Khi ~n Nour Zai-surrunderetl
10 illahmutl and the l'rinct. hat1 to },eat a rtllrr.at. Zaman Shah retrn-
rcfihiti $tt-ps from Ghazni to Kal)ul i r l orerl to strength his forces ;
I)ut as .soon as hr reached Kal n~l , the few that he had as hi s
~1)l (l i rr3. clesertfvl thftir rankc;. The ki ng ~ c ) . v 111ove1l tc~warcls Jalaln-
- 15 -
Lad; and wrote to his brother Shhuhsaja, the gokernor at Peshanar,
to send him the help of the Sadu Zai and the nlrn of Kyl)er.
At night the king, togather his his favourite Wafadar Khan, ant1
ot her of his followvers took refuge in the fort of a Shinwari named
Ashiq near Jagdaluk. Whilst the Shiwari i j as attrndilig to the \.\ants
of his visitors, yet took the chance of sending a ~ o r d to Mahmud;
and a brother of Fatheh Khan-one narned Asad Khan-was sent out
to capture the king; and Shahshuja despatched Abdul Karin] Kllali
from Peshawar to relieve his brother -the king. ~olalbad. But A~. a, l
Khan hastening his steps, managed to capture the king ancl his
faithful minster, and brought them to Kabul. Wafadar Khan was
assassinated; Zaman Shah, by the order of hIahinud was rendered
blind and was flung in a dungeon at Bala Hi$ar.
I N THE F'OHT OF ASHIK. THE SHINWARI.
The term of sovereignty ofan important Saduza i k i ~ g , Zamar ~
Shah the son of Timour Shah, terminated due the circurntances,
-ivhich could not even fi nd a pl ace in the mi nd o/ thot ki ng. The
turn of the events was atonce trogic ond fearful, because thot
which hoPpened not only cost the king h~s throne; his eyes but
that he had the mifortune to be cost into the prison io live a
i l fe of utter misery and want.
Most of the conteniyoray events of Afghan history
have 11c.t.11
plunged illto dramatic atmosphere; tio that a largv nurnlwr of he
big and sniall incidents in relati011 thereto appetlr f o r ~ ~ l I)c.hind
the hackground of I~istory in all envol\ed shape and havc all
apprarance of ~~ntbxprcled Lurns and of 1)afflclnents; \ hich ill tl~c.
tern1 ued by
the Ehopeans are
regarded merely as "in the currcllt
of everits of history."
The appearance of Zanian Shah, an important Sadu Z;li
Ling, at the fort of one Ashik the Shinwari, in itsclf is not an
extraorclinary incident or happening; 1,ut those matters which tooh
-61-
shape during that night of refuge at that fort are the stories of
wonder and alnazement. The shoulrt be so for when a person arri-
ves at a place it1 the evining as a king, very same personalty goes
out of the very barne rli~or as a captive.
During that ]light the hi r ~g not oiily forfeited his great~iesb
his importance, liis crown a n ~ l jewel>, his power and prestige:
I ~ut a150 sight. 'l'tlis unfortunate king, who was emersed in the
thought* of far and near, of schemes of far reching importace
and significance: an11 tle+pitr all the inisfortunes that had attended
his efforts had >et a hope of success in the future; he found
hiniself in an tbterncll darknesd as the gloom of night was giving
place to the ratliance of the morning sun. Zanian Shah was in the
Purijal) i n the yrnr 1216. A. H. when his contesting brother, who
had been renderr I hrlpless an11 tjistricte~l l )y his elldeavours received
the co.operntio11 o f an euperierncel marl, like Fhteh Khan; and
act-ornl~anietl l ) y l l i r r i a~r d taking lhe Sr i st a~i ruule attacked and took
Kantlahahar. that city he took after a seige of 42 days fro111 Mehr
Ali Khan of Asaq Zai, the last name l being entitled Shah Pasand
Khan; uho aftrr the fall of Kanciahar took the sad news to Zarnan
Shah at I' esha~;lr.
Zani~l Shah postponetl thc $ley3 which hc wanted to take
agaiubt Ral~jit Sirlgh to another occasion, returned to KaLul and
thcn i~nrnediately bent Ibis htrps towar(1s Ghazni. 'I'en thousand
sol(lirrrr, lead I I Y AIiint.11 Khan Noor Zai and his son I'rince Naeir
\\ere ortlernd t )y him t o engage those in possession of Kandahar.
At H placc. knc1~11 as Sar Asp, lying between thc Killat Ghilzai
aritl Mnqur, t l l ~ N~bor %ai 5irrlar-the cominander of thc king-surru
n~lvrc~rl to illahln~lqi an11 Yrinrr Nagit wa3 ol~ligrcl to !)vat a retreat.
hlrantirnt-. Za r na ~~ Shah rr*turlrc(l to l i al ~ul from (ihazrii in order to-
prcparv a 3trongcr forctg for hlmhelf: bu3 plarl was upset; so t hat
i r ~ placr of g a i n i ~ fortt1t.r sitt)l)ort. thosr who111 hv liar1 alnongst
h i * troopers, t h ~ t . loo clerrrtt*rl h i l r ~ . 411 that rtanlaircl with thv ki ng
were bin r~~i rl i i t er Wafatlnr KIla11. Z ~ I I I ~ I I Khan f'opul Zai a~ltl alnorigst
his troop*, he t1a11 ~ht' 11 or11 y t uo hundrerl l ~or se~l i ( ~n a11d f ot ~r
houridrea f oi ~t soldit.ra. With t hi n stt~all Col l o~i r ~g he started 011
the r ol ~d to Jalaladad.
- 17 -
Shah Mahmutl a i d Fateli Khan started with the rapidity of
electricity and covering the distance between M~ ~ q o r and C, haz~~i
arrivzd at Kabul; though an englgz iient too!< place ( rather s~i l al l
111 magnitu le ) 1)etkveen the followers of t he ki ng andl the forces of'
t' ateh Khan an1 Mahtnul at Wacha E' ~na near Jagl al uk; the result
of which, quite naturally, waj in favour of the forces of F'ateh
Khan. One of the Heads of the Shimwaris. one n ~n i =d h4ullall Asliicl,
who had previously enjoyed the friendsliip of Znnian Khan' s ~ni ni st er
the favoiiritte Wafadar Kha~l -had a fort on t t ~ c \troy of JagJalil\.
Zanian Shah, the unfortunate ki ng, who ha 1 hopes of ro:iquering
the vast lands of India; but was so distracte-l I)y the tre!)' e; at
home; at the hands of his l)rotliers, Ma* now obliged to take
refuge at a fort of a mere El ler of a trihe even for a night' s
rest. This fact of a refuge at a fort is just an inciJent-fateful
ill essence-for dispire hi 3 deafei-lts in trtl~er fi el tl ~, t hc remaining
portions of Zaman Shah' s donlains \sere still i l l tact in the east
and the south u p to the Pulljab: atid hi s real brother-Slial!sl~uja-uas
still a paramuunt ruler ancl g.o\ernor of hi s brcrtlier at l ' c d~ a ~ ur ;
and from him, too, he llacl sougJ~t assistance.
A$hiq, the Shinwari. at fir3t receive1 the king ~ , i t h tlur respect
aticl huniLle so:citatiorls; so that nothing ua s ltbft untlone in pre-
paring a kingly reception. Ijut M hen he heard that hl al ~ni ud had
taken Kabul, the Shi n~vari was greatly friglittlnd, and thought that
the fact or having taken Zaiiial~ Sliali as rt~fugee nl i gl ~t be considered
ill an adverse light by Mc~hti~url; thus he lockecl ~hc. g ~ t c of the
fort; and stJnt a Inesnage lo Mahlriurl t h r ~ n g h his so11, an-l said
that some ollcb tilight he stmt to take over thth one \ v h ~ repobed
i n lie
fort at night. Soon, howevr, the unfortunatt~ Za111an Shah,
realised that although t i l l quite recr.~ltly, they were the honoured
guests, then
t l i ~ y wrre prisoners. 'l'lie Sl~iriwari stuck to his itlea,
and all t he solicitations of Zaman ant1 his followers were of ~ I I
avail. Atlast the gave up the effort a r ~d prel ~ared thenlalves to
whatever may come out of it all. 'l'he posilion of Zaman Shah
wan now known to 1~1t h Ma hml ~~l and t o Shahshuja; the one made
all posihle prepations to deal with thc Cleeirig king, and Shahshuja
was busy to render help.
- I8 -
From the direction of KaLu: Asacl Khan, tlie brother of Fateh
Khan moved eastwards; whilst Abdul Karim Khan was huryiiig
with his relieving force from Yesllawar. Rut as the distance t~etween
Jagdalik and Kabul was a short one, Asad Khan arrived at the
fort, where Zallian Shah was detained, much quicker than the re-
lieving force. Zarnan Shah hid all jewels, togelher with the fanlous
Koh-i-Noor, in a whole of the wall. The Jay not dawned, whet1
Nawab ,4sati Khan arrived at the gateway of the fort, and captured
the king: the kingbs eyes wers taker, out ; and he was flung in the
dungeon at Kabul at the command of Mahmud. The kings favourite
and other of his compal~ions were all assassinated. The barbarious
act opend a gateway of grave conflict between the real brother
of Zarnan Shah-Shahshuja-and Mahmud, the step-brother of the
unfortunate king Zaman Shah.
A.ihicl, the Shinwari, who \\as the author or this nefarious act,
(lid not reap the fruit of his treachery. 'l'he theree years of Shah
hlahn~ud' s reign terminatell the reign of Mahrnud prestige at the
hands of Shahshuja; an(l he Lery act which Sl-ahshuja perfor-
mefl was to arrest Ashiq, ant1 hat1 hirri hung. The valuable dianiond,
Koh-i-Neor, which had re~i ~ai ned hidden in a hole in the wall of
the fort, waj at l a ~ t dicovercd ant1 hal~rle~l over to Shahshuja.
3 ote: Accorciing to some historiccal sources, like Tarikh Sultani,
ant1 Tr~fat -ul IiaLil) Zatnan Shah Sadozai, when imprisonetl i n the
fort of the Shirtwari Ashiq; the king placer1 the Kon-i-Noor ant1
other jewela i n P secret holc ill a wall; awl threw the Fukhraj
in a riverlet.
*
i - I U hI A Y I 1 R.
SIX 'I K ,.I R TIC1,I:
Prince hamayun was the governor 01 Kondahar during the
reign ol his father. Tamoor Shah; and he considered himself the
most competent person to si t i i pon fhe lhrone of hjs father, o'es-
pi l e [he number of his lather's son being noles; than
- 19 -
twenty one. In neighbourhood of Kondahar he ordered his trooops
to measure s w~r ds with the msn of his brother Zaman Shah; but
due to the sagacity of tho! Elder, Sirdar Payand3 Khan, moral
persuation preva' lerl. and no bl oodshed too'. pl ace. er s 3nol influ-
ence 01 Payanda Khan was great enough to have Humayun t he.
right of his broil'ler for the throne of Kabul. Humayun, h~wever ,
continued to desire the therone; and
rooni ea a( ~out in the regions
of Kandahgr, Farahe Bluchi stan and Sindh. /,is popularrty di d no/ go
much beyond the precints of K a n d ~ h ~ r ; till' he fell into the h a n d of
the offic3rs of Zaman Sh3!1 in the ar ea of the lndus river: and
was depri ved of sight.
On the death of Timour Shah in the year 1793. A. D. it
\vas not an easy task to appoint, hr to select a successor of the
tleceasetl ki -g. I n the albsence of a will of the deceased, ant1 due
to the fact that many of the princes wpre not present in Kabul:
opportuuiy was seized hy two sons of 'I'iniour to raise their
stalldard; one hy Malimnd the other b y Huni apu~i . 1)uring t he
time of Timour Shah, several of the princes were niacle govenors
of vdrious provinces of the realm; such as Mallmutl arid Haji Firu-
znddin in Herat, IIuniayun in Kandahar and Abhas i n Pehawar.
r 9
l h e news of the death :,f Timour was purposely suppressed by such
w *ll.wishers of' the ki ng lom as Sirclar Payanda Khan and Mulla
Ahtlul Hliafar Khan, fearig an internecine war-and in secret Il a~l
resolved to place Zaman Shah on the throne of Iiis father, for
. lie of all has regarded as he moat suita1)le successor an~ollget a
concollrsr of twenty one princes; but inspite of these precautions,
Imth at Kabul and in the provinces an at mospl ~ere of disturbance
s ~ e p t over [ he entire scene; 1)ut 110 definite results came out.
, .
1 lrose princes-the sons of the late Ling-who were at KaLul
gathered at the house pf Prince Al)l)as; and elected him on their
Iwhalf an the king. But the allow mentioned Elders and the
minicsterecl arrested these princes and }wing on the sick of Zaman
Shah. plnce nl l these princes in goill and infllictecl up011 them much
rn(l l ~ hip^.
- 20 -
i\ hen H~~nl ayi i n a~i t l Mahmud, who were at Kantlahar snd at
I-Ierat heart1 the news of t he death of their father; they at once,
each at his own station, raise 1 t he banner of revolt and discord.
U hen Zanlan Shah, however, finally ascen Jell the throne; lie sent
a message to his hrother Humyun at Kandahar, alitl inivitrcl him
to accapt hiin ( Zaman Shah ) as the king. But a s Humcyun, was
ol(ler~thar1 Zanian Shah, ant1 duri ng the time of t he reign o f hi s
i I t r
'l'imour had held high administrative post; a n j consi derei hiinself
as the rightful owner of his father' s did not accept t he profered
in bitialion of hi s brother Zatnan at Kabul; t hus the troops of
the tun clairnents for the throne mustererl at a place called Bagli
Huhro-aornf~ locate it to be about two niiles from Kaadahar; whilst
ot hrrs think th:lt t he place lay some two rniles east of Killat-
i n order to reach conclusions. The matter did nnt arrive to any
sanguinary 'stage: for t he personal influence of Sirdar Payunda
khan
( o n hehalf c ~ f Zaman Shah ) ant1 his ~ t r o n g pieas persudaed
the tori-manfler of Humavun's iorces to c.t me to a peaceful arran-
gement: thu* Mihar 4li Khan surrundrect his tronps; whilst Huma-
yun ret-ratefl i t i ~ h EI P father-ir.-law to Kardabar, a r d thence tcok
the road t r , Hluchistnn: #her e he took refuge with Nasir
k;li ln t h ~ H1u1-11. U' ith this RIICC~SS, of course, Zamar~
5l1ali frmnd his posilion s t va di ~j , and the status of Payanea Khan was
invreauetl in tho estirr?ation of t l ~ c king of Afghanistan. After putting the
n~at t er s of Knnrlalia,. right, the king pla-ed his son the Prince
Nasir on tlir govership o f Kandahar under the guardianship of
Ahdullah Kh a n - No o r z ~ i - t l r ~ a ~ ~ ~ r ihe prince uas only a hoy gf @ever1
yeor* nf age. Zaman Shah. tiimt-self marched on to Herat;
i r o~n that place he returned a f ~ e r putting t l ~ e local affairs right
n t jlerat. From Kal)\ll. the hi fig journej-etl tow arda Yeshahar to
nrrangra malters in thr t ar t er n part of his realm; ar~(l tl~c-n began
10 c. r , t ~~er n~l at e 0kr.r his plans of n coriqllest of I ~~r l i n
I l r ~ n ~ : ~ ~ l ~ n . ill thr: mcaritirne. ~v: r t c hi ~l ~ Iii.; oppc~rtnnity finding
that I i i g l ) r ot h~r , the king wa9 ahay from t l ~ t . <>ai)ital or Afghanistan:
9tartcrl t o~a r c t s Karitlahnr orirr again 1'rorl1 his hiding place of Hlu-
clli+tt~ri. I t is rchli~ted, hoctc.rcr !hat Zan~nn Shah, not 1)eing lsnaware
of the rlrkigr s ot' t l l rri ~nj l ~n. pric~r to Itlaving K R ~ I I ~ fi )r I'e~hawnr,
- 21 -
had dPplIted one
his nisssenge-a. one named lilludadad Khan and
Shair Mollanled Khan. t l ~ e Head of t hr ~ninisters-to go and give
to his brother Humayun, and to preve~l t him from ta-
kirli ally unwise st.t.ps for disturbing the peare of t he country.
But Khuda Dad Khan, in place of giving the prince Hnl l ~ayun a
"softer treatment" so handletl the situation thal in lace of assuaging
aa infuraterl hirn as to make hi111 niore oI)tur;\tr and intrinsigngent.
The rebult was that troops were rnust ~rr. *l against Hunayun and
a \:are-rcute was tnl\an tonards Kandahar. The Prince Qaysar and
Al,dullah Khan roulrl not Inc'et the si t uat i on: QLlyFar wan taken
pri soner; and i\l)tlullal~ to Preshawar to give the had news of
reverse t o the Li ng. IIunlayun occupied Kandal ~ar for the second
time and reiseA the standard of his kingship there ; and commanded
to strike c 3 i n l ~ e ui l e : 11i; nsme a; t hr r l ~l er . When. however. he
Iiad thus e;tal)lis'lel 11itn;elf i l l th:. citl o f l i andah: ~r, and had pro-
1
claim? I ' his
r ~ ~ l r ov?; tllr r ol ~nt r y : A!l$ne 1 F;llln Noor ~ai , attayke
Kan lallar. a; o ie ot tlie fol: )wars of Zanl a: ~ Shan. and wanted to
capture the Pri11c.c. Hl ~rnayr~n, but lie did not succeed and was
~01111:1(-'d in tile attempt, IIe was taken to t l ~ e housc. of a religious
person, wliere he Mas being treated, when Hurnajun hearing of his
rellge . wanted to 1)unis11 I~ini ; l)ut the co:~.rideratio*l of the divine
preventctl the inflic~ion of an adverdr fate II!)OII I ~i nl ; and he ( All-
meIl Khan ) was not only forgiven, I)ut :dso wa, installed as t he
comniantler of ITa~navun' s forccs. Humayuu' s Kan lahar succe3s
, ,
conipelletl Zalnan S!~:lh. \vhl) I~atl hcarcl of 11 is I ~ ~ I I ' S rlt~frat. to re-
trace Iiis steps Ka n~l a l i a r ~a r ~l s . in order f i ~ ~ a l l ~ 1 1 ) fight for supere-
nm-!r: so that for n scroncl time the for('f1s ~f Zan~an Sl ~a h antl t l ~ose of
I'rillce fI:!lnnyut~ f at ap 1 t bn! - l ~ ot hr r al,otlt fnrtp lnilei from Kandahar.
r 7
1 l ~ e ht' a~l o f Za ~n n ~i S1ial1's army was azain tlie old vatern
I'aynn la Khan; a ~ ~ r l t l ~ p ronllrlan ler of IIumavun was the lnnn
who
11111 shortly \+as scnt O L I ~ I I ~ Z ~ r n a l ~ F.hah a ; t l ~r Ling,s man-that is
to say 2I111inl khan Noorzai. 0n. e again L'ayuli I J K t i a ~ ~ won the
Ilattlc- witl~out i i gl ~t i ng ; all l AIIIIIIVI Khan accornpaied by Payanda
Khan wnrrlln lprvtl Iiin13.rc4l' t o his n~aster-tht. Li~lrr-llumayun nnle
i t gai *~ I~aci to a~l t ni t clt'fra~ : atr:l this t i n ~ t : he fi ei lowards Herat so
111:lt I1e cc111l11 join forc-:?.r with I'rincr Alahmu~l. I:atrl~ Khan chased
I I ~ I I I 111)t o (;riqI~I\, 1111t co111(1 110t succr'ecl lo c:lptl~rr hint.
-22-
Even 1)efnre the king coultl make n triumphant entery into
Kanclal~nr. the ui f o of Sirdar Payuncla Khan. \\rho did not lag
Iwhintl her huslrntl in l)ravery 31111 shill a11d bngacity. clollnig the
garl) of a warrior attached the city's prison an-I effpcted the rele-
ase of t h ~ young prince Qaiaar; and placetl him in t l ~ e chair of
his gc)\('rnorship, ~t h i c h harl brcn 1)eatowed upon him l)y hi s father.
Zanlan Shah. the king of Afghanistan. Wililst the'people of tlie city were
yet 11na ~a r e of their fath, t l ~ose outside the \ +er e engaged in battle;
and \\ 11t.n all this I\ as going on: this 12fghan woman of valour gave a
practical proof OF her loyalt) to the king: released the iniprisonetl
s on of the king: ant1 proclan~etl the paramouncy of tile rul e of
Zanian Shah ovcxr the t-ity. -411 this \.\as clone, when the king
entered the conquerecl city of Kandahar, with his troops and once
again placed his son upon [he chcir of office of the gor er nor sl ~i p
of Kanrlnhar. Sext the king worte a It-tter to Mahmucl to surr-
r ~ n ~ l e r Hr ~r n~~ynn. Hr further re installed blahmud Kl ~an, t he son of
Riasir Khan Rlrrrt~. \ \ ho had heen evrle I I,y his cousin from that
;Ired . I I original I)[)-ition. ' h e news about Hurnayun at
t he tirnr was tt~nt. 11e did not proceed I' l~ithert than Farah when
h e ha- (111 hi $ w ~ y to IIt ~rat : an 1 hr ret11rne.i to Rluchistan once
n ~ a i n from that point. F'roln that place h r journeyetl tn the loci-
lities on the river Inrlus. where eh was arrested by a !)and of
Zaman Shah'- rnell. \\llo \$ere rteputecl for that purpose: ancl by the
romman(l of I l i + hrothcr Zanian Shall I t as I)linde(l.
T11e delatils of this incirlerlt ar e that 1'1-iure Illtmayun and
hi- grin ant1 his folloi+ers had pictctie(l their camp under some
trces in n clesert t)ctween the .lehlarn anrl the Intlus, nl ~out twe-
ntyfi\ e milt-s from blultan towarda Dercl I$mail Khan. 'I'hc place
was called I,iah. [Iete Mnhan~erl Khan Sat111 Zai at the hear1 of
rive I~nniiretl cavalry a?; the appointee\ of the Ling-Zatllan Shah
wi th a romniiasinn to rapture the f'ugittc ~) r i t ~cc. arrived. There
wrF hrief cngage~nPnt I ~ e t ~ r e n t t ~c +t i l nl l l o l l o ~ e r ~ of the prince
i~ntl the Ling's met). I l ~ m a ~ ~ i *on an0 sonw of hts fllowers
wprr killed i n hattlr: nc r l hen H ~ r r n a ~ ~ ~ n fell upon the slin
bmly of hip Ron and was in tc3ars. t ~ c cnptured at the ltantls
nf 5loharnrlcl Khan. R hen %aman Shall nrortl nl)ot~t the capture
-44-
(;lrulanl kl ohnn~r d kl ran at11l S a n l n ~ ~ d a r Kt1a11. ' l ' t r e~e t\\-o I ~ I -
t hers' no tlollllr, on I~c~l~c.s.;t I I I ' t l ~c i r l ~ r o t t l t >~- . \+ 110 IVLIS govtlllor of
Kt ~s l l t ~~i r e . OI I P ,Att~1111Iatr I ~ I ~ ; I I I . ~ I I ~ I ~ I S I I I I ~ ~ I \\:IS i1~rt331etl :111(1 ~ I > I I I IS ;I
pri soner to Ki1~11111ir1.. '1.111, i ~ ~ t ' l ~ ~ r t i ( * t , 111' . ~ ~ I ~ I I I I I ~ I I I hhi111. I ~ I I S \\.a>
I J ~ ~ ~ ~ I I I O I I I I t t'ronl K i ~ s l r ~ ~ ~ i r lo l'thslri~\~ ar .
111 aa niucll a s Lazil- I"aic11 k h a n rrgarc.lttl t l ~ c - i ns l r ~~c t i on ol
t he govrnl or?; of t he o ~ ~ t l i ~ l i ~ l i s h E); II-I~ of t l ~ e k i ~ ~ ~ ( l o ~ n as t l ~t ' litrllrct'
of 111e g~) ve r ~l r ~r e nt . he startell \\.it11 tht. ki ng- Sl ~al i h1ahn\ud-taking
hi s I ~r ot he r Si rt l ar Molrilnlecl Azeeni l i hat i a ~ ~ c l Si r dar I)ol~.it i\/lat~alnriI
Khan with Iii111 t c, \ v; ~r~Is Ka<lrrlrirr. I't.sh;~\var c.oi~ltl trot with-3t;lncI
op~~oai t i ct l l I)otlr t i ~nc-3; an.1 Kashnri rr orr t he src-onrl o( - t aas i o~~ . 1t121t
is in t he yvar 1227. ,-\.IJ. ( 1812. 14.1). ) waa ivrerltc*lletl fro111 out of t he
Iia~ltl+ of ,;2tta11llatr Kt ~ a r ~ . I?; I r e of t i l t - st-rvic*e.i of Si rdar
~ l o l ~ a r ~ w ~ l , - \ x ~ P I I , ~ I I ~ I I I , 1111, g o \ ~v r . . l ~i ~~ I ~ I I A ~ P ; ~ 1 0 hi111 : SO t hat
t l ~ t b la.41 go\ t hri ror c ~ t ' l ' r sha~var Iltlca111t. ~ I r t - govr r nor 1.11' l i as l ~mi r e. ' I ' l l t a
Ilanlyazais aft er tht.ir t l i ~ ~ ~ l ~ p o i r l t n ~ t ~ ~ ~ t arrtl l ! opr l e ~s r ~e s s re?;orterl t o n
nrran 11rvic.e: i'cjr ot:r. l,an:c 11 Jallarl I'i1t1 litla11 . otrr of r l ~ t > l j rot hers
uf I ~ t u ~ l l l a l ~ Kha ~r a ol ~l t ht . Sort of Attoc-li I I I l i ar~j i t 5iupI1 for :I
*~I I I I of t r r ~ t . lilhll of r1lpet.s. 'I'llis w;rs tht. or c - ~ni or ~ . \\.!rc-ri 1 1 1 t ~ Si kl i s
starttvl l hr i r n ~ i l i ~ o r \ c l r ~ ~ ~ ~ i v i ~ l i ~ t i o r ~ i l l t he r f . i ~l ~n of t l ~ t . Sat l r~zai s. AS
i\ r e s ~ ~ l t of t hi s i t 1 Jul y 1814. A. I ) . ( 1232. 4. I f . ) l i a j i ~ 5ilrgt1 startecl
I a agairlst 5irclar ?1olli1111rtl Azec-rrr 1<11:11i I'our111 f'11r111cr s1rv11gtI1
t hrct l ~ph thin \ i rbt ory.
\le}lnlll,l S;ltlltzai, allll rl-velrgca 1 1 1 1l1r c.lal~s slarte(1. At lhnt time
5irJar -\z(at111! Klia11 l,,a\ ing llis I I I . ~ I ~ I ( * ~ . o11(~ 113111t>d .JaI)I~iir hl l ai ~. at
kashmirc~ and jourliryr~l I ) , \\;I! ot I'taslta\\ar to Kalnll. '1'11t. resrrlt
oi this ~l ~t rrncc. i ne byah lhe Sikh* tooh liasl~tllirr. 'l'hc. tt;~Lr l)ei!l#
1233. -A. I-I. or 1810. A. 1).
I ) l l r i r l g this I)c~riocl of' history I the gri11c:es of Sadllzai.
made ;~l,lrart.nt tlleir u ~ ~ f i t ~ l e s s cll~e t o tlleir
loose-ling and Ly their
vstravagar~ts , the I!nrkziti l<rotl~t-rs \\.err in search of' a real leader
, .
['or .tile r ~ ~ l e r s l i o f I t i ~ . I here \$as a corlfl~ct 1)etween
Sirclilr Itloltan~etl .Jlzec.n~ Khall alld Sirrlar IIo11st Mollanted khall.
'I'llr s(-rllt' of tllis strr~gglr. too. bias i l l Iinl,ul. Sirdar hloharned Azeem
liltan . N ~ I O tracl a ~)rt~c.rderrc.r. I~olh i t , rrgitrds to age alid icealth amo-
11gst all his l ) r ot l ~t ~r s. 1,111 Sirtl:rr opc.rate(l \\'it11 greater \\.isdon1 and
f r i . I;orb a limt- 1)0111 of ttlc~stb 1)rotllers s~ruggl ed against each
ot11t.r i t 1 111t: tlarnr. o f ~ l ~ e i r ki ~l g- j ) r o~cgr r A y u l ~ Shah and Sultan
Al i S l ~ a t ~ . 1'lli.c; t11ssc.l ni o\ rcl i ~rounfl lia tjul. C;liazlii. Lohistatt and
kollnt a11,l Si11.lt1. Ri~nji t Si t!gli. ;IS ~ 3 3 I , L I ~ rlatursl took advantage
of thesr i ~ni n~osi t i r s alld *tartt.~l lo inroacl 1'c.sllau-ar ( 1238. :I. I-I.
1 I . I . ) S i r i I ~ n l kt1:111. \vllo was thr. governor
of l't.sl~a\c:~r 011 I ~ t . l ~ : ~ l f of Si r ~l i ~r ?, l ol ~sr ~~et l Azc~t , ! ) ~ Kharl schught help
I'rom that Si r ~l ar from kal)ul. lhtt u~~t ; ) ~+t ut ~at el y. limitless wealth hnc-l
c-fft.c.1~11 1l1t. Sinlar i l l Ki l l ) l ~l ant1 l~all Iris follo\vc.r.s (1,-~srrtr'tl al tht-
I'ort of Alac-lli~~a. ivtlt.rc. ~l l r Si kl ~s t ~ n l i 111.nrly o\t~rl)o\vrrrii tltelr~ . and
1 1 1 t h l)rorni*t. of ; : ~) \ ~t ~r ~~or sl l i l ) t ) f ' l ' t ~s l ~a ~\ i ~r L I I j ' ar J ; I o t ~ a t ~ ~ t ~ i kI1a11 or1
I I of I j i S i r o r I O I . I I I :\fghall
re8is1rll(-v. 5irdirr JIOII:IIII~~(I . \ xt *r111 K I I ~ I I 111r11tvl liis S:I(-V fro111 Peshti-
i i ar : ~ I I ( I : II a l)oi111 11t >t \ c(*t >11 . I ~ I I L I I ~ I I ~ ; I ~ I : I I I I I l<al)r~l \%:is take11 i l l l j y
I I ~ V I I I I 1 of 3 I o r I I I{is I,olly
I I r o n 0 I . I i 1 I ~ I I I I I a t of
ri*lii~l:r~i :\rilfii~l. fro111 I I I ! , follo\\i11g ~ O ~ I I ) I I ~ I 111- , l i i l t x of tIea111 c~)ll]cl
t w l l l i l t l t ~ Ol l t :
The clssassination of Puyundu Yhalt und the col l apse ol tha
k~nqdorn ot /un.t:~rt ShI t wub ~n r z ~l i t y th+ bsj 111ni ng o/ the end
I )! :he r u, y i ~ oi /It 2 Sa i l ~ ~ ~ ~ i l ! r ~ ~ l e . Tite sad uc:i o.) of blinding of the
Vuzir Fateh Kho:, ai ) cl ' / I . , c~j ~cl ssi l nt i on not ot ~l y brought about
d~sr r ~pt i on between the two rnosl iinportant fantilies of noblss , but
also i! openad o qutewc;y of troubls whicl- adm' t et d much discord
Irnnt tha udvent of the first quarter of ths 19ttt, cen'ury to the mi ddl e
of /hot centuy. Dur;ng th:s peri od cf the i i l ne, when the Sadur.
or dynasrty hod IOS! i ! s pr evsg~' i v2. u.7d th? gz~vsrnment
of the Mahornedzajs had not yet establ i shed, and one of the
historians cot1 that peri od a; the "Period of the Rise of the Borek-
zais", was due to the disturbance; that occrlrred during the ti me.
when the hand of the relatives was raised clgoinst his rnlotive ; and
fueds rei gned supreme everywhere occasioning those regretable
~ncidents which dis!res.s o./r mi nd; c/,a!o the 19:h. cen!ury . and even
i l pt o o later perl od.
8
C:c~~ltmrj- ttr t he @aping that no t wo kings can extst in one
kingdom; in our r.onntry. not orily t ~ o ki ngs livetl in o l t t B Iring-
,lorn. i n t,ne (-itv. l,ut cvrn one galacc: lwtweeri the !earn of
1818. A. D. and 1924 . A. 1 . ( in the v r a w of end ( ~ f t 1 1 ~ first
quarter of the 19th. rentlrr); of (:hristian I'ra. )
tkr-at~se the ('tropt'rat itpn. of I wo i ~ ~ ~ l n ~ r t i l r ~ t ~ I OI I CVS of ht,l,les.
~ranirly t h r Horakzaiu aricl Sadusaid for thr. o r tinw was
rlioturl~rii a c Sc o r ~~~t of I)lillJi~~:! of \' azir I"atc11 Ktlall alitl l ~ i s
lair asassination, ( 1818 A. I ) . -1924. A. I).). Inorclrr LO take revengcl
llle 1,rotllerr; 111' the (lead \\azir I t Khan collectecl a t a fort
in o village of liilrclilii aricl a . ' ( . o~~~l ci l of war" took place. At that
tilne . too, 1'ul.ciil killail untl hi* 1)rother. had taken Karlilah.~r fr,,nl
( ~ L I I hlotra~i~eil I i l 1i i 11 I ' I I ~ ) I I ~ L ; I ~ . it1111 \tiis : ~ p ~ ~ o i ~ i t ~ ( l 11y :;t~all \4ah1liu1l;
tlle la,*t r i u ~ r ~ c . t l kin:. \ \ l ~err i l l l i l t t i I I I a retlfge
even i ~ t Kar~clahar. Me, tlicrcfvre. sl\irtilig I)y way of I)iraoot, E':trati
took tlir roall to Iic'rut. 'I'llis \ \ as tinlc. too. when the fugitive
Satll~zai king llad >t i l l a11 influt.ncc. at Herat. Sllahshuja wa* then
a t I. url hi a~~a a- ;I nlerts \ronrlvrc-t ; , l l t l i l l trorl, I~, . ' ~ I I I , 1i1rgt.r par!
uf tbc. C O I I I I ~ ~ J frotll NACI 1\1i I I I I!auioiln Se i b~~r n to kas l l ~ni r e mid
Sill11 nns i n pos.qess.cion of thc Rurakzai Hr ot her ~.
When Sirdar Doust XTnhamerl Khan nlo\-ed l o w~ r d s I ' P F ~ R WR ~
and to Kahul a t tllc ronimand nf his I >r ot . h~r Sirilar :\zcat>ni Khan.
as the result tnorder to eepL revenge of thc atrncit~p, s cotl~mltteci
by Shall h1ahmrld's men. he 111sta1lrd the ~ ~ r l n r c , \ y u l ~ *on of ' T' I-
tnour as tllr ki ng at Pes ha~t r . Thi s d o l ~r . hc I ~ ~ \ . c I I I to KaIu11.
I n t hr meantime. Shahshlrja. through thr ili\.itation 01' l l o l i a ~ ~ i t ~ ~ i
Azecm h i I I a a r . I nntr~rally llc I I F I ~ I to rty11-
eve tihall !1yrrl1 from Ilis I-~rrlrrtal. 19oI1am;11l ; \ zr ~l i l hl i a ~i n ~ o \ w]
11r)\v11 to I ' CSI I RH. ; I ~ 11111 11is I.';-~(-I \ vi t Ji Shah 5hrlj;i ditl no1 tilke stlapc.,
'rhr 11ri11(.13 !!!.IIII \$:IS ti4Lv11 i l l t o Ilis ~ ~ V O I I ~ .
U h ~ r r 51rclar I)o~rst \loIla~r~c~cl hh;111 took Kal wl Iron1 l ehangl r
I I of' I . ~ l i l ~ ~ l t ~ ~ l i : ~ t v l ~ I I V I o r 11ri1lct. of 5 n -
t i 1 1 I 5 t 1 I I f ' I I I I I thr011c
of kal,111. H 1 1 1 s t I I ,IS Ili* \ a Z r . ' i s art of tlit. hillgs
- 48 -
and Viizirr;. tli?;l)ohso~l Kal l l r an ant1 I l i > fatller Shah 3lahrnad, who
.
took refuge i n k;al)r~l all(l C;llazrli. al l l l \t.llel~ all t hi s m s l aki ng
1)lar.e. Sinlar %I ~>t ~anl t ~r l .i\zt.rn~ kI1a11 ; ~r r i yed ilt Kaljul. I-Ir bar1 in-
ktalletl his I ) r ot I ~r r s nonl i nee ; \ yul ) as tile killg. ant1 had uallletl him-
self ;IS I ~i s 111inister.
I t was iri ti113 \vdy ~ I I ~ L t \ v, ) r ~~j ! ) l e $ ;I+ ~l ~i r l i t i t ~r s , livetl i l l Ki11)~ll.
'l'here is of c.c)iir.icA. l i l tlr cloul)t ~l l at t t i t ~sc rat.llcrr i i l ~l i ~~ol vn 5.1-
-.
t l l l zni ~1rillct.s. \ v h o liircl as I at olle alld tlltx salne place.
Ilacl not I o ~ t k i ~ ; ~ t ttlt' ir O\ \ I I optic)ll; a11:l \vert. ki l ~gs 1)uI
1 1 I . for all yonc*r \vas tested i ! ~ thtr hantls of thtlir minstc'rs:
w h o i t 1 t hei r t ur 11 l i a~l tht)ir l ) c~r so~l al plans.
I I I O I O L I o i t i I ttll15 currated was tlur to
I ! I ~ fwt anrollg?i all t11t. i r k i r h r s \\-ho I ) s r l o u l ~ r l d tllr
lrlajflr [)art of t h t - c . ~) r l l l t r y wi t l i i r l t l ~ t b i r grasp, t-oul~-l 11ot f i nd o r
1,0111tl 11ot ;lgrvth to f i ~l d. I I I I C ' ~ I I I O I I ~ ~ I ~ I I V I I I 1 1 ) rule the t-ountry;
iil11l ~ l l o ( ~ 1 t 1 1 i l 11)c)k i t I 1 1 go\ . ~r r l l l l ent . The t \ + ' ~ I)rot-
I~ers. Yirtlar 111111 lnltvl ,.\ZI.I..~II kllall iiricl Sirtlar I)o~rst 34ohali1etl
I . I I y \\ i l l tc.1 r l ~l e. c.ould r l o l 1)ritlg themselves
forwartl i rt.;~I r ~ l i ~ i l ~ \ ~ r ~ t ~ of t111, t hr ol ~t . : ; ~t l ~. as t not dirrc.tly. S11yIl
:I prort-tlllrt* wolllrl ha\ t a 1)rrt . i l l i tiilt.tl ;I c*o~l fl i cl i l l the 111ill11.i of
ot l ~e r s . I j y I I I I ~ c)f pl i l i -i i ~g rratllc-r ~\cbtak pri11c.e~ at tht. thr-
,111t.. tl~(::; l ~i ~t i i l l r 11i 111l 11) ~ I I ! I - ~ I I ~ ~ I I I - ~ ~ ~ V ~ ~ . , \ y: 111 Sl~illl ( tilt* protrgetB
of :\zrc.n-l ~ J I ; I I I ) ; III, I 51111;111 Al i . ; ~i ' l t >r\ \ : l rd~ L I I I ~ N I I :IS S11lta11 Al i
~ I I ; I I ~ - : I , - t 111- I I ~ I I I ~ I I I > I - 111 5i r 1I a r I ~ P I I ~ ~ \lt1111~111oil ~ I I ; I I I di d l w t denist
frnrll ~ , l l l ~ ~ F i ~ l g t . avI~ o t l ~t * ~. 1\11v\\ ~l ~al - c. ac~I l a srrpl)ort of a p0wer noble.
. , \ I I \\;la -lratlFlrct at t111- Jlanrls o f the ~ O I I o f
,.jylll, sllilJI I]ill;l Hi-;rr i l l I1i . - 11(.(1 I 11ii1111,t-r; L J I I I S olltS 01' the t wi l l -
k g . 5ircli11' ~ ~ O I I J I I I P I I I ~ ~ I ; I I I 111~ll;ljief~ 1 0
r l l l r \$ i l l I I l i + ~) r c) l ~~gc- r ~ t;)r i I linlc. 1 1 I i ol l r l l f b~l *i l
I, , 1 ( ~ ) I I : I I I I P i l l f a r i111f1 11t.i1r c*ortlt.r* 01' I 1 1 1 - 1~o11111r i r ~~. 511c-11 ; I S 111
I I l' t--l;;~\jiir. I.li- roll I l a l r i l ~ ~ ~ l l i ~ t l kll;111 \ti19 I i t*
I l i . 4 l ; ~t t ~#, r ' - * I I ~ - I ~ ~ ~ * ? I I I . . , \ \ 1 1 1 1 ~ I I ; I I I $ r i l l 011 I I I ~, I I I ~ O I I ( > . : \ I I ~ ~ I I : I I I
I I I i r I I I I I I ; I I I I I I I I I I I t Ililll~l* I I ~ his so11
I - I I ~; I ~I , \ t I I PI I 1'11r;Iil ~ I I : I I I 1 . t ~ ~ 1 1 . I l ~ i l i t 1 I i111t~: hilltvl I *I I I : I ~ I : I I I I I { l ~ t -
I I I - O I ~ ~ ~ I I \! 1\11 ; 11111 ~.c'l~'i~-t*cI I l ; ~ l ~ i l ~ ~ ~ l l ; l l ~ . I A I I I I I I ~ i n
~ h i ( ' 1 1 1111. ~ I I I I ~ 01 5il,l11z;ti l , i ~ ~ ~ + - ( - a l ~ ~ v 1 1 ) L I I V P ~ I I I ~ 1 1 ~ 2 1 t ~ l l ~ ~
Circun~stances were enfolding significant happenings then ; for
surrounding Afghan matters, the English had reached the regions of
the Punjab and Sindh ; Ranjit Singh had bought the Attock fort
from Ghulam Mohamed Khan and Jahandnd Khan the Bamyazais :
and the collaps of the Saduzai dynasty had been completed ; and t he
Barakzai
kingdom had not spring up so far. The weekness of the
situation was
significant ; two weekling kings sat at the throne in
Balah Hisar, the country was rend from one corner to another by
fueds and feudal l or ds; and the English were marching westwards
step by step towards Afghanistan. The Sikh Maharajas were now
in possession of Kaehmire, Multan Dera Jat and Feshawar ; till that
region was surrendered to the Servants of the East India Company.
The J ears 1838. A. 0. and 1822, A. D. which seperote the duration
of &he rule of Amir Doust Mohammed, was the time when Shahshuja
backed by the English ; and English backed by Shahshuia entered Af-
ghonistan. Th~s took pl ace because the el ected king of the country
was not in the running and th3t the hand of the foreigners operated
i n all directions. During the six months of that time of trouble, two
kings faced each other at Kabul; one of whom Nas fighting with the
power of the strangers aoa the other was bucked the nation spirit
of the peopl e".
* * *
I n thr prcvlous narratiie we have melitior~ed the difficult days
of Bala Hi ~ a r life in Kahul; here again we desire to say something
ahout the two kings at Kahul. One of these lived in great luxury and
magnificence of Royalty ; whilst the other existed in the poor man's
quarters. Other lived in hi s own house as an ordinary man in the
city. There ia some diffirence between these two kings and those
named above. however, for these two were the Saduzai princes. They
had come lorward as t hr norr,inees of t wo Barakzai Nohlea ; anrl these
,two kingn were Barrkzais and the other was from the Saduzai a One of
- 50 -
then] was a protegee of the Eiiglish nud was hated by the people ;
and the other was tht% one whom people had elected
When the English had taken half of India ; and in order to
protect their posseasi o~~ in Inldia, they had to progress' further afied
into central Asian territories and had taken a politicaI refuge in the
scare the danger of the coining of Napoleon eastwards ; and by thie
ruse had entered our count r y. "to protect Afghanistan from the
danger of the French conquerer" hut in reality to protect their own
trading interests and their empire. and had put to flight the legally
elected king of Afghanistan Rokharawards. Shahshuja Saduzai was
placed for the second time upon the throne of Afghanistan after
23 years of his exile from the country- in 1838 A. D. to 1842 A. P.
Shahshuja, however, ruled only in name. for all power of adminis-
tration was in the hands of Macnaughton. The English troops had
occupied the regions stretching f r on~ Kandahar and Garishk to Kilat
Ghilzai to (Ihazni . ~ a i t l a k , Kabul Charikar and Jalalabad. During
those four years of turmoil and disress i f the nation Shahsuja and
Macaughton t hr people did tlot desist froin t ~l aki ng every possible
effort. When however cruelity and harsh treatment had reached its
apogee the leaders of the naliotl . c:ollected round Abdullah Khan
Achkzai and Ami l ~~~l l a h Khan 1,ogari anrl held a number of meetings.
They planed certain wherries oile day in the first ten days of the
month of Ramazan 12%. A. H. ( Vovember 11J4-0. A. D. ) and elected
Nawah Moharirmed %aman Khat ~ son nf Nawah Asad Khan-the grand-
Ron of Sirdar Payaricla Khair as their king. Afterwards on the 18th.
Ramazan ( ~econrl of IVo\.rmt,er ) they starled t o act. After tlie murder
of Burns the national rising inrreased daily against the English.
When the warfare was at its highest Sirtlar Mohamed Akbar Khan
arrived at Kabul KO t h ~ result CIS national refii~tence a treaty w w
.signer! on 16th. Zilhij 12.57 . . \ . i f . First of ttrc hlonlh of January
1W2. A.D. in tht, tesl 01' wti~c.t~ Sirilar hIoh;lnlt.,l Zin~liali khan was
~ryl et l as the Grt'at %a w ~ I ) N~I \ Y; I h h l o t i , i l r ~~~~f ~l Z H I I ~ ~ T I k hall anti the
R~pr e s e nt a t i v~ HA* stlr'(1 ;I.$ :\n~ii~~rllalr khni ~. Al l tht. other Sirt1ar.q pen-
lied their sign nturcAs t o tht. trcwty arrti i t war frill sealetl ant1 signerl,
Shahahuja-ar~d Zanian Shah were l r i grraat conflict one against the
other during thr mitldle of Ramazart 12.57. / \ . Ha to the midtile of
- 51 -
Safar 1258 A.H. that is from the heginning of Novemher 184.1.
A.D.to 15th April 1842. A.1). wherr Shahshuja iva* assasinated at t he
hands of Shujaudaollah the $on of Zanla!) Shah.
Al l these five and a
half months fierce struggle erlsl~ed hetwern
the two forces. Aminu-
llah of Logar wh o wa. consitlerrtl as the 1)rputy
of both of these
kings did everythig possihle to re(-or~cilr 1)oth of c'ontestents bec-
ause he wolil(1 have Leer1 dcgraclt>~i at the hal~tls of orle of them
and would have hecome o ~ ~ l y a Vazir.
In any case ci rci ~l i ~t ances RO corivergeci LO new eitu' it~ons that mat-
ters righted themselves on their own arcord. Shal~sliuia I 11 absence of
his supporter5 so lo+t hirlleelf that hr lost all his chances and was
ultimately wab asssa$sinatecj. 011 the al)pcharance of S~r d a r Mohalned
Akbar khan the chanct. of the relurn of ,41111r 1)oubt Mahamed khan
a new turn. There 1s oi course another :tory in relation to the son
of Shashuja )but that ~ l ~ o ~ l l t i Ihe re1ntf.d . ~ t a Eeperate place. In any
case when the matter of kingsllil~ of the so11 of Shahshuja was be-
ing contested betweell Aminullah khan and Zalnan Shah at the highest
of Maurijan Sirdar Mohamed Akbar Khan having mat a reverse at
the hande of the English returned to Kabul the dispute wae settled
for some nioliths Fateh J I I I I ~ ruled and Znmar~ Shah left hit11 alone
for a time till the kinglish inorcier to ebei ~ye theniselves once again
intered Afghanistan and burnt the roof of the Bazaer and then
left entire country of Afghal l i st a~~ and allowed Anlir 1)oust Moha-
med Khan to r et r ~r n and oc:c-upy tlic tlironr' of Kabul.
Alter thc d ~ ~ l l h of S/ r d( ~r Mohamed Areem Khan who was the
governor ol Koshm~re two thlnys remained from h ~ m These related
to the matters o/ the c-ountr y They ~ O L ~ E ' been of small duration. one
was h ~ s abandoned spirit and the other wus his sol). The name
of h~s son was Hob~hul l ah Khan, as u yoang mun without any exp-
eri el ~ce, and fond of ~ocl ct y, and lond ot good Ii v~ng. He wanted
-- 52 -
that with his wealth he could manage the affairs of the state: but
his wealth not only depri ved him of his realm, but also contributed
to his losing of his reason.
On the death of Mohamed Azeem Khan (1238, A.H. 1823.A.D.)
the king of his choice one Ayub Khan was at Kabul. As we have
related in other of our contributions, his kingship was i n reality
the kingship of hi s minister. After his death, his sun Habibullah
Khan took the road that his father took, and took the power whi-
ch father excersied over t he king. But there was a considerable
difference between the father and t he son. Beyond money he had
not inherited anything from his father; and also he was a man who
1)elieved in good living. Seri ng these \\cekness ill in hi s son, Sirdar
Azeem Khan given the guardianship of his son to one named Na-
wah Jabar khan. The son, hobever, forgot his father' s orders, and
ratherthan act on advise of his father, he sent his guardian out as
the governor of Ghazrli, : o that he could I)e away from the totala-
ge of his guardian.
In the first instance thcre arose a htruggle Iletueen Prince
l ~ ma i l
the son o f Ayul ~ Shah ant1 HabiLullah khan. 'I'he prince was
that the power* o f his fatht-r were really usurped; and that he
strcggled to regain the pofier of hi* father, wherean Habibullah
khan was of the view that rvt,n those prerogatives which were only
in name. they, too, could I)r curtailed: thus he approached his
uncle of kandahar lor is t~xecution. At that time two poinls attract-
ted the attention o f the Harkzai Sirdar in kandi ~har; one was the-
ir tleeire to face Shah Mahmud at Herat, and thr ,rrcorltl was to 11phol(l
the ki~lgly prestige at Kabul. At that time, tcbo,Sirclar Shair 1)il khan wa-
s engaged in a Ipattle ~ i t h Shall hlahnil~il Sirtier 1'1lrclil khall immed-
iately c-t~me t o kabul. After nl e e t i r ~~ Ayulr Shc111, he pllt hiln i l l
prieon at Rala Hisar. Princelsrn:til, tht. rot1 of the deposed and im-
prisoned king wan killed. In this way, therefore, the laat figllre
trf r ~r l e c . f t h ~ Saclozais was removed from. B111 for the second
time Sirdar [Joust Moharnecl Khan rlisagreecl, and a fight ensued
hetween h i n ~ anrl Shhir 1)il Khan 111 the nrght,ourhood of' Bala
- 53 -
Hisar and Shah Shaheed; hut t he intercession of Nawab Jabar khan
and Nawab Mohammed Zaman khan the two were reconciled. The
plane evolved by Shair Dil khan will be' discussed in a different
article.
Sirdar Flabibullah Khan son of Sirdar Mohamcd Azeem Khan,
as we have said already. was not a man of any considerable perso-
nality ; except that he had inherited a good deal of wealth from his
father. Not only was money Lequethed to ;Sirdar Hahil-~ulloh Khan
by his father but also, the Sirdarship and leaderehip of Kabul hat1
also been imparted to him. But this was not really granted to him
by the people who mattered . Sirdar HaLibullah Khan , therefore ,
desired to have that leadership by spending money and through the
influence of his friends Rut this wealth of his attracted the atten-
tions of his uncles of Peshawar and of Kandahnr. Their coming to
Kahul however . deprived him not vnly of his wealth hut a l ~ o nll
sen1t)lence of' any leadership of Kahul that he l ~a d sought.
THE COMING OF SHlR Dl1 KHAN TO KABUL.
When Sirliar Shair Dil Khan arrived it1 Kabul Sirdur Yar
R/lohan~metl Khan and Sirdar Sultan Mohammed Khan the half-wit
Sirdar Iiabil)~lllah Khan against Sirdar Sliair I)il Khan. His path
was htlrred at Char I hhi : bnt Sirdar Shair Dil Khan skirted
way of Killah Cazil Baig, Afshar Nanuk Chi and Chal Tan and
reachatl Kahal. Uentina ille resistence of his nciverseries he moved
to the rcgion of the fur merchants. wl~ich lay towards the east of t h
])ridge of Mahn111d Kllan. wberc he made his military t ~eadq~l nr t er s
'l'hence advaiiciiig I,v way of' thch l l i ~ a r arrived at Killn Housh Munrl:
and moving still to the souih in n semi-circle sr~rroundetl the citedal
of Hala Flinar : and n l lant hy wav of I)ar\zazni Ktroni near the
Gateway of Johl)o entered Bale Hisar. Htl took the euterior by force
of arms ; and took ~1al)ibullal Khan a prisoner.
THJ!: SAI I UZAI S IN HERAT.
SlX'I'EE!1. TIf .4 R7 ICLE
(5llat1 ~lalitiiutl IYr Kamran i n oric Corner of Afghanistan.)
The assassination of Fo'heh Khan in 1234.A.H. at the hands at
.31ah I\Aohmud and Kamran, ond in consequence the reaction ot the
3clLorkzai Brothers in order to avepge themselve is an ;ncident, on-
:~ccount cf ~ h i c h the King and the prince of the Saduzois took th-
stand in herat; and the rule of the Brakzais was established in
1i1 Afghanistan. There is no doubt tho! despi te of it al l , tor the no-
I,! .?2 years. the rule of Shah Mahmud and his son, and of his re-
' , . ~ t ( ? ! ~ v e s losted. But in this article details ar s given about the rille
, f the princes ol Saduzois; and these details will serve t o show
: h; - ~t despite the internscine war , and the limitation of the rule
ji.:,.it/~a/s, the opposi ti on to them by those of his count:ymen; the
:ys:res.5~~ns of the Kachars of Persia, the interference and political
,,!-~~es!s O/ the English wlth Russia in Central Asia; the city of He-
. , I w r r s after nll conquered without a long sei ge and rcsistence. It,
I ' I ~~?moi ned in the hands of the Saduzais.
\ftvr t t r t - ; ~s ~a ~e i n a t i o r ~ of Fatheh Khan in 1234.A.H. the opp-
I ,.I I ;.In cjf t l ~r Sad traais and Rarakzai was coneiclerably increased. The
h i 1 1 ~ 5tral1 tlahrn~rcl iin(1 prince Karnral~ fled from the oppoe~tion of
-irllar I ) ~ , I I - ~ l l ohi l ~~l r d Khari's forces at Chahar Asyab to Kandaliar.
\. tlrir (.it). hilt1 faller1 t o I'ur Dil Khan and hi s brother f r o r ~ ~ Gul
\ l t r I ~ ~ ~ r 1 ~ ~ 1 Khatl-one time governor of the place appointed by the
*nlI~~rai*-YhiiI~ hlt~hrnud
and hi8 *on were r*ompelled to travel by 1)-
. t r ar \ ar t l ;111t1 I,yl)aths i n a grer~t haste ; ~nd wi t h much difficultien
, , t I , I rt~a(' htvl E'arnli It In relatrfl that the ki ng reached Hr.rnt only
I.. i~ 11 rlt.\ r.11 t i l r r 1 nr~d there he establiFhed his rtrlr.
1 ' 1 1 ~ pr i r i +t ~ c b f Sarlutai, who had c r e ~t e d a bad name for the-
~ ~ t - ~ l v c b - ill ~ I I C c' c~~rl~try Iltbra119e of heir aavage act of aorsaaninating
; i r ~J, ~r Fa~t~c. h Khan clicl not f'illd Her at a n y too hap3y n placr to
-
survive and to have their rec~lrtle of ~l~islleetls c*ontlo~le(l. 7'11t' 1 . 1 4 I
was that the lust of perso~lal power alrd i ~l t ercst ~II:,I t h i h ~ I I I Z , I I I - I
hie son tiad, they did not pa;. t hr blighte$t atttbn1ion t o any a11tl all
. 8
protest that had been made i n connec.lion of t l ~ei r n11l)allir1g. acti\ 1 1 1 , b.
Shall Mahmud conridered that all tris misfortilrichs lia~l l i ( - . ~ . i ~
inflicted upon him due to the activities of his son Kanlri111. \v:rn~t:(l
to have all power into hi s hands; I)ut Ka~nrtlll, wllo t l a~l ~nrtt, (l 10
l uxur i e~ of being an heir to t he t l l ro~i r of his i':~ther Ili~rl nt1ot111.1.
idea: thus Shah Mahmud fearing that Ilia SOII ~nigllt i,nl)risoli Iiilrl.
in the year 1235.A.H. left the city of Herat ill frar c - ~ t ' I l i ? l i f t . .
In the years of 1820.A.D. and 1821.A.T). the so11 a11r1 111r i'i1111v1.
had to measure swords in the t~eigt~I~c~urhoc, rl of l i erat . ' 1' 11~ l , i 1 1 ~
sought help from the people of Had-C;llaiz, (;trurjistan ant1 I ~ ; I I I ~ ( ~ :
and the prince sought assistencr from ttir officers of ~hr. liac. l~ar-
of Persia and Meshetl. 'rill atlast t he nohlrs terminated this rillii.1llo113
hattle between father allcl son; anti pr.rsuatled t h c ~ I t i , r t h t ; ~ i ~ ~
the title and prestige 01' roya't!.: and that all ndn~i ni st ~-i i i i o~l \\:I.; 1 1 )
be handed over 1.0 his st-111. Knn~ran. 'l'htt position. 111lts itas t l l i ~ 11ia1
whereas the entire: country of Afghanistali was in 11i t - Ilarlc.l\
the Harakzai Brothers. ant1 Si kt ~s \\ere inroaciinp froll~ 01t ' P; ~. *II. I. II
. .
regions; and they were "wrr~1111/: agi~inst t l ~r s e 5ikl1s: I I I ( * 5 i t t l 1 1 / ' 1 1
princes found an opport\rnity to c.c-)nti~lue to rule i l l t I 1 ( 7 I I I > I . ~ ~ I - \ \ ( * . - I
. .
of the country. I he trouble M-Iiicll was going 011 I~c~t\\t$c-n 1 1 1 ~ l ' i 1 1 l 1 1 ~ 1 .
and the eon i l l Herat area aniorlgst t h r Sai l u~ai s. \ \ i i - c . c ) l ~ I C l l l l ) o ~ . i l ~ . \ .
of the t,irne when the , 411glo-Hussia~~ i ~ ~ i ~ wr i a l pr~~c' i rat i on ~ I I I I I I . ~\ . ; I I I \
had reachec-l its higt i l l clegards to (:t'~~tral Asin. ' I ' h t b knc%l1:11.3 I I I I ~ I . .
advc~nl a~e of this bvtarrknrss frc,clrlc-~l~l\ attackrd flt*rat.
'Phe fir+[ I ~ I C I ~vliich i111t~rfcrtvl L* ill1 111t- l)o$it11111 of 511iiIi 1111.1
mtld and Ka~nr:~li fro111 a ' c s ~( >r ~l 4.synl) \ \ as 111t - f ' ; ~ c ' t ~ ~ - of t l l v ;1Itr11 h
o f i o 1 i 1 1 I i I , I I . I . I t i i ~ o ~ ~ l c i ~ i , t i 1 I 1 1 1 s
l ~ r o ~ l i r of I Mri11n111rl for sixtecll yei~r,+ l1;111 ; r c . ~ r ' ( l i t ? ,111 111
rlepcnrlent povtarnor in llerat-fro111 1 t UI 0 . '4.1 ). I I I 1810. A. 1 ).-a11(1 ,11
I PT thc rollnps of Kanilahar wtlcl~ Kan~laliar llntl t ) r , t , ~l 1;1Lc.r1 I ) y 1 ' 1 1 I
Il i l Kh ~ n ' had gone I O Mc311acl. with t he 11tbIp l111tl ~ - o - o ~ i ~ ~ t - ~ ~ t i t ~ ~ l ~ J I
Khali Khan 'I'avarnni lark 14eri11: I I I I ~ hi ? 11t.lprr \ \ a@ Lillrcl n i ~ t l h ~ b
himself was t aken prisoner. In tlie year 1823. A.1). t t i ~ l i t l ~ e c-orinj-
- 56-
vance of Fateh Ali Khbn Ka c h r attacks were launched against
Herat. In fact thrse attacks were also moved down to Fprah. The in-
habitants of Farah. llowevcr, wcre now attcahd to the Sirdars of
Kandahar. Sirdar Shair Dil Khan moved to Farah to repel the aggre-
ssors. At the time Shah Mahrnud was indulging himself, whether
through his own desire, or because he was compelled to remain id-
le, and wa3 at Ragh Shah. Kamran had deputed affairs of the state
to Husain Khan his uncle Mustafa Khan Zori; and placed his son
to watch aa to hoiv these two discharged their dutics. He l~imself,
(Kanlran) gave his time to the reduction of the city of Farah. These
two Sirdar, who had penetration amongst the ~e opl e , had their own
drsigns. From the very beginning they allied themselves and plotted
against Kar nr a~. The son of Kamran was set on a wrong path by the-
se two intriguers, by inciting him to claim a kingship. Later on one
of ~l i em released Haji Firozuddin, and set hirn on thc tlirone; and
the other approached Shah Mahmud and "released" him, Later on
' Iludafa Khan Zouri terminated 18 days reign of Haji Firozuddin and
intl~1rc.11 Kan~ran to return to EIcrat.
111 thc soutti, although Shair Dil Khan had l~eseiged the Killa
I m h and Wajucen ; but further opportunity of an advance did not
come to his hands ; thus Kamran was undecided whether to return
to Herat or ~ ~ o t . As hIustafu Khan had not acquired a complete mas-
tery over things in Herat, the ~e o p l e were not very leased with
hirn : thus Syed Mir Saddiq Khan it was who invited Kamran to
flerat. In the drrknesr, of night, the prince Kamran's return was
rnanipulatc-rl. Fur a whole month. a struggle continued between Kam-
ran a ~ ~ t l Mustafa khan with in the precinte of the town;and in the
Killa Ibl~tiar~lddin. 'Sill at laet Mustafa Khan ~urruadered and Kamrrn
lor tlre ~econd tinie look possession nf t hf n city of Hcrat ( 18B. A. I). )
1244. A. H. 111 the year 1W2J. A.D. ( 1245. A. i f . ) after thc death of hi8
fat h~r-Shah Xlal~mud-he proclaimerl hilliself as king.
Iluring nine of tell years ( 1810. A. 11.-1829. ,4. I). ) when Shah
Vahtnud as king and Iriu son Karnran aa the real administrator in
Herat. when t hey were in oppoeite camps, anrl wae harras~ed by the
attacks of the Kachars, did not find their place6 r s the bed of
roeea. Shah Mahmud died under mysterious circumstances ; for accor-
-57-
ding to some, his soil is supposed to have a hand in the deuth of
Shah Muhrnud.
In any r as e,
after that date. Ka~nran wore t l ~e mantle of hi
father as king. He appointed as his minister 01 the realm, one na-
med Atta Mohamed Khan Alkozai, who slo~rly grabbed the adminis-
tration strings into his hands. This Atta Mol!amed Khan diad in the
year 1830. A.D. after whom his son Sirdar Din Mohamed Khan took
the appointment ; but l i i *~ rivals prevented this. so that he ( Din
Mohamec! Khan ) gave the appointment to his cousin one named Yar
Moharned Khan Alkozai. the son of Abdullali Khan Alkozai was the
goveronor of Kashmire during the time of Shah Mahniud's reign.
In the heginning the relationship between the Minieter of
The Realm and Kamran were not had. In the year 1832. A. D.
Fateh Ali Shah Kachar sent a military expedition to Herat under
the command of his son one named Abbas Mirza at the head of
thirty thousand soldiers. A b b e Mirza wanted to ~e t t l e the iseuc
without fightit~g for i t , thereforr, he rent a messenger of his to
Kamran. Wazir Yar Mohamcd Khan was rent for that purpore
to Meshnd. Rut as the Afghan et~voy did nut accept the leaet point
against the intereets of his Afghan roverit~gn, the matter was not sol-
ved. The Perrian prince, against all ruler of procedure imprieioned
the Afghan envoy. The on of Abbas Mirza , one named Sal Dud
beseigcd Herat ; but the Yeroiane under Ahba- Mirza were not
rtrong enough to force a11 iasue, and the Persians , therefore. retired
to Meahad. (1833. A, D. ) Yar Mohamed hlian returned to Herat.
A year after thia, of ruorse. F'otell Ali Shall ~ l k 0 dird, ( lW4. A. L). )
After this rpisotlt., Karnrari and l ~ i s minister of the State, Yar
Moha~r~ed Khan wer e able to htlvt. peace for three or four years,
in order t o consolidate their kinpdonr. Iluring this time, too, the
inininter wall ahle to add t o lrir po\+rrq in regarcjr to adrn~nirtration
of' the realm; t i l l hv wu.i really all 111 all. So tnucl~ e o that he
uow had practically tllovt: very powers wtrich Kamran had taken
over from his father. 111 the year 1837. A. I). turnouts aroee reg-
arding he ptra~ihility of an attack of the Persians during &&
reigu of Mohwnt~i Shah Kachar against Herat. 'l'he prime mover
- 58 -
in thir matter was the Czarist regilne of Rueeia. It is a time, too,
when the question of the possession of Herat had assumed an
international aspect; eo that the progress of irnperialirt deeiane of
Rueeia and England, in Central Adia and India had arrived at a
pas8 that it was feared that )one day soon the t wo expansio~list for-
ces must collide aorne where in the neighbourhood of Centrl Aria.
There is no doubt that the Saduzai ~ of Herat, and Pereian Kach-
are from Ghouristau to Herat had come into conflict with each-
other in Afghaniatan; but the expan.ioniut policiee of Russia arld
of England were rather more intercsted in the historical aitua-
tion of Herat as a point of geography and politcal location. The
Russiane aseieted tile Kacl~are as against the Saduzais; and the Eng-
lish were i n favour of these Saduzais ; uo the political helpers,
and even military helpers of each theee Eur opan dowere wePe
arsisting each group. Both the Ruaeians and the English were
ever in quest of approaching Arnir Doust Mohatned Khan and Sirder
Kundil Khan, through eending their varous delegations, letters a d
envoys to win theee two Sirdars to their respectire sidta. Great
political manoeuvres, political rivalry wae the scene in Central Asia
of the period.
Inspite of the fact that the Killa of Ghuyan~ fell in to the
hands of the Kacharr ; and the Pereian soldiers rvached upto the
citidal wallr under ther Russian officers ; and Herat was beereiged
for ten months. and that on account of lack of rat i me King K m -
ran did in effect opened negotiations for peace, yet Wazir Yar Mo-
hamed Khan Alkozai and showed great resiwtenct ; and Pottinger ,
who was an English Agent. gave great hope8 to Kamran in Herat.
'I'he result of it all was that Herat Ma3 not conquered by the Per-
rians and that fatal hoor was paeaed. Presaare was brought to bear
upon Persia hy the Englieh at Rundar Al,l,as, so that the Persian
king's forces has to retire from their ten months seige of Herat and
returned to 'Tehran.
After r edwi ng the foreign attacke , Kamran and hie
winhter
Yar Mohmed Khan convrrgwl their attention quite dofinitely t owad
the internal enemten of their owo The kiag, b we r a , w a no*r get-
t h rather anxious about the growing power of his rninirter ; a d
- 59 -
wanted to remove him through whatever pretext that wae po~si bl e .
The minister on his t ur n, seeing his growing power wanted to do
away with the ki ng. In the year 1225. A. H. when Shahshuja was
ruling at Kabul, Kamran entered Killa Ikhtia-uddin and launched an
attack against his own powerful minister. The reeult wae not faw-
urable to the king, so that Kamran was placed under surveillance
in the region of Kohiotan . l' here he was aesae~inated by the order
of miniater in the yeir 1842. A. D. 1256. A. H.
YAK MOHAMEU KHAX ALKOZAI.
SEbrE: ~Y?' EEN1' H AfC7ICL F:
( The hlinister. The Minister of 'l't~e Rc>alm of The Herat Kings. )
Yor Mohamed Khan, whosrl account is being given i n t hi s
article was one of the great mran ond mon at great power in M-
ghanisran. He hel d the position of a Minister ot tho Realm during
the reign of Kinq Komron . h e , on account of the power which he
had gathered into h i s honds , he leoched to the greot position
ot a ruler at Her at , where his life ended. His territory extened
beyond Herat t o such areas as Bulk and Chakhansour . Yar Moha-
med Khan seeing tho! !he city of herot was attracting the interests
ot strangers, like the English, was opposed to the English and was
inclined towards the Persians towards the end d his ti me. his Policy
was tol protect himself from external g. internol intrusion ; ond it I S to
be accept ed that he manoged to do this.
In the year lW. A. D. ( 1W). A. H. ) when Shah Matimud,
the Saduti king of Herat died uuder mysterious circumstances;
end his eon Kamran occopie 1 tlie throne-who in fact had
wumed the power of governtnelit during the life time of liis
lather-installed one named Ata Mohamcd Alkozi was hio minister.
A year after that, Ata Mohan~ed Alkozi died and King Kamran
wae compelled to appoint another man in his place. Accordinog to
traditon of the time, the plmc of a ~ninleter of heriditory, thur
Ata Mohrmed Khan'a place wne to he taken by hie bon, nanltd
Sirdar Din Mohamed Khsr~. The courtiere. however. o p p s d that
appointment; hue I1ir1 Mohanicd Khan agreed to btcp down in
favour of his couein one named Yar M&amed &n Alkozai,
Yar Moharned Khan who is famous for hie appointment as a
minister was the son of a governor of Kashmire, one named
Abdullah Khan. He was a governor of Kashmire at the time of
Shah Mahmud. Abd ullah Khan's son-Y ar Mohamed Khan-became
more famous than his father in Afghan history . Ultirna-
tely he became a Miniater of tht: State, and ended up with bec-
oming a king of Herat. His name was known all through Cenlral
Asia. Yar Mohamed Khan was a minister from the year 1830. A,
D. till 1842- A. D..that is to the end of the days of Kanlran as
a king. His term of office was frougt with those uncertain end
difficult times, when that area was rent asunder hy inroads of
the Kachara, the struggle of imperial expansiorl of the English
and the Russians in centaral Asia r~garcling the strategical position
of the city of Herat. 'There is little c1oul)t that during such a
period of difficulties of international magnitude, when the feeble
king-like Karnran-wad on the throne, t h ~ affairs of the state, as
being upon the shoulders of a rninirter, were arduous and impo-
rtant. .4s the records of history manifest, from the moment, that
this Sirdar of hl ko~i took on the task o l a minister, he was
alwaya eolicitou~ that IIerat shall be protected at all cost. Herrt
was, indeed, protected l ) y him, aw we had seen. Wllcr~ in the year
1833. A. [I. the prince Abha ~ Mirza-thy son of Fateli Ali Shah
Kachar-1-unched an attack agsist tlerat; al ~d desired to settlr
the n~at t er without fighting by talking to the representalive of the
Afghan king of Herat. i t wa8 Yar Mohamed Khan, who was sent
as an envoy on hehalf of the Afghan Sadazai king of Herat to
Meshad ; h~ did not accept the least point of influence of
the Kachare i n Herat or any of the region5 untltlr the rule of
hie eovereign; YO that the Yerein prince, contrary to all procdurc.
imprisoned the Afghan envoy anfl plarerl hi111 ~~nrl rr very advetae
condition@.
Quite naturally Karnriln Shah made endeavour^ in getting
the relearn of hi8 rninieter; and eithrr due to thone endeavorn ;
ot that Abba~ Miraa tliecl ( L83. 4 D. ) Yar Mohamed Khan returned
to Herat and waa once agairl 1~11ay with hir clutie~. and wge . d e
to take the reigns of government in his strotlg hands.
4
- 61 -
In the year 1837. A. I). when the rivalry of England and
of Ruesia was all its highest over the question of Herat; and Mohamed
Shah assisted by the Rueoian officers beaeiged the ciky of Herat
fer ten months, the Vazir-Yar MQ hamed Shah.showed himself equal
to the taek when in making airangements with the English thr-
ough Potinger-who was living in disguise in Herat-and for in other
ways for the defence of the city. Nor was it all, but. he also
used some of the money that the purpose of strengthening of his
troops; and managed to repulse the aggressor Per ~i ana forces even
from the very walls of the city of Herat.
After 1838. A, D. when the rtorm was blown over i r ~ regards
to the Persian attack against Herat, the Englih had taken Kabul
and Kandahar in the nmne of Shahshuja. Later they tried to occupy
Herat and to place the local Saduzai geverninent of Herat under
their influence. As we had nlentioncd, Pottinger, as the repreoe-
ntative of the Eaat India Conl p~ny l ~a d paid a sun1 to Kanlratl
and to his minister Yar Mohamed Khan ill order to strengthen
the Saduzai def enc~ forces, After the lifting of the seigt3 Captain
Stoddard, too, joined Pottinger, so as io secure some "conuideration"
for the Eaet India Lomyany. Yar Mohamed Khan made use of
the Engliah money, hut did ~i o t give the slightest point of "cone-
ideration" to the English either in comniercinl or political sense.
The Englieh inineter one namrd Macnuagton. thereupon, sent Major
Todd to join the other two Englifihlnen at Ilerat, to perwade
the local Saduzai acltninietraion with the inducement of lnorler
and other proniises to colnp u~i der the Etigl~sh influence. A
treaty of frientlhsip w0.s ~j gned l)ctwecn thc Hnglish and Kan~ran
in 1839 A . D . 1,etween Stocldord and Kanlren; I ~ u t tlle Vazir
Par Mohamed Khan, who we3 t hr actnal powcr, did not sign or
the engagement entered into and did not gi i e ally con~ideration
to the Fhgli~ih. Yar Mohamcd Khan Leing awxre of the interrst
of both the Perairns and the E11,qligh ~ J I regard^ to 111e city of
Herat tried to benefit from I)oth sides for the good of thc country:
so that when the Persiul~e attached l l t ~rat . Yar hlol~anrcd Khan
took the help of the English
to rrpel t he ;lgtt>aeor; and when the
danger to Herat waa ovcr. and [he F:uglish had taken l)ractically
every onrt of Afghanieta11 exc'cpt Herot. l ' ar Mohamed yaitl no
attention to the soft words of the English ; and because of the fri-
endly presaure of Mohamed Shah Kachar, he commanded that Major
'rode should leave Herat. Hi5 growing power was now in progrees,
till in the year 1842. A. D. he managed to remove even the Karnran
from hie royal position.
There ie little doubt that after that date, he did no1 proclaim
himself as a king, but called himself only a Minister of the Realm.
T h i ~ title wae considered of greater magnitude that the kingahips of
either Shah Mahtrlud or Kamran . He ( Yar Mohamed Khan ) now
started on a carrer to extend the extent of his territory. Yar Mohamed
Khan paid attention to this extension of hie administrative province
in two directions ; namely in the south and the East-in Ghour and
in the regions of Murghab. He reduce Karim Dad Khan . the head
of the Hazras, of Killa Noor. to subrniseion. In the year 1842. A. D.
( 1257. A.H. ) which is the time of a great anti-English movement at
Kabul, he took an expedition to Ghoui , At the time in CThour two
persons had influence, one wae Zluetafa Khan and the other wacj
named Ibrahi n~ Khan. Two eons of Kamran named Saiful Muluk and
Saadat Muluk took refuge with Ibrahim Khan ; aleo Sirdar Din Mo-
hamed Khan-who aa may be remembered had waived hie claim over
the Minister of the RerIm office-had now become an enemy of him
under the protection of one Muetafa Khan. In addition to thia Raw-
lineon, the political repreeentative of the English in Kandahar h 4
also taken stepe to remove Yar Mohamed Khan from Herat. and hie
activities were projected at Chour. The Mi ni ~t er of the Realm took
d v a n t a ~ e of the animosity of these two noblea of (;hour and ren-
dered then1 week by precipitating a conflict bet ween them ; eo that
the was able t , ~ project his influence in Ghour upto Karz and Nazli.
'rhis done he returned to Herat. In 1846. A. 1). when Mohamed Shah
dismissed Saifwl Uowlnh from the governnrohip nf Nlestrad ; the king
of Herat foilnd the opportunity to extend hi s influence 11p to T,lhat
Jam. During that year and thr year erter that 1847. 4. 1). he was
further able to extend hi s ray t o the rcx,oion of Vt~gl~aJ,. St ~i ber~han,
Aqllcha, to Sarpul awl 11pto the neieht,orrrhorwl nf nr~l kh. He wrote a
I
letter to the r~l l cr of' Mer v~. anking hirn r ( , 9nrrender I l i m~ ~ l f " d c r
the rulth of Yrr Moharnell Khan.
- 6.j -
At the time when the prest ~ge of Yar Mohamed Khan a8
the ruler of Herat had reached its higheat point, at Kabul the reign
of Amir Doust Mohamed Khan obtained, and Kandahar was in the
hands of Sirdar Kuhandil Khan. Political relations between Kabul
and Herat were cordial and on account of the fanlily connection of
two royal house they becan~e even more friendly ; for Yar Mohamed
Khan had given his daughter in n~erriage to Vazir Mahamed Akbar
Khan ; and on the death of Vazir X'lohamed Akl~at- Khan. the second
son of the Amir married the ~ i d o ~ v of his 1)rotller. Bui on the
contrary there was a great tension Letween Sirdar Kunhandil
Khan and the ruler of Herat. 'Tbio aniniosity it was that compelled
each of these coritentent to ask the help of the Persians ; and each
of them wrote in his individual manner to hloharned Shah, the Ka-
char king. The Perpian9 wer:. ho~vevet. rather afvaid of the growing
strength of Yar hloharneti Khan . therefore. they wanted to assist
Kuhindil Khan ; hut hi9 death destroyed this plan. Apart from thib
when Naziruddin Kachar came upon the throne sf Pereia, dangeroils
Rituation arose for the 'Tehran government in Meshad : thie was in
the shape of the revolt of Saif~~ddoullah . the depowd governor of
that city. Wamm Mirza wae appointed to puni ~h the revel. The Vazir-Yrrr
Mohamed Khan-raw a chance for fr~rrher rtrengthening himself at the
expense of this Pereian F'racaa, for he noticed that t h i ~ W O I I ~ ~ hfm-
ken the Yereian urge against Herat ; and thua he wae not quite attrc
a8 to what to cio for the hest. 1,ecause he was etill friendly towards
the Persian kings : and nan~c. d t t , Iic~lp tlurnta Mirza. 130th of these
r i vnl ~ were now the suhject of attention o i Yur Mohamed Khan. Ile
wrnte to both of them. iic s t ar t ~d ith 8,O(N) fighting lnen towardr
Meshad. I n "appearence" he ehowed favour more to H~lmm Mirze,
and for that rearran Nazir Ilddin send him am gift a awonl etuddid
with itwale, and bestowed on him thrh title of Zahiruddoullah.
In as mucti an Amir Ooust Moha~netl Khan wasr tleeirous that
he ~houl d bring the whole country rinder one banner. and thus p-
roduce a unity by taking Kandahar and Herat; both Kuhin Il i l
Khan and Yrr Mobamd Khan opposed the Amir. In the year 1267.
A.H. a struggle wa* imminent; kar Mohamed wrote to Kuhim Dil Khan
h t in place of Loth of them being at lagger head wi tn each other.
lhey shoulrl really combine i l l their efforts. This isza time, too, when
Ahrned Khan the head of t hr Ishaq Zais, induce Kuhin Dil Khan
t o take the region of I.ash, then Shair Dil Khan son of Mihr Dil
Khan 9tartcd from Kandaliar to that direction ; just in time Kuhin
Dil Khan' s s on S i ~ d a r Mollanled Saddiq Khan occupied the region of
Chughansour. Yar Mohamed Khan was rather frightened about this,
therefore. he, tooo, tok notice of the region of Lash and removed
Ahmed Khan form that localitj-; and send Sirdar Mohamed Saddici
Khan Lack to Kandabar with due honour and with much favour; ma-
king his son Sirdar Said Mohamed Khan as the governor of Laeh.
He' himself returned to Herat. In the way to Herat, he fell ill
suffering with fever and died in 1267. A. H. He was burried near
the grave of Jami.
During hie rule in I-Ierat Yar Mohamed Khandtwelve years
with his might reduced all the lesser nobles to x~bjugation. He
gave peace to practically all the territories under his jurisdiction.
He also yairl a great deal of attention to agriculture ,and even
tu the mines of his territory. He repaired all those building0 which
hacl euffered during fighting i n and around Herat, Those who
had died as a result of the waT wi t h the foreigners were remem-
.A. ,-a,
bered by him, for their dependents received grants of lands in 8uch
region& as Killa Noa arld in areas around. As compared to the
Sadrizai princes. he ruled a larger territory and moet certainly
much more effeciently.
TOWARDS THE FRONTIER DELINEATION.
EIGHIIEENTIf ARTICLE
Thd English atlast on their road ot imperialist expairsion
reached upto the banks of the lndus in the middle of the 19th.
cent ur y of Christian Er a, But from the time that t hey arrrved ot
that l ocal ~ty, they Ner l l sublected to great ci~fficulty, for there the)
were confronted wrth the problem of delrneot~ng t he frontiers. The
drfficultv was that dwrng o whole century their polrt~col thinkers
and their military officers th:ough various writings and in virtue
of mult~ierous documet~ts whrch they had sighned, they hod con%
mrited themselves to quite B number d baffling silmtions. Thsy
h e n that the ~roblems of ihc frontiers between them and t b
- 65 -
Afghans had not been solved. As 3 result, the recrchon hod been
the question of Pushtc~nistan c o~ne into bejng; so that till tho! region
of the Pushtuns i s not made indpendent, there could not be a
Permanent peace in that phart of Asia.
As a resillt of t hr records of history which had been rev-
es1e.l; and some of which h3ve also Ijeen appearing in the puhli-
cations both in our own and those of the English. When the
English occupied t he l ndus Valley in the year 1843. A. D. ai d
placed the Punjah ~r nddr their rule. had aways it1 the quest of
niaking a boundry line thpir territory and those of t he western
neigh hours.
In other ~ o n l s . the imperialist designs of the English duri ng
lheir progress for half a century had enabled then1 to overpower
tlict fertile regioris of India iron1 the Ganges to the basin of
the 111dus river. When that was acconiplislie~l they were solicitous
to find a lind of de~narkat i on of o perrnanet value: SO t hat the
taety nioreal of Tntlia shoul ~l be eaten away fro111 the interference
of rivals; so thai iio one should meddle in their rule of tllr:
fetile lain ins and e\tensive regions of which then they were the
masters. I t was this that i~iipelled tlie military and political officers
of rhe Rritsh cmpire to arrive at a tiecision i n regards to a line
of frontier.
As the r ~ a d e r s are aware that tlie discovery atid tlie evol ~~t i on
of a line of denlarkation !%as a problem ol' great intricacy: the
rt l n~i derat i ons whir11 promted the ~e ve r a l steps of the British in
thi s r ~ g a r d had perforce due to the ever changing conditons of
time and circumstances. had t o be altered and changeci frequently.
The prfnciplee tlint guided the British in r el at ~on to this
~na ki ng of ;I i r o n i ~ r line of wtrength and permanancy. were two
fangled. One school a a s the school of Forward Policy and the
other was the Limited Frontier of Close Frontier Policy. Those
British officers who had served in Sindh were favourahle to a
-- 66-
fronlier of artificial cliaractrr, their real illtention being that discord
might Ire produced in Afghanistan. and thus gradually to annex
Quetta. Kandhdr, Kabul and Merat into their Indian possessione.
This \ + \ . a ~ the 5ecrr.t intentiol~ oC t l ~ose who belonged to the "orward
Po1ic.y School. 'I'he other later kilown as the Sindh School was com-
pqe,l of t ! ~ o i c a British officers, whu ha1 served in the Punjab, and
hey WC'CP syle i by their k i r i ~ l as t ne Det't:tidt~rs oC tlie Road. T h ~ y
were wedded to the (:lose Horrler Policy. Their view8 were that ithe
frontier stlould l ~ e con~irlered as being on the line drawn at the
rivrr .4basiil o; the l er ~e along the mountains: and riot a single step
may be taken wcstl/\rard beyond that litie. This School was some
tiniea called the h n j a n School as well.
When the English, therefore, arlvonc-c.. l from the Ganges ljasui
to t l r t . Lal~h- of !ht. 1i ~i ud ribtlr: a1111 half of 11orii1 India came
entirelv unrjer their irriyrial rule; the necessity ~ras:purgetlt to produce
a t ~ o u ~ d r v line from moug t hr plans of the t+vo schools. 01ir of
rbt. three d u t i o n e were to he projected.
'I'hr. line should run along the riher At wi n . Set-nndly that t h ~
line aliould run along the rrl,)utitain~ of Sulainlar~ Kol ~ allcl I<aiasr
Chur. The third proposal that the. line shoulri hc- the 11r.art of ,4fg-
hanistan. that t o say the Hindu Kush Hangt..
Prior to oar ntuliying these threr: proposals: 1st us c o ~s i d t r as to
what r ~g i o ~l u the En gliah penetration had arrived.
'The khglieh proderl Hllniit Sing11 to war against the Afghans,
~r that tht- Sikh ruirr might wt-rlten thp pouer of the 14arahzai.r
a~lrl the Setluzais. By this ~nanipulation. i t wan thought to berve the
Iwst i rl l ere~t n of the Engliall. 'l ile Maharaia wn,s aI 10~t d t l ~t : rule, but
as soon as the Sikh died, the Englisli ban11 irnmetliately 5raLbed hi n
territoty , so that *eke11 years after Hanjit'n death he province
of Sindh was t-ken. un l within ten the entire Punjab annexeb into
the Hritiwh territory. 'l'he ;innexation of t he Bunjab was rtrmpletexl
in the year 1MY. A. 1). arltl then they co.r~tlert:d ~liak their frontier
bountlry I ~ n e weatuard rdrr alftnr thtb rlg111 hank of the river Indw
and along the beeterr1 ranges of the lnountair~o of he tribes. Thin
loundry line, which the English consitlerc.tl as their inheritance froui
- 67 -
the Sikhs, and d ~ e disclission of that subject requires closer study-.
This line, ho~vever. was the one which passed between t he river
Indus and the mountains of the tribes on t he fringes of t he plains-
agricultural plainh-and the foothills and rocky defiles of the west.
In ather words, it wab n I)o~iriclry line which divided the agr i cul ~ur al
plains from the cocky ti~ounlains of the clansmen ol' Prlslltunista~i:
and the nlountain dwellers of the tribre were 1)eyotid that line.
Ia spite of the f a c ~ t hat the English territory cwl t l I)e
defined a s l j i ng beyond that lint*: that is, on the eac;t a l ~d the
south-east of' the course of' t he l ndus rives: and h c ~ m d that
lay 011 t he north and nart h-best the indrpendent country of'
Afghanistan and the independent trilesmerl: yet the F:ngliqI~ sought
to establish a firm ant1 permanent frontier line beyond which
~ h t ) may rest secure in t ht i r Inciiau posse^-iorrr.
As ever) one knows, and hietory, geography, literatur e. legends
d ~i r l traditions
bear witnesb : t11e ~latl!rnl and pilitiral a ~ l d I~istorical
Itoulitlrv of India is no other than the courqe of the
river Indus which i.iribillg i l l i t l t a Iitr north at C; I I ; ~I ant1 courses
straight down t o hol i t h t i l l ~t (1et);tucIi~s i t s ~l f i n the 11idian ocean.
c ,
Ihis, line, too, neper'ites 4fgha11ista11 fro111 India: arid iL i~ ri
divi ling llne, cllr ich IM torc- has r1uiLt. ol ~vi t~ud y cr cate(l for t h a ~
puq)oue.. Hi st orkal prec-denceh in tl91fi re,g;~rd are nlnajri 1.ccorda1:
and every body kmwu o:' t l ~ i a !act. 'I lle hito~letlge. of t hi n fact.
too, persuades some O~t t e r 111for111~,1 I<ng1+41111e1l to s o n ~ i d ~ r that
when &hey had reidc.lid the I ~anhe of tllr 11ltllr-. h e n t h e y l ~ ~ v r
hrzrhe~l their rlatural twuncjry line ill tl~e' west.
Amongst rhe C:ngfish officcm. t l ~c Inan wile accepted t hp
tlvm Ahad rl as t he hou11d I.\ nt their territorj wa.; 1,crrd 1,awrence.
who had a grtaat dt.01 trF a ~l m; n i ~t r a t ~v e expr.rir.~lr.cl of t l ~t * l'unjal-,
acltninist~,~tion. His crv waa tilwavs t c h 1 0 thcs !II~IL~S' . . llib
viw~ wrw that 'liohat and the protritding area., o?' the trihi*a
worlltl go heynntl t k Peshawar area In i t r I 1 other l o 1 1 liilr
than t he (me* clrawn alona thrb Intius river. 4l ao. that thc htationii~g
of Hritish troops iir the Yeoliawar area w , ~ ~ , not contirlc'i\r of a
lieulth y l i f ~ fr.r Ijriti.cl11 troops. F'or this rea ion I ,ortl Lan rent-e
corr~idrretl that 111f' rivcr Int l i ~s wati I ) ) ? e o r l i l l t . .
-68 -
He further
added that the river Indus was a deep and definite
artery of water, most suitable for a boundry line; in place of an
i!lclefinite thin line along the foothills. Also that the I n d u ~ river
constituted a shorter boundry line, and in the expense in its defence
would bt.
much less than for any other land boundry. Under these
circumstances, Lord Lawrence advised the Government of India to
give back the territories of Kohat and Peuhrrwar to .Ifghanistan.
There is no dou1)t that some of the English men did not
see eye te eye with 1,awrence's suggeetione; so thpt his suggestions
were made nu1 and %chid. Lawrence, howeve, stuck to his views.
As his views were not accepted by Lord Canning, he ( Lawrence)
*lightly modified his views; ant1 he arlded that if the river Abasin
could not be taken an the natural boundry line in regards to
geography anti historv of India: b e should atleast not put a
single foot foruard beyond those foothills formed the boundry
line of the Sikhs; hecause 1)eyond that area lie high mountainu,
deep valleys ant1 many tiirning and twisting passes; which would
I)e difficult to defend. whereas a line along t l l p foothills would be
more securtb arid t hr rrlolintains in front of' the line woul(1 I)e
a source of defence ar~tl strength.
Thiw line which running al o~i g the course of the
river Indus.
and touching the foothills of the Sulaiman range and Kaieer Ghor,
has the same boundry line which marked the line, where Ranjit
Singh with Chglish incitement hat1 extended his territory during
the internerine wars r,f the Harakrai Brothers and the Sadllzaia.
The t i t territory , hownber , waa entirly beyond it . ' Thi ~
1)oudry line was adopter1 1)y the English from the Sikhs in the
year 1W9. A. I). I t was, too, the line, rvhich according to Lord
Lawrence ehoulrl be a definite line beyond the English shoultl not
proceed we~twanls. Hut a* the hi ~t ori cal recorda show, most reg-
retfully due to the military mintled officer8 of the English. bent
on imperial expenrion, rlicl not accept the wi*e aclvire of their
better minds and impelled l)y the theme F' or~ard Policy proceded
Sorward into the triljal regions of' mountais; and from 1879. A.
D. entererl into a policy of aggrer~i on. 'l'heir hitlden desire, of
course. Wi i a t l ~ t . l ) o~r ~~t l r v linr ..rho~~l,J tfbrminate a t h a l t ~~l . (;llazni
-69-
and even at Heart; but they were unable to execute this
nefarious
plan, and the bountlry line between Afghanistan and In dia remained
indefinte.
THE ENGLISH INTEREST IT HERAT MATTERS.
The English after their t~rst interference with matters Afghan,
and even after that du:iny the disturbances in the regions of
ihe south of the Hindu Kush; were always at pains to bring Herat
and the local Saduzai rule there under their sway. In the years
1837, 1838, ond 18.39. A. D. their agent, such as Pottinger, Stoddord
and Todd i n disguise reached Herat. They spent a greot deal ot
monoy for strengthening of the army there, and in planning tactics
in order gai n an uppe: hand in the administration of the city of
Herat. None of these manouvres succeeded, and ihe least amo! ~nt
oi preference was not accorded to them by the M ise minister of
Kamran, one named Yar Monamed Khan Alkozai. The Vazir di d
in effect r epel the machinations of Russia and those of the ?ersians
through the Selp of the English, yet with his esfablisihng oftriendly
relatiorts with the Persians, he annulled the expons!'onist policies of
England a s well.
I'rogressively ae the Eaet India company marched on the norther
regior~s of India from the Bay of Bengal; it8 officers saw thern-
nelves as the, inheritors of the land; and the fertile territories of
India to lie at their feet. Along with the expan~i on of the Kn-
glish power in India and the acquiring of territory: there wae at
back of their minds, of course, A thought of. the newly annexed
. .
areaa. I lie penetraion of the Engli-ih forces in India leuring the rule
of Zaman Shah, and later after the territories of Rar~jit Singh fell
into their lot: mattrs so co~ltrved that their implications were seen
during R L I C ~ periods of our history as ~t the time of the rule of
Shah Mahmud, Stiah~huja, again during the rule of Shahehuja, then
(lurin(r the time of Amir Doust hlohamed Khan and Shuja and
- 70 -
once again when Douet Mohmed Khan and Fhuja and once again
when Dourt Mohamed Khan was on the throne. So that they rea-
ched Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Shikar Pour; and that due to
the internecine wars in Afghanistan, ;he introduction of forei ~n
forces was made clear to the extent of their being in possesion
of three most important citier of Afghai~istan, namely Kabul,
Kanddar: and eyes were being ca3t towarcls Herat.
Contemporary to the English activities in India; or indeed, FI
little earlier than that period: the imperialist designs of the Czarist
Russia were making themselveh felt a~nogst the Khanates of Central
Asia; so that the Russian imperialist thrust l~roceeding aouh~
wards towards t he banks of the Oxus.
There is, of couree. little doubt that tht. English, when they
were still n d further weht than the f'unjab; and as early as the rei-
gn of Zaman Shah i n Afghanistar]; were rather apprehensive el ~out
the ckeigrrs of Napoleor1 anti (:zarb of Ruehia; arid that when they
managed to oontait~ the Afghan progress behirld the cr1c)untains of
Afghanistan; and they themselves hrcanle the ilndispured mdnarchc
of India; the fear pi pped then1 for they hat1 then to protert a mu-
ch lareer part of their pouseesions. l ' ht. a g g r e ~ ~ i o a of he English
in Afghanistan war due to the fear in the hearte of their
irnperiallistically inclined of f i r ~r b regarding the wester11 defence of
their territories.
In any caae when after 18:{A. A. 1). Afghanistark was div;dell
into s m a l lock1 principalities; the Hunaiann of the Czarirt regime
and the Persiana under Kachare joineds hand in ordrr :o inroa,l
into the Afghan tenizory with a view to poa9essing t ht city of ller-
at. The political herd3 of the Enst India (:m~ipany in Hengal st.cing
the danger of' the Hussio-Persian alliaricl agaiiist Mtlrat, itere t)cnt
,,pan doing t v~ryt hi ri g ponsiblr. to Idec t hat thr. H ~iqsio-Persian desigtie
were defeated. &it that which harl n~acle thr Fngliqh nlore anxiclue
than ever was the tonditiori of r nt ei ~~al affair$ i ~ i Afghaniutan itprlf
I n Kabol. Kandahar atid lferat Ioral govrBrrlments had heen e t up;
and t k enirncrsity of Baraksai 1)rottlrrs and t hr Sadt ~zai s had con-
tr%utcrd t o thr crratirm of a separate k i r ~ ~ d o l n I I V Karnran nt flrrat.
- 71 -
Beth the l 1: ~l gl i ~h afid the Fiussiane had Fent their erl\oqs to Kabul;
311d in the I\ inter of 1837. A. D. Burns came as an envoy of t he E n
glibh t o the c-oiirt of Amir Doust Mohamd Khan, and the Rusoian
determined not to be left behind sent their envoy in the person of
onn named Vakuvich.
7'he danger roint, according to the English was just that city
of' Herat. Mr. Macneil. the Ehgiish envoy in Tehran wrote a letter
to the Engli-h governor-general i n Calcutta in 1836.A.D. regarding
the Rrssio-Persian designs regarding Herat. From that date onwards
the statesnien of Jii~glish Mere g i ~ i ng a great deal of attention to the
coilsideration of the Herat Question: and since that period it is that
we ar e introduced to such a persol1 Major Edward Pottinger.
Major Pottinger. who belonged to the Artillery eecton of b-
mbay reached Afghanietan in 1W). A.D. or in the beginning of 1837,
ant1 after a ~r ot ect ed stay in
Kabul ill tlie house oS Nawab JaLLgr
Khan, journyed towardfi Herat 1)y \+ay of Hamajar: where he rewh-
ed in the summer of 1837. A.W and contacted Karnmn d, his
powerfill minister. Yar-Moholned Khan.
'There is little tlonbt that the local king of Herat, Kamran.
noting the difficulties that faced liini was in need of help. There
were no k a s thari ihirty to forby thousa~ui trooye of Mohamed Shah
Kachar with eollle Rusian \.ulunteers. alid led by Ruebian, Italian
and eve& Frcnch officers. Potlinger, as the representative of the Enrt
IncJiti company, who were always ~olicitous of the defence
problem of India; \+a6 ready to render any help that was to be
a a k d from the English. IJuder t l ~e instructions of the English offi-
cer. tlie Saduzai ruler attended to the defence walls of Herat and
di unt e d military matters under his advice; till ultimately the tro-
o p ~ of Mohamed Shah Kachar i d Persia led Ly the Kussian officer^
beeeiged Herat on Br d. Novenlber of 18313. A.1). This seige lasted
for ten mouths,'tlut is to say beginning from the ninter of 1837 to
the spring and eulnlner of 18%. 12. U. liamran was alrnont ready to
a r c p t ~ I to certain point4 of the enemy, but hie minister resited any
such appeaeement, and Major Pottinger gave all k i d e of advice tow-
arde till the n~csst determind attack led by the Russian general Bus-
-72 -
ovieki on 24th. June 1838. A. D. was repulsed; and ultimately the
Persians beat d retreat actually from the proxiniity of the city
walls in 8th. September h. and retired to Tehran,
'There i s no doubt that thc real purpose of Pottengir and of
his higher officers was to to strengthen the forces of the Saduaie;
and to restrict the plaiis of the Russio-Persian aegression towards
Hernt and in other perts of Afghanistali. When, however, the probl
en1 of aggression from the hest on the jmrt of the Russians and the
Pereians had solved itself: Lord Ackland lifted the curtain
fro111 liis real designs, de*igns, which were to interpere in Afg-
hani st an-~ local and domestic affairs; ai ~t l English troops, in the
riarrie of Shahshuja entered the kiilgdoni of Afghanistan. The Engli-
sh had it in vie\\ that in addition to placing Kabul and Kandahar
under their to put the local Saduzai king ~f Herat under the suz.
erainty of Shahehuja. Hut here they excercised some care and did
not actively interfers vvith Karnran's affairs, for they were afraid of
a man like Yar Mohanled Khan. wh o has regarded as the Nepoleon
of' Central Asia. and the Greatest Warrior in Central Aaia. Still, in
order to tebt the situation they made certain proposals, and two
other Englieh officers: namely Stoddard and Major Todd were sent
out to Herat for purpose.
After the termination of the seige of Herat, Pottinger ured to help
Kamran financially: and Colonel Stoddard was sent out to Herd
further to increase the influence of the Englieh i n that locality:
the king was persuaded to their view to an ext ent , 1)ut
the man who collltl pierce the outer curtain8 of diplomacy wa8
the self same Vozir Yar Moharned Khan. who was aware of the
inner meanings of it all. Nor would he be persuaded l ) y money.
Stoddrrd. however. due to the obstrsction of' the Vazir did not
aucceerl in hie miseion and started lowartln Hokhara. 'l'here he wae
taken pri.wner. Pottinger remained alone in Heat. 'This Engl i ~h officer
wantrd to have a unit under hio rommanrl at Hernt, and the expenses
of that force would he
paitl l l y the East India Company. But Vazir
Yrr Mohamed Khan did not agree to it. The Vazir as far ae wre
~ o a ~ i b l e took the Englieh gold to protect 11;s rountry from the
a~presui on of the Persiane: but after the lifting of the s e i ~ e of
- 73-
Herot, t h ~ Vazir did not countanence the views of the English:
and indeed, thinge passed to the stage, when Yar Mohammed Khan
actu;illy showed hin1.4elf friendly again towards the Persi an~.
The attitude of the minister of Kamran towards the Englieh,
compelled the English to send another envoy to Herst; so that Mr.
'I'oid wllo was at one time the English military Attacheat Tehran and
an assiblent ill the iiiilitary section of thc atlmillistraion of Magnauton
In Kabul \ +as sent to Herat in 1839. A. D. ATajor l' odds promises for
larger bums Here lust prcrportio~i to that ~ h i c h hey wanted in
"przfcrt.rice" [or ~l;r Engli~li i:lterrsts. But Yar Mohamad Khan. who
11acl didcovered their week p o i ~~t , intelisified his friendship with the
I'ersianh all the Illore: and further lnoney from tile English. At
last Togld 1va.i. askrll to leave Ilerat . Major Todd with all his
experience ln polllical \+angglicg anci ulilitary >kill wds declared a8
u~lsucceaaiul In all hi* ~lancr. Due t o hi3 failure he iva, placed in the
rliclfavour of the Governor-General. and he was degraded in hie rank and
poriton. Vazir Yar Mo11~nlt.d Khan was ciuccebejful in all h ~ s plans and
th.arl ahlc tr, ~,r.otsct h ~ s cTountrq from tlie ~ C I ~ G I I ~ P , ~ o f the forelgnere.
It is to he noteti that whi l ht practically t l ~ e whole of Afghanis~an of
the, time had come under tile influr:l~c*tx of 111e 13ngl13h ; the sdga-
cioua Vazir Yar Mohamerl Kh.ii1 kcpt ll,:rat ntleast outside the orhit
of the English pr~ietration and influence.
'I'H~; STRL(;(;i,E c)E' TU i) SIIWAR l!k C,$l'-l'llHlhG
OF KABUL.
The collops of ihe Sbdi i zo~ government. and the con?ing up
01 lhe Barakzul Brotht./h rrule over Al g h ~ i ~ ~ s l a n were managed bp
stoyes ond g~ao' ual ~y. The tern7 of afl i ce of S ~ r d ( ~ r Feteh Khan, and
Lhe 111le of Shuh Mahmud I S a pelted In Afghan history ~n whlch
both I~ouses c/ ti ~use nGalos h o ~ ' C O - C J ~ C ' I C I L ~ ~ cnd worked tobethel
(01 their counlry. HI,^ the assossinat~or~ 01 Sl r dar F0l.h Khan destro
ved that spirit of co-operat i on, so tho1 all the Barokzai &others
now S O WQ ~ ) ~ 10 a~el i ga the wr onj . l l ~ese acI , ~l l l es of t h ~ Bar akzu~~,
-74-
I I I / / me took t he s ha pe of ~nstulllng of their own principalities in
t hr ee poinls in Afghanistan ; i n Peshawar, in Kandahor a n d tn Ka-
bul. In al l these t hr ee loaqlitins, however, Kabul was the most im-
port ant . For the c a pt ur ~ng of that gremi er locality flrst of ail Sirdar
Moha me d Azeem Khan a n d S i r d ~ r Doust Moha me d khon made
the^^ ~, ~d i v i d u a l efforts . Sirdar Doust Mohomed khan . however,
n ~ a n a g e d to secc;:e !hat covet ed hot ~our a n d est abl i shed o Ba r ~k-
ZUI reigning dynasty.
I n t h ~ thirteen111 article of this review under t he title of "'TWO
hlNGS 1% ONE YALACF,," we had sald some thing about the su-
jeet : and the readeraTmu9t 11ave n o t 4 as to how Sirdar Mohamed
.Azeenl Khan ancl Sirdar Ll ou~t Slijhamed Khan hat1 journey one after
another to Kabul to avenge t he tleath of their brother Fateti Khan,
The two Sirdars , faced each other in a ditferent manner . Each of
~ h e s e hat1 il~stailed a prince of their o\tn choice for kingship. Each
of these princes wad the son of 'l'imoi~r Shah, the previous king of
Afghanistan : thc one selecterl b y 1)ollst Mohamed Khan ~t dr j one
]lamed Ayrlh and t he other Sultan 41; \ \ as selected by Sirdar Mo-
1lamt.d Azmt. Khan. Ea(-11 ot' these Sirrlurs I~acl elected himself a s
r .
the minister ~i the realtii rrf their protigr . I he real fact ia after
the dofrat of Kamran arid Shah Mah~nutl near the villagee of Hindiki
and their flight
t ~ h i l r ( i ~ Herat ; and the goof1 impreseion that had
ohteined in regards to tht. clesrendente ot Payanda Khan and hi*
relativee ; the t uo above mentioned Sirdars \$err regenled a.u the
r ~~ont c.vnll)eiei~t I'ulure rulerm of 4fghatlialan.
'There is little rlonl)t. of cwllrse . t hd~ a ~ n o ~ ~ g k t clll the t hr ak-
Zai Brothers. Sirdar Mnhamed Azepm khan wag the most experien-
ced, the eldest arld the man of ~onsi der ahl r ~ ~ltfluencc : and practl-
rally r \ er y one ackno\vledged t ~ i a ~xcel l ent rjlrnlities. H I I ~ as Sirdar
!)oust Mnhrmeri Khan, though younger, Naa in a more atlval~tageous
position- becausr he had been more under the tritinil~g of his lather:
and he was n marl of cl l ~al i t i ~s of h ~ s own as a permn who could
lime things, c*oulcl manoeuvrr mattar8 to hi8 hill and a statesmall
no nian* small calilre. .\fter Fateh kha n he \toulrl not a c kno~l e -
- 75-
dge any body's acendence upon himself. During their short stay
at Kahlil , these two Sirdar busied thernselvefi in ripening their resp-
ective scemes; and el en sought each other' s life hlood. Nawah Samad
Khan . however, tried to recilv then1 : t i l l Shahshuja rose as
another c,lairnel> t in Sitldh at Shiharl)onr: v hi ci ~ assisted in d i ~ c r -
t i ~r g [heir attention to him. -411 the Htlrakzai Hrotheres. whether at
Kubl or at Kandahar IIOM handed tllrrnselv\ e lo oppose him.
But such ail alliance wan ~ h ~ t i lived. for again at Kandahar.
at Shikar Pour and Gazni the animosity ( ~ t these Sirdars-as ahvve
rnentione-made its appearance. In Kabul 110th i nfl l ~cnce and money
]lacked Sirdar Lhlohamed Azeeln Khan, therefore, t he capital difficult
place to work in; Sirdar 1 ) u u ~ t Mohanied Khnn tried to raise. the
people againht Sirliar hIohanwc1 Azer ~n k l ~ n n at such varloui loc-
ations as Kohistan, (kzrri; and evdeli rndriivours were made to raise
the standard uf r e ~ o l t kt liabul. rtleae smaller revolt*. were really
a kind of a ruRe inorcler that I)oust Moharned Khnn shoi111l get
lrloney from his brother, 4lotia1ntttl Azre~n khan. antl t l ~uu indirectly
to adtl to hi5 persunal interets.
There i h no cioul~t that due 1 0 t h ~ s i nt er net - I I I ~ ~ a r f n r e . the
Sihhs foun(l tlier~~uclvcs 111 a pos~t i on to take dvant age of the sitliatio, ~
i n Afghanisan; so that lliey brouglit ulldt-r t l ~ r ~ r rule suc.11 areas a6
1)cra Jat and Peshairal. whilst the Akhdn 11rothere contested in
Kabul. At lalit Sirtlar Mot1~111e(l Azee~n hhnu forgetting the affairs
contest ngainst liiw hrotl1er.s launchell out LO oppose thv Siklls
11, E't.,sha\\ai: and dieti ; ~ t Lata Hullcl by dvwlltry at the agth of :2$(
Jrnrs: ant1 wae I)urrit.cl ' t t the elrrrnc. ol &lazar Ahhiqan antl Arfa~i.
A t the tirilc of thc~ dratli of Si r ~l ar Mohalne~l Azeeln Kha~, .
tlir po\ rrnmeal of Kabul waq i ~ r the Ilaricl.~ of ,4yuh Shah: I)lrt
I I I C real work 01' the acl~llir~istr;itiorr e a r taken ovrr 11s Hal,ihullnl~
khar ~. t h ~ son of Sirclar :2/c.t~111 k l ~ a ~ l . \vho had inherited the ~ e a -
It11 of hi s f a t h ~r . 11 I S t i t ~ I I I I * , too. ~ 1 1 ~ 1 1 Sinlar I ' ~i r L)iJ Kl i ; l ~~ R I I ~
Sl ~ai r I bi l K I I ~ I I of kandallrr ~ool . the rc,ati to k ~ l ~ c ~ l . 9lthougli
i l t tl later .stage tl~tls I \ ) ( , S i r c i n ~ ~ c*ltlsl~c 11 ~ i l h 1)oli.st Moltnn1e1l Khan:
\ri i l l tht- f~r.st I I I S ~ ~ I I C 1 I I I V result of' a co11.jolidatrc1 atlac-k ,
tllr pl ~l ~pct hi rig- 2 yut, bhah-was ~~rni ovet l and ~i a b i l ~u l l a ) ~ khati wa s
l l ~ ~ r ~ g i l l t o t l ~ t ~ I I I I I ~ V ~ I ~ . L ~ ~ ! O I I ? scht ~t ~t es \tpr(J - ? L OI I loot ~ I I I I ~ I I ~ ~ ~
the Rarakzai Brotheas regarding the apportioning of Afghanietan,
'4 group of them took over the regionr of Peshawar and Kand-
ahar; and Doust Mohanled Khan was given Kohistan to administer.
It ie, alro the time, when Sirdar Shair nil Khan taking the lar-
gest share of the late Sirdar hiohamecl Azeem Khan' s forturie
from llis son Habibullah Khan, left for Kandahar. Ataullah Khan,
the governor of Peahawar taken ill, and oirdar Yar Mohamed Khan
died; a d Sirdar Sultan hlollamed Khan bas made the goverl~or of
kabul on hir hehalf. ' h e last tussel bet wen Sirdar Dnust Mohamed
hhan and Sirdar Sultan Moharned Khan, ~ l l e first being the gov-
ernor of Kohistan and the Isst ramecl the (;overnor of Kabul,
began in the year 1243. A. H. ( 1827. A. TI. ) Sirdar S111tan Moh-
amed K11a1l bas nurrounrlecl at Rala Higar. A pact was signed by
which Sirdar Doust I ~ T I , ! Khan was t o rereive one ltlkhs of
rupee3 annually from t tie Kabul revenue: and S111t.an Mohametl
hhan I ~ f t the citadei trom one gate, and Sirtlar Douet Mohameci
r.nteretl i t t,v another. I)oubt 31ollarned Khalr. i l l addi ~i on. took
over the rulrrshir) of Kaht~l for Iiiniself.
If we were to studv closely the conclitions of .the time and
t h ~ activities of' the Haralizai Hrotherh in Kantlahnr ant1 Peshawar,
we woulcl nottb that fate aleo played a favourat~le part for Ooust
\lohanied Khan: i n this wav tha: when Sirdar Shuir L)il Khari
took liahul, he sent his uncle one named Kt~udai Ivazar Khan with
(,hoyaa Khan Alkozi, thcil they ~ h o u l ~ l get all t l ~at money which
the doc~iments revculed that Sirtlar ;1Iohame(l Azecm Khan hat1
upo~l tire people. 'I'IreSe t \ ~ o mesaengerh used cruel methods to
method8 to exhort the money so that the peo;)le OF kahul hav~ng
been rl~rtrocted. approached Sirdar Shair Dil Khan, \tho in place ot
rovi,ling a re-dress rlpbriiideJ them: allll th1-1 ocbc.a,iont*ci n cnnt l ~ct
Iwtwcen the liu~,ulre allcl the Si r~l ar. L4ccorci~g to 11 19 plane, ther
efore, si r ar Shair [Ill kllarr, appo~rrtt*,l Oou3t SIotitimed khan ae
the governc-, 01' Kohistun; plart.rl s ~ r j ~ r k ar ~lrlolrarned hllun at
the 11e:ld of the v f l ~i l - 6 AL Kilh111 ar~ti 1.r. h l ~r ~+t ; l f left Ii,r kandahar.
When Yirdar I j i l Khan left for Kanctliar, t h c . pcople of' Kablrl
frlt vrry rrlieved: and a# tliey had heen annoyed wi h hi m, t l i ~
repreg@ taiven alro ahared i l l that unlwpulari 17: Sirclar Ihiwt Moharncd
- 77 -
Khan taking advantage of the situation. of courae, added fuel to
the fire and incited the enraged people; t hus trying to win then1
03.-er to his side. 'l'imo marched, till, in the Leginning of the yrar
1239. A. H. Sirtlar Yar Mhtui due t o i l i ne~s and persuation of hie
brother Sidar Ata Mohamecl lihun left for I'eshawar anti place0
Sirctar Sultan Moharned Khan in charge of .Kbaul
Sirrdar Doust hlohsrned Khan, \vho wattched the opportunity
at Iiohisistan in thc north of Kabul; seeing the unpopularity of
the governor at Kabul, and the help that he could receive from
the Kohistanis Kahul and went straiglil to Bala Hiear and took
that historical ciieclal. SdsrSniltan Molltn~ed K!~an went to P ~ F -
hawar and Dous! hlohamed Khan 1)ecame the Amir of Kabul.
THE MEETING OF AhD CLASH OF AYUR
SHAH ;2GAINST PURDIT, KHAN
AT R41,.4 HISAR
TR'E.V7 Y I'IKS'I , 4RTl f:l . R
Amongst those many dramcrl'c ~nci dei i t s which hod taken olace
crt Bola Hisor, is the meet i r u of Ayub Shoh. the scn cf Timour
Shoh: and Sirdar Purdil Kha17, the son of Si rdai Paynnda Khan :
The firsf sr2ct;on was his 9or~ Prince Ismoil; and the cl her Sirdor
Mihr Ali Khan. The king ~I:(-I' the pri nce were com?elled to mecat
the Barak zai Sirdors of Kandahar b cantrary t o ihe condi-
!Ions as l oi d dow11 wl ~i c h st ~pul at ed that 5;rsdor Pur dl1 Khan come
ol ane; he brotight hi s brothpr o~l d ol he, - / hi s coni poni ons, too,
lnto the ci t edal . Tho pol;!-pose a/ the rn. :... :,g eafensiblv was ahoiir
,ha power ~ v e r th ...? lhrone a n d gor,~ri :i -:,ent and t he weaith
o,npertai ni nq to it, and ontflgovisrn h,rrol t r!;a!'naa his highest poi nt
n.)otters wen/ t o lut as 10 /!ring c. nd u C e oi fi re arms; ond thic
u5e of fir^ cvms ci;.cl.red ~~~1sua1i ' i e. s. I/ such sor r t l ~l r ~) 6d cnndi ons.
quite hortrvully. whonoeve;, took tho first o~gr essi ve steep, won. . ,
this the reode1 mould see alter 16od1'ng this orl i cl e.
-78-
It in the Thirteenth article, under the title TWO
KINGS I N
ONE PLiLACE we had given details, as to how two kingr, one put
up by Sirear Mohamel 4zeen1 Khau - one nenied Ayub Shah - arid
the other placcl at the heat1 uf the governrrlttut as a pupper king
Ly Sirdar Douat hlohamed Khan - Sultan Ali Shah, live(! not only
in one realm, in one city hut shared the same palace.
There can be I ~t t l e doubt that this anornolous position was
created through the personal interests of t wo men namely Sirdar
Mohamed Azeenl Khan and Sirrlar Doust Mohamed Khan; for each
of these had placed two little known princes upon the throne, only
to rule in their name themselvee. These scheniee were projected for
gaining personal power and r)ersonal satisfaction of the two above
n~entioned ; and irlwaxdly they, of course, were thirrty for each ot-
hers blood. The two Sirdars korked at their respective designo. and
each "kingv in his turn did everything ill llis path. Sirdslr Llot~st
Mohamed Khan, howevere, thegan to ~ o r k thie plan ; and although
he tried hard to yeremade hie 1,rotege to the a c t , Sultan Ali Shah
did not take his rnentor'o advice and conrmit an actual act of assas-
elnation against his rival Ayub Shah. In point ol fact, he actuallv took
offence at the eugyestion of hiq l' az~r-1)oust Moharned khan-on that
.cdrt1. As opposed to this, the -cherries of' Sirtlar \lohaniecl Azeem
khan. worked ae he deoired, for he so nlrcclt. i t known that, if Ayul~
Sh3h manage to do away ~ t r ~ l ~ hi3 r ~ i a l "king". Sirtlar Mohamed
4zeem Khan, too. on hi5 part (lo all that he c.oultl rio. to make short
work of his ri\ rl hrcjther . I ) or ~~t hlohaniecl Kharr . I t $0 happened ,
therefore. that princ:e lorrlail, the won of Alul) 5hah ~riclnaged t o kill
tile rival "king" of his Lather. Hut having tione hat foul deecl. A y ~ r t ~
yhah now held Sirtldr jloharned Azeeni Khan uplo his Irargain. ~ n f l
alzl,rcl hjnl to kill his brotlier I)ouat hlirhamrcl Klrari: t ~ ~ r t the 1n1t.r
refi~eed to rio RO. Sirdar PZOJIHIIIP(I . \ x ~ t ~ r r l Khar ~. h o ~ r i t * r . (lid 11ot
cl t - ol ut from oppos~rig I)ou+l ;Clohan~ctl hhar ~ lrr a l a ~ r iight . ;I- ~t
\+c.re. A -pri es .I! ~t rui gl r. : , ~~~~~~~~~~~~~. rose I I I - ~ W V ~ r l 5irdilr Mohalrlecl
4zecm Iihalr arid Sirdar I)ousr Iloharnetl hl~iin at . r l l ( *l ~ cliverw pla-
c.ru ae (,tiazni. AqtaliC, 5hiLar t'olrr arlti a1 F' eul~a\~ar. 7 hebe struggleb
took nli -uclr proportione thilt thp Harakzai Ilrotherr rrow t h o u ~h t of
opl)ortioriing the hingdom among themqelae~. I' hc forcignerw. esl)t.ci-
. I I I , 111e ' i i khn, matle ,i great harvest 0111 r ~ f ' t h r ~ clisc-orci o f tile
-79 --
realm ; so that Ranjit Singh took the beautiful Valley of Kashniir ,
with slight difficulty from jabbar Khan. After Jabbar Khan. t he first
governor of Kashmire was one na r n~d Nloti Ram . The Sikh Maharaja
took so niuch courage out of the (!iscord that he even prepetuated
aggression on the territories right of the vive: Indus ; and ~ r c t l e d
Dern CThazi kha n from of the hands of N a ~ a h Mohamcd Zanian
Khan. The unfortunatt* fact was that at this time the Sirdars were
in conflict amongst t henl sel ~e. in various parls of the country. Till
gradually the Sikhs continued to proceed on their aggression and
reached so far west a h the neighhourhood of Attock and indeed to
the lower reaches oC the river Kabul. Sirdar Mohanied Azeeni Khan.
~ h o due to the anxiel! of his luonev t hat he had near Killa Maiina.
whe~l faced ~ i t h the Sikhs accepted defeat ; a r ~d ultimately died on
hie way to Kabul . All his fortune ha s bequethed to his son Habi-
bullah Khan.
Whet1 the d e ~ b of Sirdnr ,Ilol~anled A~eeni hl i a l ~ &ere colning
to a close. hc revealed the oollrces of' a11 hi s fortune . ailti took a
promise from his son, Eiabihullah Khan . that after his death . he
( Iris so11 ) \\ill aprrid a11 LIIAL monej in a M N OC revenge against the
the Sikhs. IIe wan. cll'coirrse. alzare that hi9 ROII was not rompettlut
to rule, Sirdar Mohanied Azoem Kllan placed his eon under the
the tutalage of his ~ r i ~ b l e Ka\tal) Khan.
A time whpn 9\11l, Stlah , and Sirdar I f abi b~~l l : ~h Khan-nnc. ;r
king and another the son or a Sirdar-caine face to fare at Ka h ~ ~ l .
1';tich ccmsidered himself the ineritor of hie fnther. 'I'he "king" uas.
a* wr: know that p11pp~t. \vho \ VRS set up on the t hr ol ~e I)!. the fa-
ther of Hahihullah Khan. On the death of Sirtler hilohameci Avr nl
Khan a caricv~o situation r,[)tainc~ri ;it Knl,ul. ,411 the Harakzai IIro-
thers, whether i n F3a.shawar ;it Ka~iulahur anuio.i*lv watche~l t he
trltn of eventa. All of ttlem, quite tiatutally. werc ilitesselv. ititerc*
led ill all future ivrclopmcntn ; because l)o\\rr i111t1 riches-of 111)
Shah and of I i l Khan-hud 11ow c.eiiter~d at one ancl the.
same citedal ; l n ~ t the ultllllate future nae corllplrtely unhrloull as to
~ h o ill wcure ~ J l a t .
It is rlated that ar Boon a~ the news of the death of Sirdar
ilohamec! .heern Khan reeched Kandahar; Sirdar Pur Dil Khan
rinmeciiately remlved to set uu/ for Rablul. He took hlcr brother
Mi hr Uil Khan with him. Ayu11 Sllah was still unc2artain of hi 8
son Prince Ismail ivllose hands were stained with t he blood of the
rlkill of lLi5 father, overcor!lt. by hi,s greed. pdrsuaclerl his father
-4lyuf) Shah to kill Habiullah Khnnl ant1 to sclcuce the last
r1ct1e.s of the rson of Sirdar hlohamed Azeem Khan. Ayub Khan,
however, did not agree to the -theme. Mear,ti!tle Pur Tlil Khan
appeared in the arena arid atonce debired that the king eliould
see him at Hala Hisnr. Ayub Shah agreed to grant the Intervew.
but made the c;onriitorr that tle hhould comc- alone; and l l uri i ~g ~ h c
audience there shoulJ t ~ t l 1 1 0 one else ivitllh t1i.m The gat-
(>\jay ,-,( Bala Hiser waa opelied, and a number of the compunicrnr
of Pur Dill I<tiun'mo~: of' t t l -r?~ behq Knhstanis er~t ereJ dl nng wi t h
SirAr Pur 1)il Khan in the citedal. and attacked the d~st ri ct of
the Arabs. In front of the gateway, which lead lo the king's o~vn
! dace the .same acenc3 {,la hnacted; so that in pl a, t x of Pur 1)il
khan alone ahol~le have tntered, Michr Dil Khan and a nurnbtar
of sunclr! followere also entered ttre HCPYR; precirlts: ans actuall:;
arrived at the placsr ibhrre ,4yrll .illah an11 his son prince lsrliail
Icere awaiting their solitary guest. Ordinary cor~versation soor1 led
to heated scenes, and certin illdieation.- of bad temper on the
pdr t of t hr Sirdnrn. nlacle tht. ki ng an11 his aot l rather dolihtful
of their rleeigna. A6 they were fully prepred for any trouble, they
iekelled t l ~c barrels of their gulls agninn~ the c hesta of th:? ~ i r J a r s
but the f ol l o~cr s roon dvierted the guns awa) froin t l ~c ~ clirrtion
of the Slrdars; 80 that the Audience Hall was ~runsiered to a
ncenr. of masr ~cr e; and ae the r e ~ul t of t he U . ~ C (11 f'iring, tlle ki ng
and the prince and (brrr other person wa killvrl at111 another was
killed and another ws.4 woundetl. 'The ivholt. siluatior~ bau clistu-
rbed. Then they fell upon t hv king; i n llre nrrlee the pririce
Iqnlail was killed arjd 11.r hi119 h a 3 f l ~ ~ n g Inlo dungen; of the
Bala Hisorki tmlal. A3 r r , , l i t (JI thib trdgctly, orrp or the most dreadful
act* aginst the l ast - ~[ ~e l l e e t 5acl11zi was enrlel. 'The ki ng waa
sr~bjccted to all sort of cruelitirs till he llad to pay one lakh
of rupees to Sirdai I'ur I)il Khan: and a mall b> the ]lome of
I-Iaji hl i clisguisetl the hill:: an let1 him 0111 of thc prison and
took him to the Killa of Vazir; afier nhi r h iYa\\aL Zaman Khan
managed trr get him snl ~~ggl e( l to thv l'unjal).
There is no (1u11l)t that t11r terlninalii~ of' t ht ~ Sadr~zai dy~l as t j
repared the bay for a llarahzai Bro~l i ers rule: aucl a chance cane wlleii
the Barakzaih were ablelosrcburr tlir throl~t. o l the country. Althoucgh
this transferei1c.e of hob er r i g~i t y 1.ou1cl t: tLil\t*n place earlier; but I'ur
Dil Khan rat her t ha ~i act iu !Ilt: gt.11t.ral i1~lt:rest of liis kinsmen, arid
availing hiniaelf of' t l ~ t . o p p a r t u ~~~l y ul' pl a c i ~~g liiv faillily upon the
trone; ll~erely co~~trrlcle(l I~i ~usel f ge~ti11:: 11is share from the vast
share of Sirdar hl oharnt ~l L4zt*c.~i~ Iilian. and l r l yo the rest of
the niatter to ~ o r k OUI as beat as i i rouI(1. Yur Llil Khan appointed
Sirdar Hal ~i bul l al ~ K ~ I ~ I I as tlit: ru1c.r of Kal ~ul ill place of Ayul ~
Shah: .so t l ~a t i l l place 01 e s ~ a l ~ l i ~ l l ~ l g a ~ l i t l 1)asis for rulership,
gave rise to n fuednl conlroversy; b o tliai cjuriiig t h o s t * fateful years
of secoud c~uart er of t l ~ v IOtli. C:elitury. ~rh:ri lhe c o u ~ ~ t r y needed
s t r e ~~gl h through unit. our Sirtliira \\erca Illore i ~~t cr es l ed in slruggle
for power ancl 1l1o1ic.y at Hala f l i s ~ r I I I U I I ~ 1 1 ~ . Iliare i ni nl di at e
needs of the c-ou~ltry.
1'IlE PI,AN & '1'tIE P[!I-(130,'11' OF S11;IIR 1)Tl. KHAN.
IH7iCf.l: TI KYI TY SECOND
After the rollups of thr. Sat l nr. ai ~. t i l l the rnlership of the'
Mohametlzais : all the HsraLxai Sirtlars rr~tleavotlred i darniah
1 heir ott n interests an,] I)itrl)ow. 'I'heir numI)ers alld iufluit&e
ma~l r ~al l v ~~r c r c l ~~r e d i n ~ p o t t ~ ~ i ~ plnrf.:, for tIle111 at thrh court. k ~ t
a@ the hand of the I)rot l ~er was rdiwrl against l ~ i s brother, afid
h ~ d di ~i i ~t ~gr a t t >d nian fro111 I : evfn at the hight of ~ ~ o w t r ;
fhei r illternerinr co~lflirl..; renclere,l illeir power as a ~legative fofce,
whi ch ~~r oduc c d nothing lwttcr t ht ~n a frrtvlal conflict: from which
thr of reigners benefitted.
'I'ha Bane of Sirdar l'ayrl~lrla Iihi111. who i n hietory ar e ae a
rul e termed as Barakaai Nrothrrs. after t htl arcoa~ination of their
--a>--
e l dde ~t l)rotl~car \ a ~ i r I"atl11.11 Iil~ari; an11 ofttar rising t o avpngc t he
tlenth of thtmir l ) r o~I l er 11a111letl t l ~emsel \ c? logetlivr against Shth
Slah~nutl. l i a ~ ~ ~ r a t i ant1 Sl ~al ~hhuj n a1 K a ~ i l n l r I at Herat. hat1
in the sti4le of things r l i ~ ~ ~ i ~ ~ u t r ~ l !heir I . ' I' t~e i l ~f l ur l ~ce of
the Saduzi* ~ I I I ~ rrnlai 11ell ~ ) a r a ~ i i ~ ) ~ ~ n t at t i L>rat ull(lt.r Shah Mnhnlnd
and Kalnran; 1,111 tilore ~) nr ~~c. ~r I ar l ! ( I u v to t I i ( 3 hlrong rul e of Yar
Mbhameti I . I rv3t o f I I O t r y i t ~ ~ l ~ d i n g Kandahat,
ailtl' Kaht ~l c.alilts ont l t ~r i l ~f l l ~t ' ~i ( - e. \\I llcn the po\\ cr was slipbing
out of thc Iiar~tl* of the 5atlazai.-. 111( . ilnrakzai Ilrottiers c-ontinu~d
tb 11lu3ter i t 1 ~ h t . rthgion of Kal ~t l al ~ar. Kal,uI a11cl I'esliawar: each
of thtl frtrrrp \tell1 it6 n a y to cart.ute R c. el ~t t ~r at nil important r' ity
in thc; rorlnlry. illorrler t c ~ rrl al \ ~ a plare for hir~~st' lf to r ul e: 30 thht
olic section was nar~rt-d a? i he I1c~bhnt\ari I{rotht.r* ant1 ottiers were
ktrawt~ as the Kalitlori lirothcrs . 111 Kal ~ul iht. [ mi t i on was of a
differeilt ki nd, for l~ert- t \ \ o of tht. most jrr~l)orlarlt nobles of tWis
Ratakzai 1)tatlcli leaprci i l r t ht . arvrla a* ronltslitrl~ts ; nanlc Sirclat
Ut hal nefl 4z~r 111 Khan and Sirdar f)oubt h4ohntned Khan. 'Rip vari-
m~ t a c t i h crf t he cr~ntests of thest. two ilnportatii Sirdar had heen
c k a i l d in this rjerieci t r f articjes.
'The ul i t i r~~el y death of Sl r ~l ar Moha111c.11 4xee111 Khan. gave the
hope I hat the htrllgglr I ~ ~ ~ \ v e c ~ i thest. r i v ~l s \t o~iltl then be aut on~a-
tically IR de c i ( M in favoltr of the olae who lived : natnely Sirdar
lknrei Mo h s ml Khan ; alitl tht. peoplt* who llatl I ~ e e l ~ drawn in
t we carny. aml were auxiolls ant1 rfiaturheil would fi nd a wleaac
ftm t hew nrl-neceugary family filed. IJi~fortutrateIy , h3wevcr , the
mrtacr corrlcl ,lot he solver1 ni t h nucli easy. 'l'he death ef Sirdar
Mabanled Azeem Khan created more grave. a ~i t uat i on ; and dan-
grac)us mei t i on Ibecanle nlore dangerou* , The i ~~t er pl ay of power
erwl ~ e r l t h . whiiah hacl alllalgamated i n the city of Kabul ; that ir
wealth ot the late Sirdar Moiramed , 4~er. m khu11 noh being in the
b d s of hi s cHIn f-iul~il~ullali Khan : arid the power being o t ~ ~ t e r e d
in the hands of the puppet Ki l ~g Ay11l 1 Shah produced further com-
plicatior~s i r i which the lianrlahnr~ Ilrothrrs Ilail to interfere. 1)uring
t h a ~ time the Sikhs ha11 (leate(i the forrep r)i tiirdrr hlohamed Azeem Khan
DM the kmttk: of Morhina hut Strdar yar Mohamed Khan and Sirdrr
W a n klohmwd Khan, were p e r mi ~ t d to t ~ul d t h e lalad, a s r wu~ ) l r ( l c
-83-
and _ . * , i n I Kandahar, Sirdar I'ur I)il Kha11 an11 Sirdar Shair Dil Khan
, ,
had ,their headqurtark. I hesr t \ \ o n ante t o terminate the rul e of
th,c Sacluzis at Herat ; h u t tlley \$ere 1101 successfr~l.
A,$ the generl conditions of the rolll~try \ \ as of that character
~t .the tirile , an11 1t.r liatl ..;air1 alwve that Sirdar H~~l , i t )ul l ah Khan
a# tile roll and h r ~ r of the latr Sirclar h~l ol ~ar i ~t ~J Azee111 Khan ; and
Ayi\l~ Shall tts 111e "killg:.", eacl ~ iit Ili* .;~,lac'r co~lsirlere 1 thernselvm
,a$ a Minislrr of 1 . 1 1 ~ 1ir.1l111 atit1 the kill: of t l ~o (' or~ntry cetlterecl at
Kabui. But t.ai.11 ~ i - a i ht r i ~ggl i t ~g : I ~ L I ~ I I + ~ t'le ot11t.r. Qrli te naturrlly
all the s i r f l a l j of Katlcl;lll:~r \vcbrr s \ \ i ~ i l i ~ i t ;lir I I I ~ I I of ever ~l s: for
41 t , l l u, ugl ~~ $ I ) I I I ~ ~ t l ~ i ~ l g I I I I I ~ ~ l . ~rr: ~k : t i l l I ' i 11. 1) i l KI I ~ I I I . t ~i rher with
+!lr C , I ~ I I I I ~ Y - ~ I I C V or o~I ~vr \ vi sr of Sir lilt. I I ; I I I ~ I I I I I I ~ I I KI I ~I I ?. gtarted for
KAlul : \ \ i t l r t i l t . res~rl t t11i11 ;\y~ll, .C;!~all \ \ a$ i l l ~ p r i u t ~ ~ ~ e ~ i ant1 his ma
was I,illrcl; w l ~ i c ~ l ~ l)ro11g111 111e Sal l ~~zai I t I I I i cl ose;
q ~ t l Sirtlar I l ; ~ l , i l ~ ~ ~ l l i r l ~ k l ~ a t ~ I~enc.:~rnt. the r ~ ~ l ( . r of I \ al ~l ~l \$,ithout a
rii.81-atleas! \\illtorlt i r I I tillrt: of t l ~r c~r i r i ~t ~ of 1'11r I)ii
h l ~ a ~ i . j . , Ilut affair? (.o11111 I I OI I I I . ~lr, , i~l(vl l i ~ i ; ~ l l \ i t 1 111is ~ a y : for fit
a 1i111v. \ v l 1 t h ~ l kdl ) r ~l , ~ ~ ~ I I I I ~ I I I ~ ~ , 111~riit ;111ti I 1e ~t ~a \ \ a r groups ~ : I ( I 110-
[ I ~ i l ~ g i t 1 ( ' I I I I I I ~ ~ O I I \ \ . i l l 1 t-;1('11 ~ ) t I l ~ i . : 1111, \ \ ! ~ol c ~ ( ' I ~ I I ~ ~ of a('tivity pro-
cli~retl H f l ~e~l al c.c,l~tesra all oirr 11lr roillilr!; : f;lr o\.thr Ilalf' B century.
Pur I ) i l ) i l ~a ~l ~ o o b a s1rnr.c. ot' af'l;~ir> a1 ha11111 left 1i1r K ~ I I I I ~ I I B I -
~ I I I I I the r111~11eytb11 t l i i l ~ i l ~ ~ ~ l l a l ~ li11i111 \$;IS left 111 l)ei1(*ts lor~g. till Sirdar
I)oitst Vlol~:inir~d kl1a11. I ' i r l ( l i l ~ ~ that his r i \ al \$as ,101 ul,to h i w eta-
Litre. r;iistl tilt. st~nclarll of revolt itgai~wt l ~i ~l ) i l ~ul l a l ~ K I I ~ I I : end
11111'1v ~ I ~ I I ! I I P I ) ~ I C\ \ I I OM \\ercl i i t 1oppc.t heacls nifll t*ac:l~ ,,[her. 'l'k
6lrligglr 11'u.i I I ~ , \ \ ollerl t i t 11 t voilelll. H I I ~ ; I I I I I I ~ I I ~ I I 13 i ~ h the inlerceesion
f I I I I i 1 1 1 l 1 I I I I I I ~ Y; + ~ NI I I t l l i l l ~t Jah Kbm1
l.ugari, I)t111*t Alo11t1111tvl ~ I I I I I I ' H ( - ; ~ # t ~ i ~ t the l i + r o ~ ~ r ~ ~ I ~ l t * wale , ~ f
1)nIu11re : nr~d wtlen i t it[)l)t3;~rt1tI t11i11 11t. ~ ~ ~ ~ I I ~ I ~ H I I ( - I - V ~ I ~ . l j a \ ) i I ~u~i &l ~
K1ta11 nn(I hi8 lwotl~er + I ( I I I ~ I I I I ~ I ~ A ~ ~ , I I I I Ii 11t t 11 i~p~)t>aIt:,l t o duir otAler
t ~n d e , Shair f)il Kha11 Ir, assist t ht . n~: 1lpr)il \ \ l ~ i c - l t Sirrlar Shair Ihl
K ~ I I reactled k; sl ) ~~l . I I ~ I ~,~,rarc..i i t 1 the fir*t i11.4tt111c-r that Shair Dil
h n l1;111 hie o ~ n r)li~,:s ; and t l ~r ol r gl ~ his ~ ~ ~ a a ' h i ~ ~ a t i ( ~ r l , 11e w a ~ t e d
t o d e ~ t n ~ y the r ~l ans 0 1 I U ) I I I ot' tIw c . or ~t e ~t e ~~t r j - I h) ~~s t Moltnrpvd hbn
4 Hahidlullah Kharl-an to Pm:rlrl: liab~rl or bil~lself. AI a tinm wlurl
~ i t i I
over tilt: c-ountrv were i~~clcfintc. autl e6clr nr,ble w-
- 8 4 -
nbcl, to ,look ti) his intereel: tlilis he 1le9iretl that be should nolv
get Kalnsl as his prize. I I c. also 1v3r1trrl that for all the Si i dar l
landed propert! an(l s l ~ar es OF ttip procrt*lls of the realm could he
apportionetl ; so t hat t l i r affair3 o f thtb 1-o1111try could bc united and
ext er ~l al dangers cuulll 1)r f'iict'ti witll ,I hop(, of' \ \ i nni ng the strug-
,
gle ; pussibly again t tlie SiLlls. Sl ~ai r I ) i l Kl ~ a l ~ , l~owever, mandged
to imprison 110th . ! i t ~ l I i I '111 1 T)olls hlohamed Khan
tit Rala Flisar ; l,ut S , ) OI I rrlc.l-ilig t l i r ~n l , ron, , ~~nced hi s award in the
B ~ I I B ~ : that IEi l , i l )ul l ~I~ l;h:1, \\e- .-rr~t out t o [, ]gar ; arid to Donet
@Iohamed l i ha i ~ one I.al\ll c > f ruljrrs ~ t - r t . given from the inhertence
of t he late Sinl'lr .4zc~rr11 k11311. ,11il1 ill , \ t l , l i ~ ~ c r r l lie was n ~ a d r a go-
verlior of Fohi st a~l an11 C' l i ~l l i i . I ~ l > ~ j i t r ' o(' i t ill]. the f i nal eettlenlent
conld not Ire arrive11 s t : <r*lcl 1,attles tool< p1ac.e 1)ettveen him and
S i ~ d a r 1)oust Itloha~~~c.ci Iitla~! i l l t l ~ c ~ t~t~\.iro~lment.;its of Raln Hirar, at
Sl ~al l Shallred a11,I I3t:rtii ;\;ixctr an11 on ~l l r I~ills 01 Xlnrunjan. When
$tie fighting me11 of tt~rb corltc-trrlls nr.1.c- I)lrsy in I~ut t l e against each
other, the Si r~l arn ~ ~ , s r . r l t o I t 111 t l ~ e tent of Nawab
Samad KIILIII to (1iw11hs their 1:1rio11- poi11- of' (lispi~tca; till i t was
ultimately dr-c.ide[l that Sirtlar St ~; l i r 1 ) 1 1 hl ~ni i \ \ CI S to I)e crneidered
as the hear1 ot' ~ l l r l:c~riil\~i 13rq~tl~t-r- : t~rlll t o :ill o~11c.r hrott~eru vari-
Q L I ~ portioi~s of ~)l-ol,t.rt> ,1r1:I c ~ c - ~ l ~ ~ t i t - * \~~t. rt* ai ) l ~~t i or l t ~ct ;
. Inasmuch t l ~ c n l ' r. i l ~an. ~~r arva (-011111 Irc s~lff' ic.il~l~t for five
l ) r ot her ~, nnlilels 1 nr Xlolrali~tvl kl ~an. 511ltorl hlot-lanied khaa, Atn
Moharned Khan. S ~ i d ?Iol ~an~c~rl kh2i11 an11 I'jr Mohamed Khan; i t
was dmiteci the lab1 ~ h r r r ~ pt*rqon$ sJ~oul<l continile to profit
hy the rebenue of ~ t ~ a t artkd: ant1 the two yar Moharneti Khao
and Sultan Moharrlerl k t l a ~ ~ b l ~o l ~l ~l return to k a l ) ~ ~ ! . 'l'lit. rulership of
Kahiatan and (;tiazni i ciel)utt.cl t o Sirtlar I )oust hlohrtmetl
Khan atid hrn real I ~r ol her I I hl oh~nl et i hl ~a n; i h r h
firer named was t t r I,e he governor of' Kollisti~t~, J I I ~ , \ ni r .ikloliamed
Khan we9 to I I ~: ttw zbvr r ~l or of ( ; I I ~ I I I I : Niiwtib Jal,t)ar Kl ~ a r ~
wtin to he the govrrntrl* of 1,llglitnan: ant1 Nawab A w l Khan
wsr to he i cklarre of I r r r i i i ~ ~ i n g portion trf t he P T ~ P
uf I h Jst: Sirclnr Stlair I)il ~ I I H I I . ~ I H real bnjtberr a~rch
mv K u h F) i t Khan. a114 Mihr l ) i l kliurt ware to ha ~mponejt~le
h- Kedrhr; and their 1 ' Itrcrsher Ijahanl I ) i l Khan , was
- 85 -
to rule over Sindh; Nawah Zaman Khan the son of Nawed Samad
Khan was made the governor of Jalalabad; and Hahihullah
Khan the son of Sirdar Mohained Azeem Khan, who was really
responsible for all this discord and trouble, was made respol~sille
for Logar. Sirdar Shair Dil Khan after dividing the country
in this fashion-which may be called the scheme of Sirdar shair Dil
Khan- left for Kandahar and died in the month of Muliarram 1242.
A.H. ( 1856.A.D) The death of Sirdar $hair Dil Khan, and death of other
Sirdars like Yar Mohamed Khan and Sirdar Rahnldil Khan, ah we11
as other circumstance that came into I~eing, occasiorlecl the prodiicing
another Scheme of Apportionment.
'THE SCHEME OF 1242. A. 1-I.
ARl I CLE TI FENI Y YWI KD
At the ti me when the position of the Saduz ~i rule had become
very feebl e at Kabul. and that it uItin?ately completely di sappeo-
red; and wl?en Sildar Doust Mohamed Khan becoming powerful in
the central part of the country; tho Barukzoi Brorhers and their
descendents sevei-cl times resortea to the appotti oni ng of ihe
country as their personal property. The reason of this was the
Igrge number of the descendents and relatives; and every one
of them anted a share according t o his ow11 relatives and their
numbers. This stole of offai ts unfortunate/) created a spirit ot
fuedal system of government; but the matter came t o be
better pass with the advel ~t o11d the grow117g power of Amir
Doust Mohorned Kl1a.7.
In t he article ntlmher twenty two. \.re had given some details
nhaut the appcirtioni~rg of the country into several part^ anlongest
the Sj dar s and their Boris; this scheme Wac; evolved after the
drath of Si de r Motlamed Azeem Ahan; which was ultimately, ree-
slvetl during the life of Sirdar Shilir Dil khan.
When Sirdar Mohamed Azeern ,, 1Cl~11 and Sr dor L)ouet Mohtlr~setl
Khan were in a sccret conflict wit11 each other over the ruling
- 86-
ponr r ol
Kal~ul. :ill the other Harahzai Rr oi I ~v~s at Fandghar yeTe
asailiric I hc. t~r-tcolllt. of the bt r ~ggl e. ' ~ ' ~ o A P Sirtlars *,ho yere
i l l i'clrlla\\ar. loo. nntcllrtl t l ~v d 3 : r of a ti4ial clash or agree,ment
t l e t ~. e r n Sircli~r 1)ou.ht \Iohnlne(l KI I ~I I I L I I I C~ :iir(Iar hloharl?etl Azeem
c 7
Kt ~a l ~. I his attit~lclr of c.xpecttltiotls corltinue(1 for th,r other Si r dr ~
I I I I i i t rhenihr~l\es in a n i~.f;fair. which ult-
it nrn-t Ilr s o l ~t ~t l ol1r ~ \ ; 1 j or the oiher. tl l i h COLI-
t i ~ ~ l ~ e t l t i l l 51r1lar Zlulialr;t.tl L4zt.ta~~i KIILIII (lied: nnJ hi s s~ldtlen death
altt-rt.11 t i l l , i t i o r i l l : hrc.a~l$l* '1s the I~i~ltlllce tleserted
hi1l)t11 a* 'I I I I{nreh/ai t r o t ~ t r . \\ ho I i ~ r - e l more
ot It>-* c- ol ~t r ~r t l y , ~ t hatitl:ll~nr al ~t l '11 t ' r +I ~a\ \ i ~r . I I O\ \ tooh a (Ireper
intrrest I n t l l r . a f f i ~ ~ r o I . I r o 1 1 1 1 : l r . thereli~re. first
S ~ r ~ l ; ~ r I'ur I )11 ~ I I , LI I . J I I ~ I ti1t.11 5ircla1. S11;~ir I ) , I l\l1:111 t1111cre(l hat)111
l ' l ~c i ~ i t t - 1 It.rt.~ic-t. (11 the 51rtlars of Kantli~har. t l ui tv t~aturally had to
clec~cle rht, t 1 1 I i I I I Sirtlal. I l u l ~ i l ~ ~ ~ l l u h Khan
t he *~~t l 01 S~r e tar 3Iol1ar11e~cl l ~ r t * n ~ Kl ~ a i ~ l ~ t l t . Sircl~tr l )ou-t Rlohalne
Kt ~a r ~. All t111* ~ I ~ ~ ! I I I C P I I 21 st r t ~ggl r : \ + l i i ( - l i o( ~( ~asi o11~11 i i ~ ~ i ~ r ~ o ~ i t v l j et ~t et ~t ~
i ht . I~nrahz; ~i i r ; ~ r ~ t l c l i r t l ~ r l ~ t . t l tilt* I I ~ . : I ( F o l tl~tb n~i nt l of t hr
pr ol ~l e. Illtir~iatrly Slrflar S11'1ir I ) i l tillan proclue-ecl a H ~ ~ I ~ I I I ~ of :4111)orti-
ol)illg t \ J1i (*11 t1m1 11t~t.11 t l ~>c*r ~l ~t - t l i t 1 111t. ar l i r l r I I I I I I I I I ~ ~ ~ t ~ e ~ ~ t ! t \ \ i ~.
I nup~t r (11' t h t b t ~c - t that l o rhac-l~ I1rr~t11t.r $21 I ~ ' I I ~ I I I ~ I ~~r oper t ! hat1 11et.n
gitt.11. 1111. o~rt nart l a~)lle;ir,lncar t l i r l IIO! portra\ 111t. ir~ller fibelings
! ) I 1 t 1 1 h i r I I P , I I - t ~ : lc)r ti* r\l~e(~t;irioti* of z r v , ~ t t ~ r 11iag11ii11~1r ivertS i n 111
tllr I l r a r l . , , f t 1l p. r ~ men: c-onclitinns arose. wliic-h I I I J I ~ P the operations
$c]lc31utb o i bllnir I ) i l hila11 11111 , I I I I ~
\oi(l. ' I' l~vrr c'e111Id he dorle not hi i ~g
t s l * t a 111:1ti to v\ol\r il lr-PI) St h e n ~ f
,C;irtlur Sh; ~l r
I ) i l khan af t er Ihvil~g (lo\+ 11 l ~ i w I,la~i.s. I t b f t lor han-
dahnr: ~ 1 1 r 1 ill the r ~ ~ e ~ n t t ~ (11 I \ / l ~l t ~har ~l ni of 1242. A. 11. Ilc (lid. An
Kal)111, i ~, *r or ( l i t ~g his bt ' l 1f ht ~l t > h: l S givts1l 10 51r4Iilr ;ir h'lollitn~t'd
~ I I ~ I I J I I ~ .Cir(lilr ~ I I ~ I ; * I I hl~~I1~111it~1l h11t1r1: 1ht1 Sir+t I I L I I I I ~ Y I Sirclar took
over t t ~ r go\ t . r nn~r r ~t o f k;n(lr~l i t ~ l r , hi* ht111r1.s. i1r111 c1lllt.r ol their Irro-
i l ~ r r h like , \ fa M(~tli~n~t.ci kh;~rt..';~itl I\lc)halntvl Khnl ~ anrl I'ir Rlolinfnecl
hh,in r ~mai nvt l a.: l)t~f(wt- a t ill ~ t ~ i i u a r . L ~ ~ t e r O I I v+trrnri .%rdar Ata
blohanie Kllttrl clit=ll, Sirrli~r Yar 111 Y I I ~ P , ~ hlian ttwk 11ie4 the govern-
~nt >nt ut I ' P P ~ R W ~ P . and yaw the govcrnmc.nl trf hnhl to hie lrzutkcr
S~altati Muhnn~tvl hh:~ti: alt-llomgk ac-r.onlinp. t o the ~c.l~c*tr~c..liinlnr lltrwt
- 87 --
MohameJ k;llal~ \\ah gjvcJn ~11(. go\ c ~r ~~t ~l r >r ~L of' Iiohistatl
, 111cl SrnI a r
Amir M~) [ ~~1ne ( i K ~ ~ ; I I I \\as i ~i : ~i i t * 1 1 1 ~ r i 11~r of' ( ; l i i ~z ~~i , I I I I I 5rr11'1r 1)011sl
1\11bllaolr(l Khau, who for 1or1~: Iia,l (.ll(~rihhe(l 1 1 1 ~ rlllt~rsliip oS kal)lll
(and'acc'ording i o t hat vi t. 1~ tt-lr prol, len~ of f ~~e ( l a l systtJlll cor~lti havc
~cjlved i l ~e l f ' there hy ) thrtor I,atllr> \\ hich hc. hat1 f;)uglll i i l ~ol ~l llle
goveniorsllil) of hal ) al sgai ~l sl Sirrlur 0 1 I I I n . he:
wi t h his 3011 Sirdar l a i i l ~ l l t l i hhsrl n ~ l t l 1atc.r :~gi+i~l*l l ' i ~r [ Jj l
Khan and Sllair L) i l Iih.111: \ \ cArtb I I I , \ \ rr-slrlaecl ith Sultan 3lnhlnc~cl
Khan. Engagmenls f or tht. powe +~~or l ol I . \ j hi ct ~ ~ o o k
plact I ~et uet t l ~ two Sirdars a ~ ~ d L O I,rl~tl,cxrb re~ultecl i l l 5i-
dar L)c!ust Mol ~amee Kharr. I)acl\c.cl as Ile 1111 h ~ l i i * t ~ , ~ ~ s . a~i i l
Sirrlar 1)oust i\loha~iirtl Khan tooh Ka l ~l ~l .
'The matter could ]rot l,r alllrwr(l to p,) i l ~ ~ l ~ ~ e ~ l e t l 1)> ot l ~er
Ilcltakzai Brothers : therefort., 1101 11r si r i 11~ rl~rlht*r l ~ l o o ~ l ~ l ~ t * ~ l ; i t \va>
~l r ci ~l e( l to e\volvr. n i'rtbsh Scblic,!nc. r)f , A l ) j ~ ) r l i c , t ~ ~ ~ ~ r . r l ~ of 1111' couotry .
his took place 011 the I0 th t ~ f rhr rttontll c ~ r l <i ~l i c~t ~l ~ Ilb-Sani 1242
A; Hi. iqntl was c l ~~l y bigrlecl . \ 1t.n l i ~ ~ e s of thal J ) c ~c - un~e ~l ~ . ~ \ l i i c . l ~ is
a duc ue e i ~t of coilbiclrra1)le hihtorical ir11por1a11c.c' - arid I I ON repokes
i n the Kabul llluseu~n - MC' rjuotv I wl o ~ :
"A3 at this tittle the dare bei r~g 30111 of l l i c . iIlo1~111 of I{al)eeh
us-Sani tkie year ot ~d thoudtltitl a111l tho I~urlcJre I all11 fortytuo . anrl
in \ ~i c w of the clifferellces t h a ~ have ariat.11 Iwt~ec.11 I J ~ 1ht3 Ilrothera.
a d tht' city of Kehul - thr capitnl - has fillen to the arms 01' Sirdar
Dadst Mohanied l i ha l ~ : all tht- I~rothern nntl ~~e l ~l l e wb hiive
wether for I I I I - s t of r c ~ c i i ~ t i o r i and peacc~ful sattlelnr*nt
a t ~d the welfare of the liinlil!: ; We ]lave . t l ~us t~rrivca~j HI it sr ~t l ement
as ht:rel~ek)w ior the r ~~unagemi t . ~~t of I ~ P cotultry : kr , l ~at . a1111 ,411li0
and its (l epenrl c~~ri e* ahoultl 1)t. take11 in hand b y Il'awal) Alrdua
Samd Khan ; the rvgion of f'eshowar , Hashr~agttr ;411tl
tihrlirrjat
tbbc q) pe t t a i ni ~~p LO thc~ne arc to 11t~ raitlnaged I ) v S i r d ~ n l l or ~l i shamed
Khalri and ,Wc&ir Sultan Mohalnetl hha11 . Slrdar Said Vot ~amt d Khm ;
&%at. J'ir Moharnd Khan : a d t ht ~ capital ci t y of Kal~111 and Kohda -
rncn and Kllrlisriat ahd it# depcandencier tn he under Sirclar 1)ourst
M.hrmM Khd11 anrl Sidhr A~ni r Mnhamrd Khea : ~ n d the retVenlrp
of the (ihilzi nl t l i e Capital ~t i oul ~l I)e for Newab ,4l)clul Iahhrr Khn;
- 88-
the region of Jalall~acl and 'I'ajika Lughman should be in the own-
ership of Nawab Mohamed Zaman Khan and his brothers; and the
region of Lohgar and Churkh and Tajika Maydan and Khalisiah Lab
urgar to br for Sirrtar Habihullfa Khan , sn
Sirdar Mohamed Akram
Khae and his brother3 ; so that in this way each of them, his terr-
i t or y. . . . .
I t has heen noted that this Schem of Apportioning was made
about 127. years ago alnongst the soris au:l grandson of Sirdar
Pay-
unda Khan, when Sirilar Dousi Mohamerl Khan had taken Kabul after
rn~ich troul)le ant1 110 little expense. The purpose of this Agreenient
was that Rrnthers sho~ild no longar feel dis-satisfied. In this Agreement,
as rnay I)e noticell there is no reference ahout the Sirdars of Kandahar;
whereas in an earlier Agreement there is distinct reference regardin,#
the property in Kandahar and the appointment of Sirdar Rahm Dil'
Khan i4c; ~ l l r governor of Sindh. The important point, which emerges
rrorn this n ~ w Agreement of the Sirdars is that in 1242. A . H . Accord
all thew Sitrlars were na~ivfiecl with their share; and no reference made
regarrling their prnperty in the document. The reality of the fact i 6 that
the Agreement propoundecl l,y Sirciar Shair Dil Khan, which had come
~ n t r , h ~ i n g as the rerult of the interference of the Kan$ahe*i Sadare;
and their sh,lres aa hefitted was given to them; and thecle eharehol-
ders, after the cleat11 of Sirdar Shoir Dil Khan were not desirous of
anv thing else. 'J'he spirit of the 1%2. A . H . agreement was that a
reconrilattory f d i n g shoul(l be brought in the atinusphere hetwem
Sirdar IIoi~st hlohanied Khan end t h o ~ e Sirdards who lived at Yerh-
awar each as ( Sirdar Yar Mohamed Khan and Sirdar Sultan Mohametl K-
han) the last named had a ehare in the Kat)nl administartion. This am-
oment. in affect, did produce that ~pi r i t of co-operation which it bad
i n viwe. This agreement c.ontrived to give opportunity and pow&
enough to proclaim hi s rule in Kabul, and to extricate the affairs frem
frequent fuedal discorrl and d~fficulties and the rymtem of fuzdal &-tern
w w romoved
7he s ~ b ~ e c t c f [ he gor~ernmenl of Yondohcr rose from t l ~e tirne,
when the Erothers had not yet aqurred ocwer ct fhe cenfrol gor e-
rnmant, ond thus, they hod cgr eed to appo-ti on the ! er r i t ~r y omongest
/he brothers. During the tlrst perl od of the rule of Sirdor Doust Mo.
homed Khan and ot the time when Komron, the Sodozoi kir;g was
ruling at Hsral , Kondahar wos In the hands of the Kar;dvhor~ Slrdars.
One of the reasons of the success of the English aggression 11, this
coantry, wos p-~denl abl y the system of apport i on~ng of the terr~tory am-
ongst the Eorokzoi ,ceopfe' Alter tl l e expulsion of the Engl ~sh f rom
the country, Sirdar Kohind 011 Kho11 tcok Kcndahor / / om the ha, ~ds of
the sons of Shohshujo, and established his power and 11113 at Kond-
ahor. Alter his deol h, however, Amlr Doust Mohgrned Khan, brought
the two sections of the country. non~el y Kondl hor ond Herut under
his suzerianty f a/ the purpose o/ the tinrty of the kjngdern.
Ami)llgst
~ l ~ e sons of Sirrlar I'ayl~nela kha n. a nuni l ~e r Here from , I
(;t~llr.i 1no141ctr - na~ne l y I' ur Ilil Khan. Shai r Llil Kl l a ~ ~ . l i ohi n 1)il Kh-
an. Mahr 1)il Khan atid Hahni Il i l lilian: at111 t l l esr L~rot hers were
Known as the Sirciar* of Kandahar . 'l'tlis appal l at i c~n had been given
lo t hem. merel y bccanse of t he Ic~c.alit!- of thvir renicletlc-r an Kandahar.
Whel l Vazir F' a ~r h Shal l . t l ~rorl gh f l i ~ e f f or ~h ariil I r ~ l p was RL ) I P to
secure t he kin at lop^ for Shah 41i~hn1ud 111e Sailllz;3i for the seront l time: at ~r l
1nstaIlc0 t ~i ~~l +c , l f as t he (' hi ef Mlnlntt*r: he I ~ r o u ~ h t hip brot her6 into t he
avenues of go\erllnlc.nl adrninistratic~tl: 3 , ) lllat Sir(1ar fiollin 1) i i Khan
was rppoinled ea goLerl1clr at Kn~i cl al ~ar: Si r dar I l r h n ~ 1) i l h h a u at Uluchi-
kt un alti f i i ~ ~ l l ~ Shai r IIil k h n n w,rs
,ipp )i~ilrr 1 ttlr adt ni ni ot rat or a1
( ; l l a x~~i . when t he ic~lpalling ~u c i ~l r l l t e l f l )l i rl ~fi ng of \ ' azi r E'atet~ Khan
OI I t he orcic~~. of I'rinre K ~ ~ I T ~ I . H I ~ at t l e r i ~t oc.caclrrc'cl: t11v Si rcj . l r~ Stlair 1) i l
khal i anel Kohin Il i l Khan I,vtouL t I 1 ~ 1 i i : el \ , ~. s I: ' 11lcir nl ot l ~r r ill
Naatl
Ali urBar I.ui Ai i t l i : ancl \\he11 Shall Mi h m 111 ~ ; I G clefearrcl Iloust
$!ohnlncvl l i l ~al l ' 41 tht. l i i l l i i ( , ) a~i : t l : t > s , I I * of I.11i 2!lcli attarit-11 l i an-
- 90 --
31ii1r. a1111 tooA that c i t y ll-c~nl Stla11 hlalln\utl '3 go\t.r!ior one nanlel)
(;ul hlol~an\ecl hl l a l ~ t'opul %ai .
I I I t i I I Ilt.rn *ri\en in yeyty-sl art i c' l ~s of
tliis ~eric.5 urltlrr various 1 ratlitlg's : ai'ter t l 1% i r c i d ~ n t c:f i he cfcuring
o!' il ruler, -Ilil~ at l!tlril~ I I ~ Shall hlal!n~u(l 111e Padu Zai 1 lheremai-
]ling F'i~rls of 4f gl ~i r l l i st a~~ c.an:e ori(lcr t l l c - infirle~lce of ihe Rarakzai
Hrot l ~rrs. I~!:nlcdi:~lrl!. 11.e-r I'arnkyai 5irc!ar+. l i l t refore. startt:d on the
scllc.mr of criba~ili:! : ~c . t ~l ~l r r of ,vo\cAl.lln~rr~t i l l I ! I ~ l.(~gint~.s ~tlerr in their
F'ower. 'l'hrw t.r~(lt.n\ ours s t ~ ~ r t e I I' ro~n 1818 to I8.1.3.,4.J). ~\.llen ult-
inrntely Siri-lar I ) OUS I blcl~anlt~tl Klla~l I ~ e c ~ a n i ~ tllr rrller of Afgf1anistan:
F:\.en~s t l ~at arcwe ~ll~rin:! 111e tito al ~o\ . e n1f111tiol.e I r-l:rtes: are ~e~llelrtr
M i t l i i~llernt*r.irle ,strugglr-s and wltirs: ~\ . hi c. l ~ wrre i i i tile llaturr rrf d
L.nlrirlosc~o~>t~: fur after the death ol' 5ilrlar dlohanled A; eenl KImn
a ~er ; c. + of irrei(lt~ntn took 1)lace a t I(a11111 whi ch without euc-eptic)~~ utt-
rac.~t-rl tire illtrrr3ts 01' 11le Sinlar; c, f La1 clal!ar l l r i ~l 01' C'rrIla~\ar
1 1 I I I 1 y Illrns an(] woultl I ~ i t \ t . !)re(-ipitillr~l gr;i\tb
cor~l-ecl~re~~c~t. s 11r:lrss ~l l r Fcht nre of I2C3. A. l-l. i1111l 1242.1\-f-I. savetl
tilt.' ai i ~t i ~t i or ~ at k-ahul an11 i l l tlre col ~nt r y. 1'111. first Srl:t me c: f 1 2 %
A . is I I I e . Agr t ' ~r l ~r l ~t ~ ) f Sirclal. St ~ni r Ilil Khan, tshicll
tlivi Ir I I ! I ~> tt~rritory sorlth of the Hi ndu K I I ~ I ~ I anlongst t t l l . Hrotlrrr* siltP
ac.c-r,rtli~ig to ~l l a t Agreernrr~t, Sirdar5 Slrnir Il i l Kl l nr l , I'rlr Dil khan .
Kollirl I)il lillali and XIiIlr I ) i l l i h311 \ \ t ' l t S I O rllceive 1l.e gcrt!ern-
I f I I I ~ I go\ ( ' r ~; or ~hi p 01' > i ~ ( i l ~ H ~ I * dryutecl to th-
eir f i f t h ~ e . I r ~a nl ~t l Hal,nl l!il k11ilr; alicl in t he
earllp Nil! c1tI1r.r area* l ~ k c I'r.shawal- wertr g i ~ e n to otller l ~r ot l ~er s .
i d i t Xlohnmcvl hhun received Kohistatl.
\$lien S!rair Oil khan r et r ~r ~l ed to Ku~\tlalrar Cl.onr Ka-
, anel hear that t t rt . Cin~lr I t I I ;Igillllnt Rahrr~
1Jrl khan, he 1ar111c.liril a htriking i or cr ~ I 111i1t region.
But ar lie was r I I tllat cxpeditio~l; Ile (lieti o r ] ~ 1 1 t h 5th of hluh-
nrrulrl 1242-A.H. Jltln t ~ ~ i l r i r an r l l o u ~ t !ifo!lanletl Khan
ishen Kal ~ul fro111 Slrrler Sultan rC1o11atnt~tl hl ~al l , Yirtlar J'ur
l)i] hl ~ar i conerderrcl t l l i ~ ;.lttp on aglrirlrrb the byi r ~t of the I b n ~ i l y
- ni -
A~ a r d s . Me 5tartetl on u 111ilitdr1 vxr ~e( l i t l ~l l tlue to this disregard
of the spirit of' the A\ \ ~r d. s; illid tilt> force- 01 I I I allti
thost- of Doust Motlen1c:l Kl ~n i l f;~c-ecl each c~t l l rr at a point near
Muclar rivt.r. a plague that qtrl1c.k \,oth varllll.;, the I~art l e HL7r
post i ) o~~ed, a11t1 n peace M; ~ S c e ni e ~~t e d 11et~\re11 the t ~ r j contrsterltn. 'l'his
has I v\ \ Sirilar Dollst hlohalnt.tl Khan retaitieti K:111al, ant1 Sirdar P L I ~
r .
dil KI1;11i r o ~ ~ t i l l ~ ~ e c l a* a ii1a;ler OF K;cticlatiar . I his too, \ r ag t l ~e slla-
pe of tl,ings wl ~erel ~! t 11( . fio\;>rrlulent of hal ~t l al ~ar re~ilarlletl in ~l l r
I~auds of ~ l i r 13arahzi Hro11it.rs. Sir lar I'rir I)il l i 1 1 . 1 ~ . t i I I ~l cat h ill
~l l e year 124,;. \ . [I. I~,I.; rile nlc~-tt.r of Karltlallar: after \rl~icIl. altho-
ugh otht r SirOalh, like l i ol ~i l l Ilil l i 12llhr 1)iI Kt~arl aricl
Ra111ri ni l k11a1l Herr bt i l l a live; 1 1 1 t h r ~l t xr s hi ~) ol fc;ali~l:~har was
iri the hand5 of Si rQl ar 1 1 i 1 I I I I with I t I ot
his l r o t l ~ e r r e 1 I r t t a i ~l l:ls ~ I I ; S ~ ~ I I I I ~ for 2.5 !car-. \Pe.
woul~l OM st~ld!' hi* af.tivities i C I I tllllr of rule i l l
Kandal ~ar t r o; nl 235. ~. 1 I , to 1271.1.1 I. ae il grlleral r-llrrent of h1*lory.
1245.11.21. I S a ,ear tche11 l' rll~c-t* hamr an after the claiill~ of hi>
father took tht* rrigrls of the go\errllnc~l~t into llih llal~ds; ant1 wit11
the help and goocl a(lvicr ot' 1 ul. Mollan~ctl Khan, ~ h t * Sal ~uzai Ll l ~g s l l i ~
has lnnrle secar r . 11, habul ttlv s.lc.cBne \\as different, for upto tlle
year J2.3L. ;I. - t I l c ~ Ov g i ~ i ~ ~ i l ~ g 01 11:e 1.11lr I J ~ birdar I)o~l*t $1011-
arnetl titlal~tllc riv,drv I l et ~t r r n tilt* l l ar c~l \ ~ai Drot l ~ers for t he pucpubr
r 7
of getting tlle ~l ~rol l c. 0 1 Kal111l l l Li > colllit~ued. l h e l::,nglish aggeasion
under t l 1 t x rloak of 11c~lpi11g Sl ~al l Sl ~ui n took place i n the yrar 1255.
A. IT. Si nl ar Kuli111 rlil h11811 ~ 1 1 1 1 ( i a t L;111,1,11iir: i <~. ( l i t IS prrict~i
I 1 i t I I t r 1 1 1 o 1 I Pllrarlg up. whell
1 1 I I I I r t i I i t j Afgdlli-
otan. IL i s il tilile wl ~r n l i oni ral ~ rl~lt,tl at lleral. Kollin I ) i l Khan
at Kandahar Anrir 1)otlat Tllollan~t'tl h l ~ a ~ l tiircctrcl tile riestinieu of
, ,
K ~ ~ I I I I gc>\rrlllne~lt. 1 I 1 t 3 I<ushla~ls \\el c: on 111e orl~. IlellcI incitinp:
the I' erriul~ C-Jarbhars to lift tll;>ir llat~ci- i~g;iir~+t tlir P ~ I I ~ F I ~ ; oti the
other I~antl wantrd 11, secure I I i ~ r I (' al~tain
Vtlk,l\icll was wilt t o Kal,rrl ul l t l to k' nlidal~ar. On; of the lilost
in~port;\nt ~nrrttrrn, ~11i cI i took S I I L I ~ C clrlring 1 1 1 ~ tirtie of Kohirl Dil
Khan at Katiclal~ar was an Agreement whic.11 was signed Letween him
. .
ancl thtt H~tesinrl I.:nvoy . I llis kery E~i voy also (-:lint: to Kal ~ul ; so that
i h is I<ussiari t l i \ allti tlie b:riglisli [!gel1 t Hr~rnu bot h arrived in Kabul
:4ko11t t he same t i ~i i c .
Amir I)oust Aloharned Khan ~i r wi r i g the lielp rendered to the Si k f
arid ari i nci ~r u~er i t to tliem to i11roa:l Afghanistan showed Iiis inclina-
tion to t11.e Russians; ant1 the Engl i sl ~ ktithout taking the trouble of tliis
reasor1 uliicli wa9 at the Lottoin of the Aniir's policy under the guise
of a help t o Shahsbuja aggresstrl against Afghanistan. Sirdar Kohi~i
1)il Khan, assisted Lp hie brothers, defenlled the corintry against the
aggressors: but tlie trearhery of Haji Khan Kakari and his :urrunJ-
ering to Shah Shuja, c,peneti tile gate of .-\fghanistan to the Englilrh
forces of Agression. 5i r dar Kohin L)il Khan. \itlo tlrie to the internal
htrife could not go either to Elelat or to Kabul; took refuse at the
c-ourt of the Pereiarie. 11y flyirlg t)y way of Seistan and the valley
of Herniond .
[luring t he periorl of our yt - a r ~ of the E~i gl i ~t i occ-upalioli of
Afghar113tan. t tie various d s of he c.~,untry, like 'E;abul, Kand-
allar. anll Jali+lal)ad \ \ rbrt. r i a h ~ r a ~ ~ p hrlrl I J Shah Shuja.
From i he aecond or No\ r ~l i l wr 181.1.A.D. till the middle of
1842.4.1). when Kaljul and (iliazni were frerd, t l ~ r Englibsli t;)rces
held Kandahar. Kaw1inso:i. t he E I I ~ I I S I ~ political agent wa!ltml to
rencl tlrv foreign trc~ops I'rorn Kanrlatier i o Kal,ul an11 lierat.
(;enera1 Nott an11 klajor I <J H I I I ~ S O I ~ . the rliilitary an11 polilical
a g r r ~ b of tlir E~rglisli prior to tlie a\oc*tratiorr from lianclahar, and
the mertirig wi l l 1 1 ~ 1 ~ l i s t 1 forc' v~ ; ~ t kal l l ~l I I purpose of
1ea:i:lg the c:otlntr> t j S ha! of 1111. eahtt.rn rrat.hes of tlir land;
r~$olvt-rl to play a ia>t I ) ~~( r l i r a l galnv aritl to i s ol a t ~ hal)ul from
h ~ t h K n ~ l d ~ h ~ r an11 klerdt; an 1 to c.nntillur tllvir I~ol d when he had
left t l ; t n c.ourltry t h r o ~ ~ ~ l i ~t orki ri g nrrder he gl ~i l e of the hens 01'
Shah I . i t ; i t c) thi-, ti rnt ( 1' all t hr v 1 ~ 1 t priii~*t*
'1 o r as a ki nz; as 111, Iiaql ol)arrve 1 fliai t h r b c.ollaps
of the l;al{llzai i\ns rnlrlplde, rc*f~r*e.'l t ~ ) a c ~ ~ r p t t hf' hz l i . r h of f r r .
After that the tbtclnt. nfferrtl to thr aer.on 1 son of Sl1a11 Shirj;~,
one Il ameri SdfilRr jllqg; ali,I pIi~re,I ot7e I I ~ I U P ~ I Sir(I41r 4lol1a1ne~l
()uli KI MH arj h i ? rniriister.
[<\.en all this rio an~algacr~wtw~ri a1111 co.o~~Cratl1~11 h e t wt l ~ n thrr
I 3nrakzai s ar~cl the Sarl117aiw cor~lrl I)* trltldc; ttw f o ~ ~ r klanths. hat4
- 93 -
hot pessed, when Sirdhr Kdohirl Dill Khan retunetl from Iran.
The minister Sirdar Moharned Quli kha n of t he puppet king, immrclia-
[ely allied himself with the Sirdar Kohin nil Khan. A lrattle
war; fobght at Houz Sur ~g Sar, ahout 28 miles west of Kandahar;
in which Kohin ni l Khan was successful: and it is the last of
thoae I~attles which werk fought against the puppet king. There
after Sirdar Kohin nil Khan held Kanilahar an11 governed i t .
During the second period of r e i ~ n of Arnir Uoust \, lc~han~ed
Khan at Kahul, and a permanen1 rule of Sirdar Kol;in Ilil h h a ~ i
a t Handahar, the two clabhed duc- to t l ~ e i ~i t nr f e r e ~~c e c ~f Sirdar
Sultqn Ahmad Khan; and i t wes possil~!e that a I ~al t l e [night be foug-
ht betweea t he two, near the hluqar river but n ~ a t t e r ~ were agreed
upor) without figh~ing. As a recult Sirdar Kohi o llil khan continued
to tule over Kalidahar; and Amjr I) i ~ust &lohamc.ci k h a ~ ~ l ~el d Ka h l
as t he ruler. Pernol~al anir~~crsity 11c t ~ eel1 the t\vo. llowrvrr, (:on t i -
riueri to smoulder ; t i l l first of dl Sirflttc hi i l ~r Ilil kha n died
on Friday 27th of Jaralaus Sani; ant1 after l i i t l i I I lVil
Khan went to allsber 11i.i. h-laster on l'uesclay he 7th o f Zilhijh.
Afrer the death of thew two Sitdar, tlifferenre arcwe L)etwet:n Sir-
(jar Hahm I)il khan and tlie sons of Sirdlar Kohln Il i l lihan ovet
the rovttnor*hip of' Kandahar; an appeal \\as madr to .4n1ir Lloust
hlr,hamed Khan; Ka~l dahar uab take11 I I ~ Ar~iir I ) ount R/lo!lair~eti
Khan' s son Sirder Shair Al i ' Khan: t l ~ us Kandehar adminietrotion
melte0 anay; and i t became a pravince of the rea1n1 of Af ~ha .
nistan. nnh ruled by Amir I)oust Mohatnrtl khan.
TWO CROWING CEHE~IMONIES
I n tho yeor llO0.A.h ( 1,'47.A.D. )o ~or o~l ol ~on took place ot
the shrlne ol Shaii Sul Kh ot kclndohur; u11d a
si ~nl l ~ar coronotlcn
looK place at: Kobul - 5ioh Sung - ,n
(he j 6 01 1254 A,H. (1835.A.D:J
00th of these being those sl mpl e ceremon~es wh~ch r n o r k the crowing
of Afghan kings Upon the crown of one the: heod nl borley was laced
and on the other a head of wheat. At one place the greot Divine
Sabir Shah, the greot Sufi- performed ' he solumn ceremoney at kobul;
and at Kandahor Mir Haji son of Mir Wa) oz Performed this duty. The
men who wore the crowns of wheot heads and barley heads, were
Ahmeo Shah Durroni,the founder of the Durrani dynasty of kings; and the
other one was Am~ r Boust mohamed khan , the founder of the Mo-
hamadzoi dynosty.
After the sudden death of Nadir Afshar in the night of 19th'
June 1747.,4.D. s t Fatehabad. , . . . . (cannot I)? deciphered . . . . ) fell
into the hands of the important nc>bles of hie. Ahmed Khan with
Noor Khan as the comrna~ider of the Afghan troops- a unit coneist-
ing of over fifteen thousand-started from Herat to Kandak-
ar. 80 that the foundation of a Kingship could be laid at Kandahar.
Immediately a large Jirghah was assemhled consisting of the leaders
of (-Ian sat the ~ h r i n e of Shair Surkh, the remains of which still
could be seen along the northern walls of the city. Leaders of cl-
ans, like X~, or Moharned Khan Gilzia, Mohahat Khan Foful Zai,
Mosa Khan Ashaq Zai; Nasrullah Khan Noor Zai: Haji Jamal Khan
Rarakzai etc etc; hut the selection of a king was not made with
such an ease as W ~ P exy~ct ed . because
i n regards to the tradition0
and qaalitirr requked the heads of the various clans did not rely
upon each others choice. 1)iscussions became cery lengthv. So E'rolon-
ged were these trobal
sittings that they were called eight times at
S h ~ i r Sorkh t i l l the great sage and divine one narnecl Sabir
Shah,
lived i n the shrine, terrr~i tet l the discussion; selected ,4 timed Shah,
who way sitting quietly i n a corner: an11 a [lead of corn-whl-at
- which the rlivine had picked i ~ p in an adjoining field entwined
11s acorn upon t h ~ heat1 of Ahmerl Shah- Alirnrtl Khan.
Irnportan t lesde~n, incl~lding Haji Jamal Khan Har~kzai, tic-
cepted the holy man,s decision with hu~nhl e anrl devout feelinge.
I t was thus that the coronation of one of t he greateet sons of
this country. whose sctivitieri and egaci t v namal hirrl as the
heart and the lpatlcr of the Sdozai e, took place in ~ u c h sirriplicity.
- 95 -
The time of the rule of t he Saduzai. ~ i t h the great i ~esr of
tile rule of Ahmed Shah; and the dynasty's period8 of ups and down
continued i n history of t he time. Thie cotitinued, till the mi#-
take8 and doubts of Shah Mah~nud and Karnran, precipitated t he
awaful act of the blinding arid ultimate aeaaseination of Fathe Khan;
which i n time cont r i b~~t ed to the rapid fall of t hr Sadozai House
and the rise oi' the Barakzai 13rothers and Barakzai rule. At the
death of sorne of these Rarakzai Sirdors, and the incident oC
Amir Douat Mol?amad Khan,s taking over Kabul government esta-
blished a Barakzai rule in Afghanistan. Hut Sirdar L)oust Moharnecl
Khari had not as vet assume11 t he prerogatives of the rule in an
official manner, and coronatiori had had not been effected when
on of a sadden from the south-ea9terti direction of the cout~try;
the danger of Shah S h u j ~ ma:le its appearance. Sirdar Doust
Mohamed Khan, at the ivitntion of his brothers, narnely Sirdar Kohiri
I)il Khan and Hahm I)il Khan proceecled to Ka~i dahar and removed
the danger f or a time a1 l ewt . On hi, retiir11 to Kphul , hp wdn-
ted to concentrate his attention towards dispelling the danger of
attacks of the Sikhs under Ranjit Sjnah; and to proclaim a Holy War ;
he wa3 informed that the Holy War c-l)uld onl y I),- pro: l ai mr~i by
nMorlem Head of the Coverrilner~t: whirl1 i u~~e l l r c i him to
proclaim hi m~el f as ki ng.
110 yon kiion \$ Itere antl in whet C ~ ~ C L I I ~ I S ~ B I I C V S thi* cor o~~at i on
took place? Sirtirr Iloust RIohamed Khut ~ was ritii~tg alrt with d few of l ~ i s
retainera in the neighl)o~irhootl of the Idd Mohque it1 the eaet of Hala
Hinar untler the. foot hrlls of Siah Sung. In npite of the fact that there
were not many men with him : A11r tIaji . son of the late hIir Wryaz,
a6 the leader of the di vi ne of t he t t n ~e . tied u head of I~arley round
Sirtiar 1)ouat Mohatiletl Khan'n heaLl ; ~ h u s ~ ~ n d e r rnout ntodtant condit-
icnln, the Sirdar was rlow knowr~ a s the king. I l i a t r l ~ was now the lea-
dt r of the Frithful . His tiatlie was so proclainic~1 from tlie mosques.
He struck a coinage , which Ibrings; the days of t he FColv War i nt e one:,
recollection .
Amir 1)ollat hlohartied Kl ~an . tl~erefort- , start13cl on a llolr Ra r ;
the ceremonies that wthrc inacteti 30 i mpl y on t he orc.asio11 of ~ht : rro-
wing of Ahmed Shah 1)urrani in 174C . A . I ) . ds the h e ~ d of the 5a-
duzie dynasty : and the equhl cdremonty of simplicity WAS n~hhlfeeted
i n crowing Amir l hus t Mohanled Khan ; one by the head iSf wheat,
and the other by hbtl cy; the two have a clnbe rebemblence. The one baa
effected at Kandahar and the othet orle at Kadul . But the spitit' of the
t wo i s the sanlc . The two adorned theit crtrwtib with the ~rcrdurts of
their c*ountry .
*
'THk: FOKB'AHI) POLICY .
A ~ f l ~ i L b ' r T R E h l Y Nl Xl l f .
5)uring t he j-1'd.y j wr s . r~.trich cwmprise t he second, had/' of the
10th ( *ent ry qf' t he Chr i ~t i an Era; rui.wr h a d s i n thr Punjab, in
t ho Sindh, i n Sinrla or even i n l,ondorii wets rill: whethm high
kA.tzglish offic.rrs. or poliiic-rtl t hi n kwu: .tA:fJre IIE eo~rcelpt seareh oj'
u prr~r~arterzt Lloundry line hettuuen . -[fghanistan and InJim Many
t he or i ~s rrntl observations uwre projrctarl. One . wrh tC.& .ahtr so
cullt.u t l ~ v t70rc4rl.acl Policy. 7'hi.s poliry hod its ud#ucntes-ut uu.#ioud
tirrtvs irr t he s~r:orid hul j oj' t h ~ 19th. ( : ~nt t r r v. Thrj .foUotcers
oj' t hts school ctrr responsible fbr rc?raderirrg a311 ndvr t he jriunrlly
relcaliorts hetwrun ,4fghrtnistan unrd t h ~ binglisk this, Cod ula8 the
policy rvhich hroicght Ir~rrye kaeats yf our emcrrtry uncler t he
r~~grssi ort oj ' the English; which trlso Arotrght abour he yueutidn
u.f t h P k'rort t i ~ r s i rlrr.fortrrnnt~4y rcihere tlrr triherd penplc~ tegvet d t r e
1ar.k of a~r r ~c i e l t i on 0.f' t h ~ i r rights.
* * *
ln the 18th.article under the of "ON THF: SEAHClH OF A FRON-
'HER L,IhE,. we had given particulars about t wo Schools of poitti-
cc; one apperaininp to the Advance Policy and the other one to Qfay
-Put; till atlest t he cleterminatioa towtrda the Forward Policy fdr dYk-
wi r q il l i n ~ o i denlarcation w. a ~poken of; in connectiotl with Afghanifitan
and India. Aa the Euglish a d the political tkinkern had over thrown
the Clone Border Yo1icv;"and mlopted. the F~rwrrd policy which ~rradu-
ced w) much difficulty between the two governmcnte of ,4fghrnlsta11 and
kngland; ourftountry wa8 mubjected to aggrmrion. ('Artein patt- of the
lend of Afghanietan were clciachpd through guile, 110th rnllttary and.
1)0l ilicxl; wr derire here lo bpeak o !I ttlc more fully in this ronnection
'I'his Forward Polic;~, according to Honle, is alrro tarmetl as the SinBh
k,trrisy c,r the policy of the s i n@ schvol. Tbi# ie oppded lo dnotb*
term, which is called the Close Hortiel. Policy or the Punjab Schoo?.
The reaaon of uo naming these is that the officer. wrvinp in the Punjah
held the view of the Cloae Border Policy, whllst those hall seen service in
Sindh, were wedded to the Policy of the Forward Mo~t r nent or tht: Sintl
School. Th e inventor of tlie Si ndt ~ School was one Major John Jaokoh:
and when the Pereians with the in-ligation of the Ru ~i a n h , ~t was he
who suggestiot~ t o the government of India to annex (hetta. Thete
ir, ot course, PO doubt that the various schoole amongst the Engl i ~h
political thinkers, were influrnmd t,y the clesire of 1)totectlon of their
yoesrsbions in India. TI: as ~nucl ~ a+ Afghatiistari llad two impartant vall-
eys, one at Kyber ant; other at Uola~i; whirh could give thein protec-
tion if they held troops at I'ealrrrwar; the Ei~glish thinkers $%ere quitr
satisfied with their clk~fences from lhic direction Major John .laceb.
however, bvab of the opiklion t l ~ t i n the direction ot' Quclta, the
poeitio~i of t l ~ Er~gliah defencrs tecluired further 6trengthening. So
t h ~ whenever R~ i e ~ i a may send its trooyrr in Ckntral Aaia ; British
troop could be bent with enoe to Herat.
Lord Canning, howecer; was greatly opposed to thie view. He newer
de~i r ed that the Ariiiuh troops ~ h o u l d enter the Afghan ttrritmy; and
thkt it shaulri crow he country of the Afghan6 in order to r gg~l i lierat.
Thie h g l n h Governor General furlhqrL,he.ld that it was not poseible to
enter Afghanistan even with an a~nagamated force and to @tive bttle
at r given point; and [hence to return lio~nc. eafely and attacks codd
not be inflicted upon auch a force by the Afghaue.
4
Lord Crr~nings ohaervalions went further than that; for in
support of hie ci ew he rtrtcd that he strengthing of the Afghans,
and their power. produces no danger to thc India11 Government;
but a strong Afghanistan would conititute a protection for India.
Pursuing that line he continupd l hrt if Afghanistan was composed
of emrller unitn, i t will he week, a11d i t 6 dofencer would, thereby
suffer, and " I hope to see, " he said, "to sec that country as
a strong cf)untry. which could be counted for as t he defence of
the Indian possessions-"
I t was on this score that a conflict of opinion between Lord
Cmni ag and Major Jacob continued; b11t the major, who had a wild
- 98 -
temper 3tuck to hie vi el *~: and c-oil~rived I ally a ntrmber of
other officers serving in Sindh 10 hie biaws. Kvell thm. othm high
officer* in India, such a h J,or~l 4cahisor~. J,ord I,awl.encc, Lord Meyo
atid Lord 3orthbrook during their term office. gave a p1:aatSod
shape t o the theory of Forwartl Policy. At t he time of tllr core-
mhot l of Amk Shair Al i Khan. whcn he asceded d~ &mnc d
Afghanivtun for a wcond time, Sir Henrv Lawrrmcc sent a k p w h
to Lor~tAon. Sir Henry was u sr~pporled of Fc ~~wa r d pl %e y , and
daringi the Fimt Afghan War was the En ~ l i s h Agent at Kendaha~.
He felt the danger of Russia in (:entral Awicu, a d taking inte
8CCOt mt the defence of India, his 1)eepeteh to London had a
meaning of its own. IIe propo~etf that English agent^, hot44
t i and C:urnmcmial 9houId be sent out fmn F:nglhnd
to Afghani~an and to variona rlllcrfi of (lentral Asien Khan~t ea
in artier to r-trengthen the Rritirh poaition in t h e . 1crmliHm
'I'his pol~tical thinker 04 England thought that &c English influence
at (Juetta and in the Valley of Kur r an~ Pas* should be made
manifeet. -4180 that the regions of the north-west should be
6trengthent-d. Wit L,ord I,awrmct, who had previously opposed
the Fmwand Policy stlvietbd that heyontl the river Indur: the Engliah
~b),al(i nnt uct their foot a I that under no r . i r r um~t a nc t ~
any ~nt erfercnec in 4fghan matter8 ehould he effectecl. Hc fi l rt ht r
added that even i f this irtterfermce i n the heginning s hnl d lit
iaisliwd and lirnitrd in i t n qcrrp~. i t wi l l take the matters to a
pnsa "he11 the ocmpation of the whole country would' beeomc
imparativc: a3 was the cease i l l the !car 18.3tj. A. D. the result8
mf whi ch
were very well known.
Lord Lawrence wau prepartl to nieet Amir Sheir 1 Khan
at [' rnt~alla: I,ut when I,ord Mayo 1)ccalrle the (;ovcrnor (;ellc.ral
after 1,ord 1,awrence. this meeting wa.r held Itctwcen thc Alnir
rnd the C;overnor (ierwral. ,4a a r esl ~l r tlie I~ondry line between
Ru~e i a and Afc.han~stnn was ~lemerc.atetl; and t l ~ r . Russian (;ovarnment
uridertook to ronsidcr Afghatitrtar~ outaitle. her mpherc. of influence.
* r h i ~ was effecatt-d In the yvar 1K7:1. 1. I . ,\mir Sl ~ai r Ali Shah
~o n g h t ttlc help of monev nncl armw. i n rear, t hr nr l ~ei an agyr e~ai on
m a take plaee; k the Ed i e h made ia a e a u l i h n thd such
a hl v eodd bc giwm oal g, i f tht hglish w a s pemittmb og
- 99 -
contrQl the foreign affairs of Afghaniktan. This ofco:-rse, limited the
independence c,f the coarrtr!, I n fact a s a result of a change 111 the
FAglisll cabinet, rveli t l ~ose indefinite promises which were given
by ttle Indian gover~inirnt. could not be vindicated. During the tern1
of of'fict. of Lortl Salisl~ery ill the year 1875. A. D. the proposal
o!' sending our colnnierclal anti political agenta fim England
to various poi ~i t s wertb brctache(1 to the gove~nr r ~ent of Lord Bcsc-
onsfield. The uoints ir~ciicated were Herat and Kandahar; but Lord
Northbrook, completely negatived the proposal; and clearly indicated
that the king ei Afghrniotan wuuld not accept their Engliaki
repreaen tatives ill Afghanintan. Also inbistence ripon this poilit
wlll destroy the Englieh friendly connectioll with the Afghans. As
Lord Northbrook was doggedly opposer1 to the view, and h- wa5
the Secretary of State for India. the pr opos ~l ot sending uul of'
the Engl i h Agents was abandoned. Larti Ly tton. however. tooh
the political thread from the \cry b e g i ~ ~ ~ ~ i ~ l ~ : anti 11is scl~enit.
precipitated the secontl Afghati \b'ar. Amir Shair Ali Khan, 1% ho
always thought of the defence of hie cou~ltr!. and wtlo \ VJS desirous
of the frienclehip of his nci ghl ~ours and cor(iialitp Letween the
English and the Afghan; as a result of' the mlstal\c~ll
Policy lost hi s thrrone; anti died with his t l opeo ullflllfi]letj at
Mazir Sharief. The English focgettilig the l~loo, lsheJ t l i a~ occbuilecl
in their Firet Afghau War, especially during their progrrsh kll-t\b~ell
.lalalahad and Kabul invaded once aaain tht* cour~l rv tile Qf gt l not .
Aficr this u ~ ~ j u ~ t i f i t d ~ r e a ~ i ~ l l 011 the I'att of the Englint1 Inany nlorc\
aggressive steps were taken; such as
the oi er - r un, i ng tI118 i n ~ l r ~ r n -
rleut territories of the sovereign clansnlei~. the 11uilrii11~ of a
railway up to the rrlilitery ourpuste l ~ y the liritish officers of the
Illdian govesnnie~lt. Two personn. one 11mmeci $ir Hol~ert Sandiman,
:~nd Lord Rolrertb p1ityt.d sipnifica~lt n~l e in thtxrie..~ggressive i n t ~ .
siuns lty the k:':raiilr i11tr~ ot ~r cotrtilry. Sandi ~nan was of the optnitxi
i l ut the ir~fluvnce u l tht- l<rlticll~ nus st l,ta i ntrdwed ammast the
indepei~dent t i e . 111. tt~otryllt, too, that if the t ri l ~mrncn
tlur.irlg the ~ ~ c a c ~ ~ t i mc . joiner1 oul. tcrr4.t.s. tlieir i~rtereets and cltws
r v o ~ ~ l t l prc'vc;ni thein to uct ill a11 aniulosity t ow~r dn us. Also h u t
I w r ~riight c.onsidt-r it a s o u r i ~i l er est in ally defensive
111t~awt1 r,>. L ~ ~ ~ ( l I I I ~ y 11:4ve I ~ I P ~ L I L I c,r of ~ I ~ ~ S P ~ I ( * P , o ~ i r t r i b e s ~ n e ~ ~ woul ~i
- 100 -
help us. I.ord Robert, who gave'ljattle to the Afghan forces both at
~ a b u l and at Kandahar, and waa the Commander In Chief of the Britirh
forces in India, wao deeply wedded to the Forward Policy; and
he should he rrgarded as the leader of those who wished
to usurped the independence of the tribal people; a ~ d the greitest
aggressor of -4fghan territory. Lori1 Roberts was of opinon that
the English shoul4 continually make military progress in the tribal
lands: the term No Man'r 1,anrl c<)nnoting the tribal areas, areas which
fort11 the part of the country of Afghanistan was first used by
Lorc-l Holbert~.
During the term of officc of Lord Lawncedown, the rchool
of Forward Policy was very much at the forefront of policies;
t wo persons, one being the Goirrnor General and the other the
Cornman(1t.r i l l -Chief whrn the! got together, could Produce noth-
ing else [hall uneaainess in Afghanistan, the 'I'reaty of Gundun~ak;
trncl the preoccupation of Aniir. Atjdur Hah~nan Khar~ during the
first \real.+ of h i 3 reign, arid took advantagez'of cor~rlitions i n chi*
c-ountrv: so that gradually the ,)dsses of Gornal. Kurraril and Chitral
as itell as other regions werr ar~nexecl. Amir Abdur Htrhman
Khan s a w t l ~ e ~ e intrusiorl* with considerablr disgust; and thus not
only ciicl he exprrss himaelf ~er hal l y hut in actrral fact he (the Amir)
mude offirial proterta tions against the Knplibll designs. Somr of
this we had ahowed in our article i n the newa;,aper Annie-under
the Heading "Arnir Abdur Ijahman Kharl md the Duna d LM~ , "
-dated 8th. tlanlill 1330. Shumsi. ,4s a reeult of all t h i ~ , the Eng.
lieh were compelled t o take in hand the qneMi on of houndrp
liav i n the year 1893. A. D.- a hnundcy liae hetween Atlghanistnn
n I . a* an irnmediat~ meanure. The Englieh were of the
opinion that inorder to arrange the mattpr of a houndry hdtween
t he two countric.9. they might #end 1,ord Hol~ert to Afglt~nistan; hut t h ~
Aniir AMur Rahman Khan. who knew !hat man's purpose from
ttle very hrginnic. and nbhi~rccl him: he cilci not agree that a del.
egatron nlay c.orne t i l l Flohert was In lndla: thrrs Mortimonci
L J U ~ ~ R I I I I WH- appoirbtetl lor the purpme ;tnd came to Kat,ul.
- 101 -
THE TRIPARTITE TREATY: The English,
The Sikhs & ijt~uja.
A H II'JCLE 1 V L h 2 Y SKI 'EST1
It is possiblo that the r~crders rnny hnt'e hcard ~f ilris
Treaty, which 14x2s signcld bt~tzc.een i h ~ J;ngliuh, the Sikhs and
Shuja. Tliere would hnrcily 66. u Treutj. more rtiic.rtlous and
laughable than this Iroaty. Qrrirc. aport front t l : ~ .1;7c't tllnt it kirig
who had rto throite and tuns a r ~j ugce: !rari no right lahatet?er to
contract a treaty; t he terrns of thr renty ntc~k!) i! quite appcirent
that the degree of greed had made! Shrrjtr an obj wt of pla,y in
the ltands of the Sikhs. anti to what e.rtent the Siklts thenzse-
lves had become t he tools of' thv English- clricnnry. The text
of that docltm,ent dlte to its absoirft(ply laupttablt. t ~ r f u r e introdrcce to
us Hanjit Si-nglt u r i d .Uac.nrrrrghtorr. l\'ui~jiI ~cvxrrtnd to get n
doclintenis .from t hc kiitg-ic;illiourl o thror~tl f;)r tho acqiciring 0.f
sontr land; and tlie fid1tigi,sh cl4~sircd .l1~11 t!te t~rncilg~lltt(it~CI ~ O ~ C P S
of the Sikhs and tlaoscl q/' Slrciitc it:uy b(. tlrrorcvi upan a p~opl e,
who occordirig to tlze Englielt, 1cwe 11rrc.ctt~nirty tlttb western &j'-
ences of Indict. l'hrrt al l tiris olrorrltl b~ tiotrr, for the Benc.fi't
0.f u policy oj' irnperiai ~xpc>rtsion is qrcitr, obtlious. The tpyt
qf this lreuty htrs beet! copied f i or~t it tratrcli~r ; r t ~ i ~ manrtsc.rit/)t
wkich c:ontain,r the faints abord 1 I (I./ Strashvjii; end t hr~
style o,f ulritig is ryery good.
Shah Shuja, the refugee Icing, anJ hilling ti)r hi s life a& a
prisoner of the Sikhs, wtio 3:~u rnut.11 CI uc 1 trrairrierit at f~arlcln of
Raniit Singh; and litt rl c;t I, u~l ! l i a~i a. i l l I ; ..i greed LO acbqnaire thr
throne and land c u t-r tsi l l c, l l I I ~ . o~rc-c. I 1 1 l i 1 c l ip~~i)tll~llioi~bj y M a5
alwsvn willing to I ~ecomt - thc. tcwl of thc S i k h ~ ~ i c l t t i v k:ngli-h.
Tlle treaty which was coutrac.tt*:l 11r1wct~n Slialrsl~uja. t 1 1 ~
Si khs and the Etlglish i n one t , i ~l l r , ~r trentirs whi ch are obsol-
uteTy illegal without truth and without a ~j ri ~~crpl e, n l ~ i c h expreoaes
greed on tlie p ~ r t 01' 'ihiilrslluja, o r 1 t11v oart of t t ~r Si h11~ an
urge to acquire territory a~rtl on t 1 1 ( . part ol' t ht - bhpliah i t port-
rayed the Ilidrlen intentions o f ~nterferer~ct. i l l ~ c l of placing conflict
- 102 -
I I C I M ~ P I I ~ h r . pt'oplr. Everyone known that Hanjit Sin.& from the
t~lrle ol' tllr. Sa f l uz a i ~ nau lr~ecely n governor of t he Saduzais in
I I I I I I I I that llle Si khs under him,$ fro111 the early times
( I T rlllvr t ~ i Zsman Shah at the inetigation of the Englihh had
1 . t . t . 1 1 ll1tra3lgrrlt: L I I I tllc thtm Sacluzai ki ng made him a govensr
I a : a J I O of the ki ng of A4fghanistan. Il'hid Sikh
rl ~!rr, t aki l ~r at l ~, i nt , ~gc of' the cleat11 of Zanlarl Shah, and the
t ~ f l r c t f I I I Rrothrr.;. I proclaimed himself as a
\ l . ~ l ~ a r ~ j . ?(or \\.I& i t all. hut he etartetl a series of aggressions
111 K3k11t~11rt'. 111 J ' t ~ ~ l ~ ~ ~ ~ v a r ai t l etell in t he areas beyond the river
I I I ~ ~ I I ~ \I I I *. I I \ I I I I T 1)0113t hloharr~e~f Kharl becan~e king and a battle
, - I Irrt\\t-r>r~ Ill111 and t he Siklrs regarding Peshawar and
i t ncls t , ~r t l l r r il~c.rt>asr~l. thts Sikh* though^ that advantage
1 1 1 l I i o11~h t Irol l ~ the antagollisrn of the Sadirzai Shah Shuja
d r l t l tllr l',;~rI,;izi Hrotllc~r-: SO that the gret-d ot' Shah shuja rx~ade
Idr r ~~oc! a gui n~t t11t. rightful Ling of Afghanistan. AH Shuja was ever
ratty ~ I I ~ i g n a trrButy t , rt neen himaelf arld the Si hl ~s iri order to
:!all1 the thror~t.: t111t j ~ ~ s l at ttrat time. t11e Er ~gl i ~f r arriced in the scheme
t t thirlg9 '1- '1 tl~irc' part!.. Some of the Kngl i ~h writers try rery
~l.ir,l t c l hr ep t h e ~ r l ~ ~ l v l ~ ~ ~ u t of t he real reason of the devisr; and
t i t i t their iriclrlsio~~ iiae tlue to the irlsiatencc of the
,tht-r t ~ o : : I I I ~ t 11dl ~ \ I C 111aILt'r of animosity that r x i ~t e d betbeen
lIrr SlI,Ira : I ~I I I thy \t'gllane wa6 somb thing with w11ic.h thy Kngish ha l
I I ~ c-onrtrc.tion. 41111 I I \vd- without the consent of the English that
I I I l i l ~ l ti-er~ I I I RL~I I : ! i nr oal s beyolid the [ndus; but the
I , I ~ - I 1. that 111 I I I ~ ~ I I I ~ A ~ I [ dill (.(me to the S~khs from the Engliell
&it!,. i l l t l ~ r - n,lrnr o f *ha11 Shuja. The first Afghan war. dncl thr.
i i n t e r f e r c ~ ~ t . ~ i l l rnatter9 of Afghanietan arcJ factor+ he
r I rai14r 01 I\ ! I I ( 11 rnn Ire founrl i n this trtatv t~pteen l ht
three i ~ r t trd.
I n ~ t l e - Itrgrnllil~r: ul thln affair*, the E;r~glrch were l ery pliant;
L l , l r ~ M tBrr C \ tl11 cl r-~rc~u- [ha I arl nlliance nllght I ) t b c.en~rnterl Itetween
I I I I I ~ l ~ r l i t rvak i)ropost.cl that orlly a f e ~ .
t~gtllil~:: I I I ~ ~ I I r11ay 1 ) 1 3 orrl\ 1 t 1 t ~ I LC Sllah Shula, a ~ ~ c l tlre re#[ of t1.e army
I I I ~ I I I : I h e o u t I I caxl,e(lition
I I I ~ S i I ! : I t l i ~ b.11gltrh. I, or~l (:aulling the. tlre~l ( ; over r ~( ~r
( ~ V I I ( r : t I i t
I I I ~ I ~ I w I - 111o- 1 I \ + - ~ I I to see t 11t t ~c ht . 111~ c81,rllr- to prarar
- :03 -
ca &ape&;
Macnauton, t her ehr e. \ +as .rl~lmili tell \\ rth a ~l r l ~s gn-
fim to see Ranjit Singh at Adanillagar ( 31 st. I\la!: lXM. ,\. 1 ) .
fluring: thip rnwting, b n a t r b n said that he hall htb.arct that treiltk
been hetween h n j i t Si ~i n~h an(! ~hf l ~~s ~l l l l i l : i l I l ( I ~. cl \ r ~i
wkt her i t would not be to the tbenefit to thr wllolr r l l eme. i l a
third party-the Eng]isll-could not join the cotifeclt\ratior~. Ha ~i j ~t Si~lgl, .
replied that i t was tantanlount to adtiinn .crlgar I O t he rrri l k: t l r uc cil:#rr
and nlilk her e adtie,] together; l ~ u t as 'r rt.el11t. 11rit11c.i t I ~ c b ti1il1\ ( 5 1
,4h&huja was sweelen~led. nor the 5iL115 I I P I I ~ * ~ I ~ I ~ ( I 1)). t i l t I I T O ~ J I I I ' ~
thereof; Ilu t t hr larld of .4fghanistu1i bas ~lrelir.Ir~.(l \ \ i t 1 1 I~lood. J I I ~
the hatred of the.. I,c~ople against Shal13l111~n
a* rncre;r~t \ C r y ('on-
&lerat,ly;
then Shahshuja met hi* fatal t 3 1 1 d ; ant1 tht ~ : I ~ ~ I I * J I Ildtl
to suatain moral ancl rnatrrial 10.sses. . l f t (*r the cl(.:rtl~ of l-larrl~t 51ngl1,
t he English pus11.d their i ~ ~ f l r ~ e n c e on t ht . itrsterll sidt. .a c ~ f t i l e - I111lu-
rivrr. In any case prior t c) the t~inc. 1% I I V I I lhc. . l ' r ~par l ~l <. 'l'rqlatt
conid ha hammered into shape: hotti Si kl i - , I I I ~ 1 1 1 ~ I < ~ i g l ~ ~ l ~ 111a11t' (3
l ~ g &*cumion regarding t l ~ e sizt. arrtl t t ~ c , . ; l l -e~i ~' t J~ ot ~ l r t * ~. xper l ~-
tionery force. l ' hr E:ngli~li wanted that ~n t t ~ r actual I)rogrPps c + f
aggression t o p u ~ h the Sikh* to fact> thr cjanger? 111' I~attlc. anti the-v
tharrvselvqe only give money HP thtbir ~! ~ar t x or ~l l r I~argain: but the
Sikh, H h13 bad seen the warlike *kill of rhe \ f gha ~~- : :lsJ\rci tlrt b:lieli*ll
fo give a fighting force. Atlaat (111 the f,ttei' ~~l ria! of 20tl1 ot Su~it
I8W. A. I)! (2:Prd of Rribee-us-Sa~li 125:j. I. 14. ) thtn i~rlrclr** of'
ahl i e~~e on the part of the Si khs a n ~ t t hv I':vgli+ll \ \ ' I* -ig~~tbtl. clntl
i t devolved upon Sktlilr;huja, the rtafr~gec 11111 ril~irntlo~i*, 101.mer r ~i l r ~r .
who kucl no right to append hi3 signattll-t. to i l ~ r cl t l r~~nl cnt . Shall-
Sritlt~zi. for his prrsonal aggrandiwrnent signell tl~i.; *hanifrll
trmty. Its tcvt ir co~rtnir~ell in 18 rla~!sc c. \ i l i i r . l i h : r ~ ! ~ c ~ . n t : ~he l ~
fro111 a hancl\sr!tten rn;i~~ll.c-rll,t gi \ i np rit-iiri!~ of 111r t i 111, ' 311( 1 ~ f f a l r -
of Shahnhuja'k reign.
111. I R mtcb an betwf.cn t h r pl t ~vc~r ~i ~f r t ~~~t c; of 111fih pl.~vt>ti lihal.rc!
.h and th (;overnnpent of the I.ortl of ~htb vilrt11 5hal1~1111ja ul Mi ~ l k
a t r w has k u eicplvd fotw time% i i ~ ~ t f for rc7nic7 ~~' asor i f i had
Imca pasrnoned: now as pcar Mr. The 1lnr~orlrrl)lc \ \ i l l i n~n (;. Mmcrr-
IXMHRW, tlae fdlu acsredited agrnt of I.Iis FIonour tile (;o\crnor (;lleral
I,orcI Acklantl, RP a n~irrk of friendrhip hcrrl alro Ilvrrr at ~est t . d: i h c -
-m4 -
agent of ttle Hnr~nurabl e (;onlpany came to areet the High Dipnitory
1,f Ilis Hi ghn~as t he hl'ill,iraja of the Kbalsae: have added a few
niore Cl al l sre t o lhv r)ri;:i11~1 tt-xt. iti~ich ~l i ake eighteen clauses, in
thc spirit of accord nnci t'ritudsllip havc. accepted and
made valid
13" behalf o f thr. Honourable East India (:ornpany: and these clawies
dml1 not reprrdtrd. and are divisaLle.
CLAUSE NUMBER ONE:
'l'hat area which lie? t hi * -ide of the river Induo and t he other
olde of t h ~ I I I ~I LI S: , l i ~ t i ~ t l ~ i c t ~ i 3 i n 1ht2 po.~~se~sic+n of the Khalsa
Si t kar the pr o~i nr c* of kL~- t r l n~r e. togo~llcr \ v i ~ I i its environs and bo-
uncll-lei; chart. wwt . ngr t h t:itl sooth or ittcrck; ('h11c11 IIazara KahnaLul
Darlt r t r ~hir-11 are i t - tlepende~lcic.~; Peshawar wi t h Ywuf7ai ete,
Khatak. Hashrlagar. Mictlr~i. knhnt, fl ungo and all areas belonging
to Yhshawar rcpiori upto t he Khyt)r.r. anti I3unnu Wazir and Tonk,
a~lrl Krank. 8'11 1 Ki l l a H , I ~ I ~ ; ~nt l Ki l ~~r h a l Gl ~ur etc as its ~lependenciee;
togeth~r wi t h IIpr.i I + I I I ~ ~ I I li11n11 wi t h its dependenciee, Derr
(;hazi Khan and hot 3 l 1 i t l 1 ~ i n an81 Oliiar Kot etc 1ogc:ther wi t h all
l t i del)rntten~:ie9 arili St ~ngi l r . ~ l r wu t \ . l u~i J, l)ujnl and Hajipote, ant!
all t h ~ three Ka c h ~ a l ~ d 1111r ~I ~r ~t ~r u irith all its environmenh,. and
the province of l' lultan tc,:,.:tI~er wi t h all its s ur r ~uncl i nge~ was out
c ~ f the hands of the S d d u s ~ i guvernment; and upon these territories
the Saduzaia ( ; ov~r nni ent ahall hale no claim generation after
generation. thtse area* r ~ o lol~gor IwIong to them and hall never
l ~t l c ~ng to t llenl.
5ecodly that [Ire abrjvt. rncntiont.dl ki ng wi l l not permit any
one tcr cmtnit any r e on thir eLIc of the Kbyhar pas; or
permit any c;lintt~rbance of (1r:aee. If the officxre of the gaaPrhmenU
intentionrliy disregi~rrl their ~lutitta; os r nght n b t themsclve~
fr~,rn duty: they @hulk !pi' r e t ~~r ne d from either side; and & ~ t wwrter
which come8 tbr thv use of klilla Fatebkadeh et c, shd we allowed
to remaill, a ~ ~ d shall not etoppcd.
PHlRD CLAUSE.
The crossillg of any bod I)eyoncl the river Sutlij, according
to the regulations of ihe Sikh pover~lnlrlit a l ~ d tli
L a ~ s of thc
Honourable East India Company shall be conducted in relation LO
Chitti, and permission of the Sikh Raj. Likewise the c-us~i l l g
over ttie river Indus, in which falls the
river Sutlaj; the permission
and Chitti of t he Khalsa Raj is needed for the tribes. The King
will 11ot give such a perrnissiol~ without t he permi ~si ol l of t11e
Khalsa Raj.
FOURTH CLAUSE.
In relation to the affair of Shi kar Pore and the territory o f
Sindh; which lie upon the river. Sutlaj; the niatter is a subject- ,to
he arrang:d betweell t he Khalea Haj and the Honourable East
India Compatly through Captain ClarkrrMartin Deed, the Polilical
Agent; and such a settlement ellall by ' fully accepted by the King
aforementioned
FIFTH CLAUSE.
l ' he ahovi. mentioned king, shall a ~~nua l l y seiirl to Yeshtlwar
the followirlg i tems from . Kal~ul' and Kandahar: young horses of'
goori pedegre, and of good colour and of good gate fifty five
i l l number; and el v\ r n s ~ o r d s of Fer s ~an gocld-qualit): alld seven
scimitere c)f Persia11 make and of good q~l al i t y :and t w t ~ t y five
good mules: fresh and dry Fruit with melons of fresli and sweet kind;
and grapes. p a r s , apples and almonds and : current s i r ~l ar gr qua-
ntities: also cloth of excellent quality, and furs, and gold-thread
work; elld Peruia~i carpets; all to111 101 :items; and these would
he eent to the Khalsa Raj year Jly year.
SIXTH CLAUSE.
,.
I h e titles which are to I)e usctl 11c:tweell the t ~ o sipnitorics
*h, ~l l I)e of tqual slatus.
SEVENTH CLAUSE.
'I'he king will permit and will 110t prohibit the hritlging of
ally horse8 etc, which the traders, ~mayrtlt. sire tcl I)rina, troll1 Afgha-
tiistat1 to the It.rrilory of the Khalsa Raj ; i~ltleed, on the part of the
--106-
king such trade ~voulrl he rrlcollragrrl : :111(1 that 011 the part of the
Khalsa, too, such reciproc-al treatlr;etll \\oulcl 1)r rlidcle. and encou-
ragement given.
EIGHTH CLASE.
Tile lihalra ruler or1 hi* side ~\lill +elld ~ o o l l e n cloth et c, as
a gift to the King every venr : the ittrns being,in t he nature o f : fifty
five pieces of woollerr cloth; muslin twenty five pes. iukhab, l i ~ e pes,
Doupatta of Benaras twentyone Than. Bahar. Nawa 3lultar1i five than ;
clcth for white turbans fiftyfive thans : rice Bars fiftyfive Seer$.
NINTH CLAUSE.
When the dignitarics of the hhalba jourlrty to Afghanistan
for horses, or for any ot her reason ; or for the purpose of buyjllg
or selling goode ofL-t he nature of whitening. wool etc or other items;
and they should be so deputed to transact business to the extent
of fifteen thousand rupees ; the king's government will provide feci-
lities to then1 ; as would the Khalsa Haj in the case of those sent
from Afghanistan for such purposes.
TENTH CLAUSE.
If arrtl when the forces of Khalsa Ji and those of the king
join hands in an expedition ; the King's forces ~ o u l d not allo\v the
killing of cows under any circumstances and in any way whatever.
ELEVENTH CLAUSE.
When the allied forces of the King an11 the Khalsa Ji fight as
allies againet the Barakzais; whatever booty in the ~ h a p e and form
of jewels. horses anrl arms or sinliliar article8 come to hand, half
of such boot): shall be given[to the Khalsa Ji. and half of i t shall De for
the king; but if such booty falls in to thefhands of the forces the of the
king alor~e,?then the king allall srrltl a Portion of srrch booty consisting
of horses, fine nlaterial and nlall and Lig arm8 and iewe1.9 to the Khalaa
Raj as a gift through a trus!wortt,y envoy.
TWELVTH CLAUSE.
Always trustworthy envoys ar~rl messengers from the
king
and from theiKhalsa Raj wor~ltl viait earh ot hrrs court ancitehall exchange
urual friendly rnesdages: and keep!.tin co~l t act I)y sendirlg prea-
entr to each other.
-107-
THIRTEENTH CLAUSE.
Whenevr t he Ktlalsa Raj may requi re military aitl from
the king in virtue of tliis agreement, t he king shall send his
troops under t he commat~cl of big Sirdars; and likewise, t he
Khalsa Raj for t he purpose of help,as laid down in this Agreement
shall send its Moslem troop? ~l nde r t he comn~and of i111i)ortant
commanders to Kahul. When the r d e r of t he Khalsas may visit
Pesl-rawar, one of t he Princes representing tile king should come
to pay respect t o t he Sikh 1.u1c-r; iind t he Prince! shall he
received with due horio~rr and c.onsicl(*ra~ion.
FOURTEENTH CLAUSE.
The frientls and chnr~rnies of tlie Khalsa Ra) and fricnds
ancl enemies of t he East India Company, shall he t he friends and
enemies d)f tlie King.
IFFTEENTH CLAUSE.
TIYO laklis of' N.~nuk.ii-ilii 1.11l,c~t-s or rupees of ordinary kind.
shall hc sent annually to the Kl1al.s~ Raj without fail by t he king
in e xc ha ~~gc for the r\,ric-rlws of tronp* wet1 t o cqtahlist~ the king
upon his t l ~ r o n ~ . From tllc- hlialsa Raj ~roop.: consisting of five
tl~ousancl cavalry ar~t l ir~l'antt-) sliall I)e- j)oslt.cl at Pcshawar, which
col~ltl I N ) sent to Ilcll, 1 1 1 c a l i i t ~g \\it11 t l l c. cao-ol):\~.ation and Ilelp of
tho Ii onol ~~-al bl ~~ F1;ist 1nrli.i (:onipan, i T anfl \ ~ l ~ e n require({. Should
a larccsr 1111 qsiit I ~ I : I I ( , ~ ~ : I ~ I * ( > [ I . OI I I \I t3st, 1 1 i t h 1 1 ti](> stcrntnir~g of it
.;liall I,(. r ~ r r t l , ~ l ~ a l \ c ~ r ~ j o i ~ l ~ l v Ibc 11it. Sil,h Haj a11cl llie Honourable
F:ast Illdin ( : o~na~i y. I I' 111,. 1\ I1t1lc;;r Hwj nl ay require 111e services of the
troooc; of t hr king, t t rv x111r1 to ,[,v paid tbr that: shall he adjiidgcd
a ~r o r d i r ~g to a ~l ) t ( ' i i l l a s s ~ ' s s n i t ~ ~ ~ t i l l tilt' light of' he tinie of
set-\ ire*; arltl t he I i o ~~o l ~t al)lt. KE:~>I India (:onipany shall pay such
assc.,ssecl snm to 111c. hl ~; j l *a Haj, w t1t.11 the votltli~ions of this
ogreemcant are l'ully atlhcrcd to; such a j ~ayment shall be paid
anr~rtally.
-108--
SIXTEENTH CLAUSE.
The territorv, which is now in the possession of the Rlirs
of Sindh, and its (lepmclmcirs; togrhther wi t h all rever1ue;:and
payments to he made now or in the future by them to the king;
shall no long , r have anv relationship fwith the king,: and the
claim upon ~hoso territories al~ci revenues; nor would his des-
cendents, or anv of the persons of the Sa(1ozai family
I
shall ever have any -1airn upon thc revenues aforementioned,
or ripor1 the territoricq. 'The Mirs of Sindh thenceforth shall
I)r the o ~ n ~ r s of' tllcir lari(1, [)rovi<lecl the Mirs of Sindh pay thirty
laklis ot' NanaL shahi ri1ppc.q or orclinary rupesu. Out nCthis
sum fifteen lalili.~ sl~all he pait1 to the Khalea Haj-accord-
inp to tllc. asst3ssnrt.ii~ of' tht* ho~~our al ~l e East Inclia Company
and the reinailling filteen laklis shall 1)e t hr property of the
king. Shoultl this sum ! I . paid, 111 full, tllerl clause riumber
I<)r~r ol' tliis agrecnlnent shall I)e c-ctlsitlererl null and void- (it
rta1att.s to (:lai~se 4 or the 'Treaty ot' 12th.kIarch 18.32. A.D.)
ant1 thcb custom ol' sending presents and usual methotls of
i l a 1)etrorcn the Mir3 and the Ki~alsa Haj shall
JP c.stal)lishetl.
SEVENTEENTH CLAUSE.
WHTEENTH CLAUSE.
'I'lle king Shujauclol~llah ant1 all at l ~er s of his S~(!ozai tamilv
gI1nl1 not form or l y rc.Inlir~n+hil) \ t i l t ) a n ) : I ) I P ~ ~ I I 1 t 01 le o~. c-ountl.
witlior~t the c s n r ~wn t ol ~ h c khtll+,i Haj arltl the kior)au~.ahl k;ast
tndi a rt~rtryany; al:o it any f' o~ei gn inva5ic 11 t o c ~ k plhrt* apai na tire
khst India rompany or t h r hhala Haj. thcn the king shall hrlp,
i n H hatt*\er way
pi-ok.;il)lc. the. tho ahovf. mentionc*ci.
- lC,Y -
That which had heen laid down in t l ~i s treatv i si ' ul l \
and without reservation acceptal~ie' io all ~ l l e 111 l-tbc cnoiil ~ s c t i l a
parties; namely the,-'king, the East Intlia (:o~npnny nn( l ~ l l c I\l~;lls;r
Raj; and the :terms oT this t r d t v stla11 1-rmaio ~ o ~ . I ~ I : I I I ~ ~ I ~ ~ : a1111
after the seal arid signature of the thl-t:e i ~ar t i es this I ~as Irt.t!r~
so enacted. written on tbe 15il1 oi: 'the ~nolltll (IS l l i l l - Sul~ibil~
1895 at Lahore."
I .
According to t h e bqriuus llislorieal re&rrla. hJ~~. naugl ~t o~i , jlrior
to this agreement had spoke11 :>f a sc-Lelne of 'In inva5iotr uf ACg11,inl-
stan-towards Kabul - with the Silcll t c ~ ) p s , nut 1 at ~11r heall 01' \I t 111. 11
sliall he placed Prince T1111our~ ti111 so11 of Sli;~h SIttl~ii: OK 111r tLiilr!
of Shshshlrja whith his troops in 4f'ghdiii.~al1 I ) ? \+a! c ~ f ' h: i l ~~l nh: ~l .
a~~companietl hy Sirdar Sriltsn M(~,llamt-cl Kh'il~. Shalishrija. too, I I I R I I I *
certain obrervstions i n this regar~l : thdt 11011~ of t 1 1 ~ I)r~rr;l;li 1)ri111st%-
shall have any claim or share i l l thr rrlnnttlg of his kingglc)~~~: alld
that he shall br permitted to wage 14-r-:1r i l l all di rt v-t i o~l i . ' ~ I I P I I a:.
Kahul, Kandahar, Rulkh, Spirtall an11 Hlu1.hii1~111 allti ~hi l s G; l n) . 'Tllal
the tle:)endencies of Kandahar a y ~ i 5hikarpore shall Ire u1111f-r his rul e.
% 1 1
After tllr Ki:ngl,ish troa,l)..i Ira\.e, t i al ~ul , on(. uf tlis L~l gI i sl ~
representatives, sho:lld remairr , , at Ka b l ; , as nlso ~ h n t sonltb E D Z ~ ~ J ~ I
officer8 shoul;l be given to hi111 .for the t rai ni ~l g c1f,iroop3 i n Afgha-
. , - , .
nistan; that two lakhs of rqi)~:. :~ . . :.! !. -rtaken tu gi vr
l o the Sikhs would i ~ e r:onsidcrc.d a s a kind of t r ~t ~ut e . art*l 1:is ~oi.r:rei-
gnty thereby shall I)e in questiun; therrfc-,re. he a a tu
7 nounre hi:; owtli-r:illil) of Sllikarporr i l l I)aynlc~~it tl~cxrc-of.
,.
I hese wt8rr the ~tiprtlatioiis. ~ l i i c h itrrc. 111;1cle 1,;- Slr:~ll lihllja or1
the t~asis :if the 'I'reatv. From a n ani~l!si.; ot this. i t wc~irld
apl,var
tliat whe r e a~ the tl~y)c~st.cl an(] he refugee ki ng \ +hi r l ~ t ~ c \\as, al1h(~11::11
der,endent upon t h r srlpljr)rt of the k:tlglirlt nn(l t ht ~ Sikli:i arrtl k n o n i ~ , ~
f111ly well that his success tlvl)enderl irl)oti t l ~ei r hr l l ~: Ibe kiss yr2t
1le9irorrs to protert his liingtlom upoil .n I ~ i g h ~ r nlicl grt1atcr or l ~i l .
liut anfortunately, his co-oprrator* - especi;llly tllr I~. li~llhh - \ $(*re
q~ r h frorn ~ h o n l he corrld rcceivtb anv lw~lefit i t t t l ~i s rJirc*c.tjnn:
PC,
that i n virtue nf t h i ~ ~J nf or t l l l i ~t e 'I'reatv. I,otlt the h i h l t ~ t t l ca
English tcrok nrngnificient ~( l va nt ng~.
- 110 --
t1OW '1'1-IE GATEWAY OF THE GHAZNI
CIrADEL WAS BLOWN UP.
ARTICLE Z'WENT Y EIGTH
0 1 1 the morning of 23rd. Jul y 1821. ,4.0., w h ~ n the sun had
not ?.el arisen f ul l y, tho zoalled city of Ghazni was shaken by an
e.\plosion. l ' hr English had been busy the whole night digging u
11cnnt.l and bletc. up the Kabul gate of the city.
.-llso t hey niclde a great breach i n the zocrlls, so that the
city surrenderetl urithout e.rpectntion t o the enemy within three-
quaz t ~r s qf ' urt Itour. I t was thought that this urns effected through
tlre brctr.ery qf their troops, but the s t r hgt h 0.f n treasury is
greater tharr the strength and potoer of gun - potl~der.
1
Tne first t~ggreasion of the English, which took place with the
cnonivancr an11 help of Shahshuja Sad~l zi , is a fact regarding which
eeveral article- had been written i n these series on several aspects
of the case.
In this article, we desire to speak as to how unexpectedly t he
rurrender of (;hitzl;i took place at the hands o f the English.
Thtl l{ri11311 troops which were moving t)y ~ v ~ y of the Holan
a I hllojdk with Shahshuja, were put under the command of
an Enr l i sl ~ ol't'icer h y the name of Sir John Koan. Frorn the date
ot 1111, r ~ ~ l ~ \ ~ ~ r l t r , r l t of this f o r c ~ ( 10th. Dec.elnl)er 1838. 12. D. ) fro111
kiro11/1101.,~. t i l l i t r t ~ ~ ~ r h a d Kandahar on the 8th. of May 1839. .4.1).,
~ 1 1 1 ~ 1 ( . I I ; I / I I I , 1 1 1 111e 'let. of July 1839. 4. D. With that which I)cfell
111r t ~ \ ~ w ~ t ( l r t ~ o t ~ . IVP 00 not c-oncern oi~rselveo here.
1 1 i- I ~ r ~ a t l r r of c.oninron knowletlgr: that the legal occupant
111, . \ i ~l l . , t l throrle. ~Irnir I ) o s t hlohamed Khan was rulinc t l l r ~oi l nt r y
; I [ I I I ~ . l i ~ t t v . a11d I ~ P (;r, vernrn~nt of Chazni then wtl,~ lilac-erl ~l nder
I , I I ~ ~ ( I I l ~ i v Ror l . *. Sirrlar Ch ~~l a r n flaitler Khan.
F.lr a- r a n I I P ~ ~ r t l g r ~ l frorr~ historical re(-or(]$, i11n1r Dust
\ I t ~ t l ; ~ r r l t . ~ l klian. t l ~ t h I I I I ~ I I I ~ his r ~~l e r s hi p aq a l w prior to i t , a~t ached
Lrrc-at 11r1(111rtar)ce to he clefenre, of (;hami: so that when he ultimate-
I v 11t.c-a111e t 1 1 ~ king of \fghanialan, h f ~ appointed one 01. hi8 real
I, rot hrrd. +~r{l , i r . l n~i r Moharned khan. as (;overnor of (ihazni. I n
- 111 - - -
any case wl~erl the news of the approaching Eng:lsll r with
Stlahshuja reached Kailul, t he King sent a good (leal 01' ration, allll
ariuarnents to G hazni.
The plan which Aruir Dost Moharned kl i an Irafl \411rhrtl out
against the English aggression was this that, tht. Ehgl i sl ~ forces nho-
uld he idetaitlet1 for a time in \ he neighbourtiootl of ( ; l r a~ni ; so
that Sirdar Ghularn Hai del Khan, strengthened hy u I'lrgc. garrison,
should defend the city, and Sirdar Mnharned ' ~ f z a l kllar, at t he I~clatl
ol' a cavalry composed of three thousand horsrni e~l bhou~d haraw
the invaciers ou~s i de !he city . These arrangemenla having I)c,en
made at Kahul, the plan was launched. On the other, Iiand the ( Ji i l -
zis of the nri ghl ~ourhood were to hold the region I)e;\\een Ghaxni
and Mokor against the enemy. It was thought that the i nl adi ng tro-
ops could bp destroyed either between Mokor and Ghazni, or ll!~ ihe
attacks of his sons in Ghazni or at Wardak. Milch uttt.ntioli was
lavisheci upon this sceme . but unfortunately treachery reared i t 8
head, so that Chazni and its defences could not s u r ~ i v e he attack
for longer than three quarter5 of arl hour, as a result of wl11c11 ~hr :
whole plan was 1)rought to t ~ot hi ng.
When the English forces reached Kalat Ghilzai in 41h of Jul y
2839. A.1). Mcnaughton halted there for a tirne, ill order to 3aluIrre
thc Ghilzais, while Lord Kean with Shahshrija marcher1 on to \lohnr
ant1 Ghazni. Mohan ],at, author of the life of Amir 1)wt k l a h a ~ ~ ~ e d
Khan, who hacl cultivatetl a friendship with all the ljig Sirtlars atltl
nobles of the timc, secure11 the serret platto of the Knglis11 I . OI I I
manders, that a nl on~s t tllose it110 were not \ erv
frie~rtllv \ t i 111 \111ir
Dost Mohamed Khat ~ , was one r~arnctl Sirdnr .41)1111r Rashill hl1,111 .
who was a relalive of Amir 1)oat Mohatncci K l ~ n u . wh o \,as the11 l ~ t i n ~
at (;llazni. Hc a t o n c ~ sent a letter, I b c r t altliough t h ~ Incsstlllgclr I\:+-
captured and was beheaded b y the orclrr of Sirdar ( ; I I ~ I I R I I I I l i \ l ~ l ~ ~
Khan, the governor and liefentler of Ghazni. he had tl,)nr. Ili* nork
previor~sly. and the letter hall actually h ~ e n rct,t.i\e,l I,! tile c.,lem!.
Abdur Ha~hi d Khan was i ery pleased that hi9 letter had Lt e , ~ rere]
ved and that he wan it~viletl to go to thc English calnp. I l r r l r e ~ s ~ t l
in the r_.f e Ilegger , anci gal e him a sword : which al,,,crarr.tI
-- 112 --
that this mail \vtrul11 ki l l a n y o n ~ who comes within range ; and
this inall al3o the hrarc-r of a letter i n which=Sirdar Abdur
I I J I Ira11 i111ll1.ated hi> tlesire to come. Thi s letter fell in
the 1,auds of hlohali Lal.
- - .
Whe~: ..ihdur Laatilt1 l hi l ul l c.u.xged from the gateway of Ghazni
: ; r t ~l rnct hrs frie~rrls, JIohan La1 i n~r oduced him to Maughnaton ; who
plac:c?d hi m rlirectly underst hc orders of Lord tiein : so that the in-
Forllig~ioli \v hicli 11,1111r Ra?hi(l Khan gave about the defences
of (i hnzni to t he mi l i t a~y engineer of the English force one rla-
tllrrl hlajor I' lio~iisvn cont ri l ut ed lo the ' l l owi l ~y up of t he gateway
of (;lraz:~i dliti the Lreahillg up of the national defences of that city.
I
'I'hc. I <; l ~~l i *h arrived opposite t he ditadel uf Ghazni on 2lst
, J t r l y 18 ; I . A. I). and movecl up their forcee towards the Kshui Gate
1~adi 11g to habrrl, so that all collrmunicatim between Kabul and
(E;lia/,~i~ cou lcl be. r ut .
I f a t is t hat as Soon a6 t hr English forces were sighted
!!r.lr ( , I I ~LI I I . l h r g1111s ot the (>hazni clefences began to fire on the
* l ~ ~ ~ i ~ ~ ) : tlncl Sigtlar Ghularn Lloider Khan was prepared to defend
, .
t h ~ C I I ) lo the lab1 . Ihe army together with the people of the
I ( , \ \ I I \\ ~ I . C c l e r rt.a~ly to sta~ld t)y aurl defend their town with bra-
\ pr \ dl111 ~wrblsteti(-r. 'l'he wra krless that was apparent in Arnir Dobt
Xlulror~~rvl h t ~ a r ~ ' s cleft-lict- plati, w a ~ the ribalry that existed herweell hie
, \ \ I ) - Onh - ri ; 1111t ~Iv 5irrlar Mohanle~l Afzal khan a ~ ~ d Sirdar Ghulan
I I I I . I I I t I t I 'Mohan~etl Afzal Khan was to
rl ~f r=, nrl 1 1 1 t h r.11~ fro~il o~t t ~i dt - . while the last rrametl was to secure
I ile llincr rl+-fet~c-r-, At (,lie point. the eennitive l ~r ot her tleeired to enter
th,. cl t i . *I, th, tt I,r,th 01' thc l)rtrtt~ern could t1ef1:nd the city toge-
11;pr. I ' I ~ I + rt-~l l l (~*l ~ r t * a t ~ ( I at l el ~cat e position, with the result that Sir-
rlar \Int~nrnr.(l lfzal khan left the city to its onn devices.
Iiut tlii.; 111 il.sell has not a rrlatter of great significance, for
i t was r~o-*itrlt' that Slrllar ( r l l ~ l ~ ~ r ~ Haider khan-could continua to
t ~vl d tie town. ~ n t l the k;nglish troops coutd have been annihilated
by the \roopa of Anlir Do s ~ Mohalwed Khan's eons letween Muqar
and Ghazni.
When tile English arrived at Ghaz!~i, contrary to their previous
information they found that the defence walls of tlie city and its
turrets were rnuc.11 stronger than rep,.lrted. -4s S i r d ~ r hlohamed Afial
Khan had detachetl i i i ~l ~sel f and his tr3ops f&m the yrecir~ts of the
city, the English found a good opporh11:ity to stuclp the deferlees of
the city. Furthernlo;t~, as the result of Inore millute information of
Abdur Rashid Khan, the E:lglihh Lurro\+e,l 3 t u ~ ~ n e l uni1t.r the Kabul
gate of Ghazni, an1 at ahour 3. A. 91. on 23rd. Jul y 1833 1)letv up
the gateway, not tliroug!i rigl~ting or \311>ur, Lut 111roug!l trcscliery
of:a prrson who: had been depraved by the htilcs of thc: enemy. 'l'he
defendera, who hardly ~houglit of thi -, ciici rig11 t gc~llantly round the
walls of the citadel, hut all i +as lost, an,] furtlicbr resistance had nu
meaning. Although t l ~ ? slain I)otlics of the tlvfc~ltlers l a y in l ~eaps
opposite the Kabul Gntcwa:~, the enerily forc-s en tercd the city, and
when the Englisli ba1inl.c wii hoisted ovcr the Bala Hissclr. Lord Kean,
the Commander-in-Chief of the English forces lei! Sliali Shuja. and
Mcnaugliton into the cit, .
It was in this rn;l~:ner that the sp-cia1
frienclsl~ip of a person
belonging to the countrjr, with one of the servants of ~llr Englisl~,
aud his revealing of tlie plans, destroyed d l the hopes and a spirrlt-
iono of the country and the people at a very critical juncture.
It is poseible that the traitor nlay not have fatlionled the depth
of hie treachery, but history records the magnitude of cowardice and
wforgivable sin it was wliicll caused a series of perils for the
THE BATTLE OF SPEAH 6i THE SHIELD.
ARTICLE 1'U;'t?'N?'Y NIiVTfl
Prom the 2 1 s ~ to 24h of July 1839. A.D. certain evercts
occrwred ittsida t l t z citadel of Ghaarci., tuhich trtey be said l o belong
to the reai~ns of fancy. and drealna. We consider these as such,
because no qFghrsn and no English soldier could dream that d'hazni
could ba talcrrr with ease and so soon. Hut as traitororts hcrndu
loere at work, events turned out i n a diffvrent shape, and tlae
- 114 -
city passed: from m e hand to nnodier withim twmtyftrwr haull~,
,Ilthotrglr tlie gcrtezcay of the city was blotvn up, in the c o t r i h
of the gttlewtry great scenes of r ~s i s t er z e were enacted. F a when
aha AJghan fighters gallandy defended h m s e l u ~ s agoinch th
lunces of the enemy with a shield, they used th&ir su.ords crgsitut
the aggtessars.
In article twentyeigth under the tide of "HOW TI-IE GATEWAY
OF GlJrlZNI \VAS BLOWN UP" we had spokrn of the reyrettable
incirJent of Chazni on accr,i~nt of the trearllery uf Sirdar Al ~dur
Raphid Khan, one of the relatives of An~ i r Dsst MaE,atned Khan.
In this nrtic1e"wt: widtl to give certain other particulars, which E~g l i s h
sourcrs hahe also nlenticjnetl. Much of thes? facts are frorn the
writings of Neville Chamberlain, which give 41 years of military
history of India.
The author \ $as a young cavalry officer during the First Afghan
\Tar, who ul tirnately Lecanae a F'ielti Marshall.
Wrm ZLst. July 1839 the Engtieh fomm under General Kvan
a d accompanied by %ah Sh~tja arrived withirr 12 milee- di die ci ty
of Gtrazni. On the mcnning crf that day, one Sirdar.AMtl~ Rk&d %ham,
a coi ni n of .4mir IJost Mnhamed K h accomptmid hy of
his followers rcacherl the Englbh camp. The Afghan and the, Engli~h
hi ~ ~ o r i a ns call this rllun a traitor, a ~ d the same designation can be
useti at)out his conrpaniona. They gave the news that Sirdar Ghulam
Fiaicler tihatr. the son of hn~ir Uoat M b k a d Hhrrr will attack that
very night with three thous.anc1 soldiere; benidea this the English
wr e tuW t he ga!ewAys d G h d . had ham d c fa& wilb l otrmes and
mortaa. and r l ~ cmlr gatewaj., which i~ awme& ie t he hhl gtmway,
which ir alee wed lor ingrms a d egrelrs* T l r ~ uipht the Endiehl ,tw
1dkr did ma deep, ex- attaok; 4 stayed in t bi a* t myt h
awaiting t he oaelnrtght of
tb d t k t l m * CJ# -& But th nigst
attack &11 w come OW.
-115 -
bite early im the mmrring, the English m e d nearer the lei-
adel d Ghazni; and the troops were led by rbt. trai+or Sirdar A b h
Rashid Khan aud Alexander Burnes. IVow the city the English were
macketl by che defenders of the t mn f m their hiding p l m in
&ue cmhmds of the ciw, and when the ihpvacfess werc within range
.of fir:, big gun8 ol the tewn opened at kern. Th,: fimt e n e me m
Aid took place between the Eng&& md the Afghaas WAS i m $be
d r d s of h e city, stlpcially h one such m r r a d ahirh rcas ahout
180 yads long and about brty ket wi de very severe iightinip to&
place. From the wails of h e citadlel, which were about thirty to
fsrty feet high, the defend~rs opened fi re wit% their tinder-fi r t d
grrw. Mr: Chamberlain, ~eeording the metit, say8 tha't whm
the Afgham e ~ w W the firing of the English did not reach
h, they came up the parapets of ura.lle and waved their fkp,
and n ~rorup even came up Bo a dkt h~ ~ c e nf mly thirty yards.
When they arrived so near, Chalnberlain say8 that hc intimated
b e f a to Captain Graves. There They c ~ me : ~ ~ l ' he captain ordered
hie company w fke, but both fire* met, the Af gha~~ n-azriors had
hcoi na s~ excite4 by corning 60 neas to their e na s l i e th94 their gave
RO heed rn death, md although they fell one r h t l ~e ocher sre a
r e a ~ l t of the enemy' # fire they continued to puA bkp-t.wotd,and i n this
engwemtnt Captain Grave4 received two evere mn d s , and Cha
mbt rl ai n was mmpclied to retire hie compnny, and to take tltoit
wuundd c ma n d e r OQ a ~ t t e t k r to tfic center oC their troops.
<
Mter thia sharp and ~hor t engemrnent, t$e Knalnlr fotm mor-
ed tcnnards walls of the city of Ghazni,and ~urmundad the w-ailt~
m a di at am, where the Afghan fire could not reach them, and akir-
tinf north-wect they enived near the Kabul gate of the city.
According to the English records, their troop3 had no rationa
lwyond three days. and the ~ t m , ~ g redstance of thc
defender^ wae
likely to upset the attrcktr3& plans till Captain Thomson,the head.
engineer, suggested to the commander of the forre named K01vitt.that
the bent plan undct the cirntm~fntica %-a3 to hlow up the Kahrl
gate, and this m~ggeetion wsa readily a g ~ d to.
Towards the f o ~ .
- 116 -
nonn of 22nd.J11ly, many Afghan M-arriom gathered from the nearby vill.
agtx around the hillsides that ,surrountlctl the e~~carnpment e of the
English, and mercilessly harap5ed the English invadere of Ghazni.
Several erlgagements took place hehveen the ,4fghan warriors and the
English sc~uf s. An acconnt ot Captain Forrest says that the Afghans
at that time usell their citadel gun (a fortyei~ht-pounder). Towards
the. evening, however, Mr . hlaryian Durral:d and Captain Rt t covered
by their inf~mtrymer~, act1 taking covercof the: hjck-walls of the orcha-
rds mapaged t o get as rlose to the city wal l 8 an 150 meterr.acd in
the wanill:: l i ght oi' the rnool:, they caalr: very clobe to the KabuI
gate where the Sappers anal hiiners laid %JO pounds of gunpowder
in twc-lve hage near tlre Kabul gate of Ghazni. At 3.A.M. of 23rd
July, the night witld had not abated, and darkness hung round still
over thc I of I citadel; the iilhtrbitanfs fiere still asleep, and
the guards bt i l l ai\aited the English attack upon the city, when
all of a s d d e n , the terrific sonnd of an explosion sllook the
air, and the Kabtll gate was blown up. With it, too, went up in
tile air (beriain other pnrts of the wall. Insifle the gateway ran
a corriflor-eonlt 130 yard* long and rather narrow-about 20. yarde
wide. in thr cerlter of 1jhir.h \ +as a yard. According to Mr.
C:harnl,erlain'a rrhrorrlr. in acl,lilion tr) the Englibh regiment, there
were he rt gi me~i t nun1i:t.r two of the Henpal Europeans, ae aleo
the Indinti rlnits of 1.3-7: 35- 16 anti the 48th; which took part in
the attack. Rettbeen 3. and 4. A. M. i n the darknese and i n that
narrow pasaace, a sanguinary battle took place: betwgep &5 defe-
nrlera sncl the ~ t ~ a c he r * . The attcaking force charged with fixed
bayonets ant\ the Afghan warriors meeting the rat~cbere'weapona
with their sllielcls, used rheir swords against the English invadere,
The hi i t t ! ~ r s gd for a time in that corridor, and Ileyond the
clabh~ng 4 . f arme. none c:or~ld .qr-e the other in the darkneeoh
b 11t.n ~ J I P ,I~ffi*rlllpr~ fii\\Y I h;! t 11.lvtlnr.t (. r1111(1 not be :'oll:!ht ageinsr
the awor ( l in a rcrjtrirtcd crpaca, t h ~ v d i s p e r ~ ~ c i irtto the open
ir~sirle tlee city. Front evrr:l home. from eerh corner of thtt etreft,
in t h p n\i-rc)is pss*dges-hnttl~ts raged Kirrcely, and fire wde poured
upon the n~[ar.bcrs frtlm the roof tops, (:hannhrlain *aye that
each h o o ~ e was like a n a r md citadel, T b dotermi l i d Afghan
warri ~rb f nt l ~~ht tr, t h ~ Inn? nlnn
The morning of 23rd. July found Ghazni in pools of blood,
and inside the city hell was let loose, for f r ~ m every i~ouef:top
fire rained
npon the atta,kers; every street conpr was the danger
signal; every turn of the narrow passage wa5 a Lnttle field.
Wllatever booty was secured was heaped along 1!1e Kabul gal e alon;:
the nlounjs of th:: slain Afgl i a~i warriors; whosever enterell a house
for loot. (lid not emcrgc alive !rum that house; 110th insirlc and
outsitle neithcr party could l t r ~ p any control, panden~onium 1eignec1
everywhere. Tlie ahovc mentianed narrator adds that about one
tlioun-and and five hundred riderlebs horses about,
and elm f ~ l i ~ h t amcngst t hcn~sel ve~. To ~ t t p i!;to the stscet was
to co:lrt positive tleatl~. T1.e Englidi writer, wl ~ o took part in
the battle says tl,at he had secri ro much cluelty, andzdisrcgard
for liunisn life that he disliked hllnran bcha\iour, and that he
a11horel.d humanity itrc-If. Gllulam I I a~der Khan, the son of A~ni r
Do*t M~hai ned Klla11-a yourg man of t ~ t nt >t \ \ o years of age-the
golernur and defender of the city was taken prisoner wit11 his
six companions h y Captain Taylor.
On tl, e 24h of July the dead were buried, and two hirndred
woundcd and deal horscs, too, were put under the sod. Jn the
afternoon the silence of death reigned supreme in the fair city
of Ghazni, doors bere t o ~ n off their hinge^, houses were den~olished,
the s:rwts were ti~eerted, and i t tooketi that i t I\-ae not a city of
the living. LIpr~n this eilence sat the bloody regime of Shahehuja
under
the I : o n ~~r r at:(; pr ~t ect i an ot the Engl i ~h, and from one of
ti e towers nf thf. citadel flurted the e n~i gn ef the invaders.
TH& V I C T O R Y OF GMAZ NI .
(An extract of a possng~ from TI!WATUL HAi3II3. Vol,%page 168.)
d b . . . . . Strptkehuja after the lapse of three mr?nthe and
battling the Kandehar rffairo and of i t& environs cnttustcri the
region to an Engliehman named I,e!ecl~ and the Prince kstch Jr l l t g, and
uccompanied by ~ h c r kingli~h officers etartad on an expedition
- 118 -
t owads Ghazni and Kabul. and encamped under the walls and
turrets of Ghazni. Sirdar Ghulam Haider Khan, as the governor and
defender of Ghazni - deputed as he was from hie father Amir
Dost Mohwerl Khan, provided with all weapons of defence, prepared
to clefend the city. The English, however, attacking the northern
gate of Ghazni set alight the gateway of Bahlol, captured the city,
and took Sirdar Ghulam Haider Khan prisoner, and piaced him
under the serveillance of Yaqut Khan. The Cleat Amir hearing of
the3e events called one IVawab Jabhnr Khan - une of his brothers -
and asked him to go to Ghazni on the pretext of enquiring a!,out
the wife and children of the captured Afghan defender of the city
and to see a+ to what he cnul ~l f i n 1 and to collect what _information
he could, so that sornething might be done about the events that
were to develn!) as a result of the fall of Chair.nl. Nawah Jahbar
Khan started on his way to Gl~azni, pretending that 11t. was the Iiost
of one Alexancler Burncs whom ; ~ e had helped on many occasions, arld
iotry to have Sirdar Chulani Hairier Khan released a~; d to bring him
along with him to Kabul. Upon his arrival at Ghazni, he started
parleys with the English, and after murh cliscussion . the English
terms were made kriotvn to',Sirdar Jal ~har Khan, t o he elfect that
either the Amir ahould renounce his throne of Kal)i~l a!~d go to
India as a pensioner oj the British go\~ernment ant1 receike one lakh
of ruppees annually ; or to fight on and let the I~est niall win the
hattle.
SECOND WVEMBER 01: 1841.
AI(TICI,E ' I ' HI R' I I E7f f
In the historical life of the people of Afghanistan, the clays
of victory and de f mt , days qf gloom ard of happiness. times of
grc-ntness and of decline are intermixed, which ought to br sludied
rclith their respective colotir and effect of those times..eo that the
nabion may observe s o w of t b s s of the days of its life when
it tcwa u& a cloud. The dat e ef Second qf No~elpLbm, IN, A,D,
( 18th. Rnrnl bn 1257. A.H. ) wee e day o/ drt . mi ml i o%. q/
nterrdjbstsera 0f g ~ e d ~t r e gi d national up-rising.
-- 119 -
The rnovenlerrt t h ~ r ead it8 head on the second of k*mber
1841. A. D, on t he part of a few ir, the city of Ka h l , arid which
infoud a national feeling of up-ri ~i dg, h a no parallel itl the snnals
of Afghanietan in reganl tr, the determincrtion and steadksttlesa of
national cause. In ae n~ueh ae it was a rnovenient which e k e a
remakable nartional u*, and inspiration, it ~houl d always be re-
called to n~inde.
Time was t+he11 alle hundred and eleven years ago, in this
Ccuntry opl)ression and coercion had been the vogue in Afghanistan
at the hands of Mcl?aughton, Shabshuja and Burncs. From Shair-
pore to I3alahisar. there were "ruins" upon which cruel hands ope-
rated. The Kngliell forces held the points huch as Siah Sung, the
ci ut onmnt of Shairpore and i n other parts of he city, and an@
ther gromp, n a n d as t he artillery troops a.fShahs11uja \ms stationed
at Hala Iiisar. 'Vizamud-I)oullah, he traitur. was a Inan tvhs worked
as a liaieoq Iretween Sh~hnhuj a and Illnaughton, and, of coarw, this
man' s a wl had been 130 d~w.Yf$e~Hf that he thon~ht of nothing but his
own interests, and in tb& quest if the r~arion WM sstabjcad to dEsmee
and ruin, it uouid. have matteed, nothing to him. Thie year, 1841,
was the third yecrr of the miaas, of Shahebuja, snd tkia date shonld
be co~lwdered as the third yetar of tlwr disgrsse md decline of the
lifk 04 the netion at the hands of the d@tmme-the English. 'Those,
who had; rear& the n d mi ms deei ms d treachery towards their na.
tim, were, uf course, wet1 m#mt with their ill-gattl~n lu.rbceeds.
M i t l o n r weye, howper, detdtioraslng ; for irrata~ce; the laad re-
vgtlw wae hdmg re-as~esrs~d and at extortiunmte rates fm~cTb rtlitifa~y
mvitet, t he appnrtioming of salariesa ta the Gh4ltei leaders, the
exmmes of t k t t uopen; and the dep6rtiwg of ififltlencid leaders of
the pew19 t@ India, coupled wjtk, lack of respect fw the r i ghe of the
i di vi duel a h m of smtlrity and much else whieh cbhfrihplrm to
the rlismrd
a d a etate of l a b d t ~ ~ ~ f b Nahr let 10o~e amongzIt the
people cd thia.comtrg, and h. these unbearable circtlmtances, thenation
w a ~ mekirrg preparatfms tcr, r e d asunder thme chain9 of euppres-
sion md cruelty of the ',for&miers a d t hdr pr o~ge. Shah~hl l h- at
t)tG et~fk'~et polseihic mornewe.
AR evc3ryone k n o ws , a fvw people whose names a(lom t he
pagea of our national history,posseasing feelings of love and estecln for
-120-
their coutitry, for the first time aesembled at the house of Ahdullah
Khan Achakzei. There they laid down the fould,ation of the relestee
ot their cou~~try frorn cruel hands which were sq.ueezing out the
very life blood of the nation. On the rnorrring of secmd november
lt341. A.U. when the eun had hardljr arisen, four of these lovoxa 4f
their country na~iled Abdullal~ Mian Achakmi, Aminullah Khan Zp-
gari, Sihalidrir k h a n and Ab d u ~ Sulam Khan called upon the people
around them and n~arched on the garden arid the house of Alexander
Burnes.
Burnt: wanteds to pacify them by sending out to them a meese-
nger on his beh>lf, but Sikandar Khan wanted to cut h r n e s head
of[, bo that not a si~igle worJ should come out of-t he tyrane'a mouth.
Burnrv came o; the roof of his house and wished to bribe the mob with
money, but as that could not satiefy the people impassioned by the
national urge, Burrlea ordered that the: people should be fired up on.
Fir i ~ i g from Lot11 sides caused causualties arnongs t the contestants. One
oE the Englishmen wlio fell on that occasian was a Captain Broad Foot
after llim feli Hurnes brother named Charlee Bur~ies, The AfgE~ne
thereafter en~eted Burncs I~ouae, bet his house alight arld cut Burnee into
yicces. The fire of the 11ouae was wen from B ~ l a 1 I i ~ r by Sh&
eliuja, hl cri a~l ght o~~ and Elpbinstone hot only was i t visible from the
Halahibar Luk ii could aleo be seen froin Siah Sung and Shairport; and
none were aljle to put i t out. Ilurnes had a grcat expectatien of help
froin llaia Ili slr. Captain Campl>r,ll did, In effect etarr out t~ help
wit11 a company of troop , but t he people hindered their progrwa wi t 5 the
rcs ui ~ that :\I1 the arms and tho ammunition of the rescue party fell
i r k t o thc l i a~~t l s of the Afghan nationsliete, when the eun wae etti ng
upon the hights Hala l?i ear, and the Engliah looked on anxiouely fro&
the erniuence of Balahi oar, upon a city whose l ~eat t wae capturd by
the people of tlie country. The wrath of Bala Hisar snd of Shsirpere
was of courze, at its highest. The mnifestatian af d~i s wrath and
anxiety were comgletnentary to each other, and th reeult of thio
r ~~ani lejtatinu waa that t ompelled the foteigncts to ; dwro the
country of t h g : !'lfglltltis along with ~ h o ~ who loved t he f o mi e ~ b
n:nre t1iar1 their nu. n rrl nntrs
THE IN5'l'IC;ATOH : TIIE I-IERO: THE VICTOK:
Al'dIl THE: MARTYR.
..I RTICLE l'HIR7 Y Fl RBT
In the course of the hislory of our country, at the t i me of
, I
national crisis aud of danger, when tlie very life of the liation has
111 jeopardy; great heros aiid l ellifactors hai e riaen to redeem
the honour of their cou~i t r p 1,y their grt.at deeds of valour,
so that by dint of their hravs artioris . tlie disintegrated
fibres hgcl 1)et.n put together, I+ hich prove5 tliat i l l tlic- mental
make-up of our people det er r ni ~~at i o~i for ~lntiorial regeneration
and a spirit of striving pPrjtsts, which d1iri11,s r~l o+t of the
turris and t\zrisls of Afgkia~~ fii9toi.y Iiave guardeti our nation71
woll-being anci cohesion. atld have I~rought n1attr:rs to our
national success a11J prosperity.
One ot the weekineases ol Iliutory of 1listo:ians. \ v h@h
call not LC easily remedied i h the dealilig of rhose period@ of
history whi ch are dark ~ n d facls tlo ~ i o t ~l l unl i nat e t he paswge (of
time i.1 t!!em. One has, thereforr. to :wait f or l ~gl l t to penetrate
and t o give US a glimpse of r11o.w evtnnls which I.~atl traaspireti.
Much, however. continues to lanlaill obscure.
In ally case, the lifting of curtail1 froin tl~ost: darker r e g i ~ i ~
of hietory ar e being prc,gressivt~lv liftcd 114. the r aear ehps of
hiatorianr;. ' I' t~is is bacmrnit~g c i ~- cl ~. t l i t in c.rrtai11 r ~bpeci s when a
hietorian posee:sing i l general I t history, cuppreeses
sertain f wt s according to his owrl ~)r(~jtlclires or i i l r l i ~ ~ a t i o ~ ~ s a11tl eoale-
aces them into a ~l at t er n of' his o \ \ : ~i . Ithnvit~g *.olnr of the pamag-
i l l i he cLr h aud ewitching ligllt 1 1 j 1 ( ! 1 i oil~el.s.'X'ht.r~ are tho.re pasrsBes
b v t ~ i c l l r eni s t i l l uoi i aat i o~~ entir.rlv, arill which can be. ~nar i e l i mwn
irnly I ) v c-liligent researche, but nomc 011 the: ~ t h e r hand, con-tirrule
1 0 re~lrain 1111known alld R matter of prlrt: cl ~~l j t : ct r~re and u. nc. er ~i n~y.
I I I our arlicle ei+titled ?'hi. Srcorlct of Novemlwr, .we h d
rt\r.rrtir)ned facts, from priuterl rcrcord$, ahni ~t the ugraeing . of
crtlr'gp of nationali5t, their attack upon Uuroes l ~ i r ( burn' s )
be j q
- 122 -
killed at the hands of the patriots, I reaction from Shairpore
and Bala Hisar, and Abdullah tihall Achakzis, battle and his
being wo ~~n d e d and ultimatc~ rnartyrclonl ; yet fuller details are
still obscure regarding t i n~i l i t ary progress. the real events
culminating, iu his death his a tio~l' s real appraisal from the point of
view of national urge ancl sigr1iFica:lce. If' Atdullall Khan Achakzi is 1101
t he only warrior of that ar ena. he i 3 most decidedly the braveet of
those who preparrcl the 11a1ion for iL3 release from foreign yoke, and
the one who prompted t he peole of hi s country into awareness of
national independerice. so that his na111e should be placed upon
the records of al l those national rnov.c.ments for the regeneration of
t he Afghans wIlic.11 Afghanistan saw during her struggles for i nde~end-
encc. anrl that hi$ r1anlt8 sIi~)uld he one of t he first ones on the rolls.
Abdullah Khan AchaLzai i* the first man who led t he national
mor~vement on tile second of Novcrnber in 1841. A. D. I t was he also
arranged the me e t i ~~g at his h( ~l i >e. \)here through his persuation
and goading that the natior~ renlised her podition under the thraldom
of t he English and Shahshuja. a i ~ d it was through his efforts, and by his
power of language a l ~d persoual exan~pl e that led his countrymen to riae
and claim hat uhich belongtd to Afghanietni~. Iniapitc of the fact that
he had no more than three corilpanions, they proceeded to t he house
of Alexander Burnes, ar.d after [hat fall of t he Englishmen, from the
seconci Novernt~er t ~ l l the l11h hovvrnher 1841 A.D. (17th to 27th of
Ramazan 1257. A. H. ) he let1 t he national movemeilt. He and his com-
panions had no lear of t h ~ gull and the rifle , so that as an officer of the
national force>, a# a a, ) r nmand~r of the peoples' forcea anrl as a
national hero he I~attlvcl will1 the rnightv forces of Shairpore and
of the guns of the enrmy every wherr, RO that or1 the eleventh of Novem.
her hie cauein Sell to the hullet of the enenlies of the Atghans, and
he hinlself was wo~~nder l during t !~z advance . Hut he had
vindicated the honour of his peoplr. for t h o e ~ plans which only ten
days ago ne r r evolved i n thc. prlvac! of hin rooms, were made effective
hy the sound and t h ~ t19e of gun and rifle. His words were not
empty words. They hati a meaning. action was born from theni, AA
the result of which he wa8 wouncletl and lay in his bed and finally
died and received the highest honour of martyrdom. But riot till he
bad carried forward the illpa and view point of the patriotism of
Afghans 10 a pass and point ircjm where the people could see the
risir~g star of the birth of their independer~ce. By a happy coinci-
dence when Ahdullah Khan Acllaltzdi frll lnoratallv wounded, Sirdar
Mohamed Akbar Khan, 1ht3 g a l l a ~ ~ t ec,n of Amir Dost Mohamed Khan-who
was at Bokhara for a long time-reached Kabul and took up t he task
of the national liheralion, leading the peoplr to aids new Vistas,
with revived spirits for t hr r ~ a t i o ~ al cause, which brought out t he
hidden qualities a1111 ur gr s ot thr peopl e to the fbre.
THE ARANDODIIN(: OF SITAIKPOHE.
6t h. Ja1111ary 184,2.A.D,
From the 7th of An ~ u s t 183'). AT). to 0th of January 1842.A.D,
for a period of about t\ vo ~ I I I - I n half years, the English forces
stayed at Kabul. 7'hey were s ~~ppos e d to he there in order
, .
to help Shahshuja : I heir canll) c l l ~r ~ng thatb' un-invitedq' stay was
situaied at a "forl" r e c ~a ~l gul a i i l l s!;apc which was styled
the Cantonemet-t or Ch a ~ a n i . 'l'l~is place was outaide the city
on ihtt norther11 outskirts towards tlle eastern roadway which
' ran straight from the rapital to a s~iiall willage known as t he
village of Ribi Marc) ant1 connected it with the rsity. After
the r e i g ~ ~ of Amir Sl ~ni r Ali l i han, wh e n a s uhar b was named
Shairpore on t he sout h- wes~ of t he village of' 13ihi Mnro, and
the ar r a was made ;I militarv Ibase, this locality rluring t he
Second Afghan War wa.; very wrll linow~i as Shsi r Pore. In
view of' the f act that ~ c r o r ~ l i n g to 111e narne a ~l d fame that
Shairpore hat1 acquire l cl~re to its military si gni f~cance and
tvorfare d u r i n ~ the uggresaive \tare ot' the k:nglirl~. and the
part that t hi s region hntl played in ~ h n t s'trugglc. further-
more to ;the fact that rluri~lg ollr lirst struggle ;)gains? the
Knglish invaclion i t I ~: l t l not aws~~rned anj: foreign importance, .
thereforelnietr~a~I of - i y l i ~ ~ g this c l ~ a p t ~ r asfi(:ha~ani", \ve have
. .
named i t " Sl~airport. l h r ~ a the l~eatling of the cllaptcr has
been pal a8 the ".4l~anrlotiing 01' Sharrpore".
- 124 --
'I'he arrival of t hr winter season, and t he settling of the cold
weather and tht. fall of snow in Kablil anti upon t he s u r r o u n d ~ n ~
hilh, bring to minds those scenes of history which cannot be effaced
fmm the memories of the people. It is thia t hat inucdes one to
yen an article in this fieriej nlmut an event which happened on W.
January IBP2.A.I). (22nd. Zulqadah 1 5 7 . A. H. ) in t he city of Kabul.
and that event is nones ot her than t he evacuation of t he capital,city
of Kabul by t he English.
On 7th A~i gust .I830 A.1). when a certain degree of agitation
and manifestation of dis-r;atisaFac~ion was apparent a n ~ o ~ i g t he people
of Kalbal, 11ra1ted ljy t he trumpel call and t he military band , two
English officers- Mrnaughtoll antl Si r .lo1111 Kean- accompanied l ~y
Shah Shuja wrnt r oi ~n( l 111e strc3t:te of t he city proclain-ling the
ascending ilpon the ihrc-11:e of 5hahr;huja at Kal ~ul . 'This wna an
event wliic hap1)ened twenty two years afrer hat tliscredited liing
had b t t n I*xilud frc..m L41' gl:n~:i~tan. 'I his was a c-rowning of this
puppet only in name.for i n actu:il fi;ct I I I ~ . real rillera of t he country
were; of cr.iil ..c. I:::, Fnglih~, :
The 7111. c,f L \ I I ~ U L ~ \ka.; thta f h r h I)ay for this country. hen
t he f~rarigri t r c l c ~ ~ ) ~ ol an i1:grensor entering [he n~ount ai n king-
clr~n, of ,4fgheni*tan. an11 r epal s ~ng our rlefendinc forvr s trorn the
Indua hasill an l Hluci~iktan to liilnrlalrdr anrl Gr i sl ~k, Miiqar, Ghazni
a d , Argha:,dal) a* the hrlperh 1.t Sliah.;hiija; occupietl our country.
T t mw a d 01' i n n o r e ~ ~ t prrpon had t . t r n killed hefore they ruached
Kabml ant i t b . - t t t t ) l ~ ~ h r t l illcir r ni l ~t ~t r y lrase at Shairpc~rt-. After that
tlatp 1111tn txn. Jar111ary 1842. A. I).-tor t un anrl a half yeare et e-
r;ts wh111h ha11 nl)t twetl I r i d{l c~~ l r o n ~ the eyeti of he AfKt1tln people,
h a p mb d urld t hr leadrra i l t ' 1 1 1 ~ people did 1101 d e s i ~ t in ?rtriving
to relrtrrr t hrl r nation from rhe I)ont l ~ge of the :\ggrrdLlbra. so that
i3uraeq.. orltl Mcnal~gh ton. t\ prc. both +ar r i f r c~d on tlrrir altar of
a y ~ m~ r i r ~ n . all11 tl!eir s a r v i b o r b had In 3ig1i t l ~ r avactiation ( I O C I I I ~ ~ P I I ~ ~
on the 6t h, of .J&lirl,~ry 1842. A. 0. antl to \ ncate Stiairl)ore.
A%it WRP the heginning of the wirllrr Searon s hen s now l ay so
tfrelr lhat r \ en n.en of great age hed not wen thn l i hr. of it f o r
- 12.5 -.
many yesrs in Kal ~ul . anti I ocal i ~i es suqh as the t i l rni ng m11I t\ti?;tirl::
hill, arountl Kiihul. t he ~nount a i ns of Shui r I ) ar c\ i i ~a, 1 1 1 t h , ~ S I T I ; I I
and t he hi l l si des of Mar u~i j an. and regi ol i s of BiLi j\4:iro la!
white under the rnarrtlr of' s o . .4nrl when in Sl l ai rporr itselt.
no Ips9 t han si x i ncl i rs of srlorv har! fallen. and l'roxclr SI I O\ \
could cnl v 11e det ached f r om t he hooves I,y ruearts 01' I ~: l l ~~nl er ?j ,
tne people trlrned out t o
see t he rilighty evac.~iatiolr of t l l r F:iiglistl
forces fronl Kabul frorrl sucli di st ant pl aces a s fro111 t I I V SI I I I I ~I ~, <
of Kabul. Chahar Deh, I.,ogar, Kohist;ln. Koh ancl 1)nrnall. 'l'llt-ir
numbers c o~l l d not he l ess t han t en thousaiirl Iv:r.-clrls. ~ v l l i c . l ~
included eve11 chi l dren. Th. rollte uporr \vhicIl 11lr b:nr,rlisll furcc.3
were to 1rav:t Kabul waa thicli with spert at ors: t t ~ r y tlnil l i r l t ~ ~ l
the way across t he Pul Mustall. past t he 1)arwazn .Cilia11 Stliltreed
and Hala Hil;nr, to t he village of Hilbi Maro. whi !. . ; ~ tlic l , at ri ol > o f
.4fghanista:i were her di ng ~ h t . aggressors o l ~ t at Shai r-l )c~rc- i13elf'.
Accordi ng I O i i i ~ ac-~-t ~l l nt uritt,c,n I ) y ;I ~.oiltPrnl)ornr!~ tiis~oviari.
Sir P~ r c l - SyI<vs in 111s hikctor>- CIS Af ' g l ~ a ~ i i s ~ ~ ~ t ~ . \i-t, rvail
l ' ol l ~~~vs :
( 6
. . . . . .after t wo 1ne11ltlls ot iliqrac.ef'rrl tlelay. \vlriclr h a s I I I I r~ar: l l l el
in Rritisll mi l i t ary history. I I I ~ I I 'tvtio I1i11i lost ~ I I I spi ri t \ V ~ & I . I # re:+tfy
. .
lo vacate tht> ( - i t \ - . . .
\ t nilit. i l l t h t b r r ~ i n t;cnt:ral t ~ ~ l ~ ~ l ~ i r ~ s t e ~ ~ ~ c ~ i v i t l l ~ , I I I I ~ P
r!arnct the t roops were dcsigrlatt'(l. firs1 etnergt.d frolli 111,- fort .
Illc,wc.~i I)v nrl i l l ery, cbnvnlry. f i ~ot i s I a1111
other$. r ~ l l nlboot 17.5(N) rneu with several t t r o ~ ~ r a ~ l ~ l t rnl i sl ~ort
. .
nni r nal x. rnakirl: n l ong lirlt*. 1t1t'y ~ilove~cl 011 f' rt ~~l r 5hai r l ~or r * 1 4 1 1111.
Kal)n1 ri ver, an11 r)assecl ovPr ; I ~ t ~ n i t - I I o r I l l a ~
ocsca9ion. near t he t~riclgc of' Ma h ~ r l ~ l ~ l
littan. :1n11 I ~ I , I I I OI i np 0111 of'
t hi s wr r v forr' e I Y H ~ hailt- I l ) v ttir fi re I ) [ ' I ~ I A ;11'~11:~11 \+art.Iors
;I.< a nlark of happiness i l r l t l i i i r I P b l I l ~ i ~ ~ . , - Iq3t l rc. t . .
i it \ a i I . a i i l HHS i l r ~ t l ~ t r r n~e l i 1111% ' ' 1 l ~ r ~ l ~ ~
Of 111iperiaIis111*' ~l i mi r l g \ \ i t l i L ~ ( * I I ~ I ; I I ~ ~ I I S ~ I I I \ ~ ~ I I ~ - + ~ :rt I;I*I r1>:11*11etj
a poirlt nc-ar Iliila [liszlr. l I r r ( * 1hr o11p I I I ' I I I ~ , I I I I I ; I I I ~ I : I I ~ I ~ ( 1&\,-11
\\olllen ant1 c-l~ilrlrc*ll \\.a!ltf>ci t o t I r i I I LI I I .
b;"gli+t~ ) fro111 Sii111 51111~ t o l l al ; ~
l l i $; ~r ~ I I I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I S I ~ ( I ~ so I I I ~ I t 111- I ~ ~ I I ~ ~ J ~ ~ I ~
fc,rr-e +uaR pa*?iirlg t l ~rougl r lht. 11coplt. 01' - \ f gl ~a ~l i s t ul ~.
-- 136 --
So va5t was the retreating line. that when t he head of the
retreatillg Lrrce reached Khurd k->tLl11 ( tlbout si x miles out ) the rear
\bad still at the fort. 'l'he iacatecl parts. were set alight by the Af.
ghat1 ~\arrii)r, *, as a g r ? t u ~ e of "cleaning i t " arid purifying i t from
its unclear1 atmosphere. 'l'he areas thus ses on flre ejected slnoke
which 'oat3 111 rillgs over the r el r t at i l ~g h 1 . c ~ OC tlie English, floating
over the tops of rr~ountain SI I UN- of the neighbxn-hood.
'The sun was going down slowly, and' Shahshuja was greatly
diuiippointerl for the absrrlce of I l k *upporters , while in the city
pvople rrjo;crd i l l tlieir I~uase$ t i l l late in t he night . l' hc Chawni
of the E ~ r ~ l i s h Lvas i l l fiarnr*, the cla!nii: of .4fgtian warriors were
now growir~z les* ariil I r ss. 1~111 t l ~r r1:trratirlg csaravan llad not as yet
ar r i v~i l at its drst i nat i c~r~.
A R'l'ICLF,' TlflHTY THl HD
.4 sn~ol l ni ~n~t t er of k;r~gli.t~ tlostagc:j , in which were illcluded
.-olnc- (;eneraI. : I I I I I other n~ilitar.. oft'icrrrs, a.q also some wornell and
rhi l !l rrr~ wrrc: r l r . t : ~ i r ~ t . ~ I tr)r t l ~r r e n~or~l t ~s-t hrrt h ni or~t hs in the begin-
ni ng of thr year 1842. 4. 0. -at the fort of Huelia I3atf. Inspite of the
1i~c.t that tilt: t*:r;g!isl~ r r ~t t);lc.k Irpon 11lt;ir l)rcrn~i$e au undertaken
at F. al ~l ~l . sr~rl inlit!~;~ci 01' \ : ~cat i r, g Jnli~lalra~l, us wan un(1ertaken I)y the
t ?ngl i d~, t h e y I t h p I*:~r~lisJ.l I sc~r-rnrll to have irr~plonted thenlselves at
.lalalaI~i~rl. nrlrl I I I ; I I ~ V thiit art>3 ttieir ~ l l i l i t a ~ ~ 1);tse , Sirtlar Mohamed
!\kb.sr kh: r r ~ c*!):itir!~~i-!l to t w i t Ili;, \ ~o. ; t n~t *s wi t l i consicieration, a fact
\ v t l j ( ' l l i 3 ~ ~ . : k ~ ~ o ~ l r ~ ~ g r ' I I rvf.11
tilt: b:ng!ivtl writers i n their histories.
1 1 : 1 I I I t I grcaat lpodpr of Ilia nat,ion
Sirtliir 3~1~1Iiar11rel :lLllar h[lilt,Tl
0Iau.r
:
:I l r r 1 1 1 1 . 'rrl-t,i~y ~bllirh \ \ a* -ig~lc. l tbetween the hf-
glr:lrl S~r cl ~i r s ,1ri11 1 I r c ) r r ~l , r c ~- t , ~i t i ~t i \ ~s of
thr Erlgli,h in t hr month of
%111elarltl !i?.?T. \ 11. I'ottir~;!tbr I,rorr\l.c 11 tllal .;inc.c. , he e\actration of the
11rI1qh trol,lw l~:il! I W ~ ~ I I I I : I I, , rr ~' \ , *r , 11; 1 1 1 ~1
1,;11gIi~t1. i t was ~ ~ n d ~ r -
tilkrn t h . ~ t prior 1 . ) t l ~ t - r c . L ~ r ~ t ~ i ~ l l r { I ! . t ht - E;llSli.h troops at Salalaha~,
i hr I' :ngl~-l~ I I I ~ I - I t t .{I ria te Jal;ll<tlr~~ forc.c.s. I OU, from that city
Jndiawards. (:lause 11un111t.r ten ot this Treat! . too. hall
urltleltakel~
that the 1';,1glisll woul ~i leave ~lli!i~al.y ofSl(*~ar.s as 11ostage.s at k31)111,
till t.he matter of the return ot 2l:lir I)ost Al , ~hi ~~nr d Khan ant1 Ilis
relatives from I n d ~ a to 4fgha11i*:a11 1. 11111i l I,e .s~~tlt.c! i11 I' eshauar. I n
accordanc~ to this I,ltter c. laii~r~. t J I I S i-:l~glisl~ Irf't se\ c.n of their oCfi-
cers at Kat ~ul , lianirly Ilurrau I. \V,~lsh, \Varhurtol). \\"el)I~. Conolly,
Avery
ar~tl Antler+on. ' rht sr 1io*tazrs \ \ err cle~ai~ir.tl i l l rhc houatl of
IYawaL hloharned Zalliar~ khan.
When t he English trl)ops left kobul . aurl the Jalalahad contin-
gent <lid not mol e oul accor~l i ng to t h e treaty. Sirdar Iloharned , j h-
bar Khan, who .vas moving 1,eliin:l tli k51gl ish retreating lines-for
the prolection f the I<ngl~nl~-notic. l~ig the Jr p~r t ur c. fro111 tllrir writ-
ten-pledge, drew the atten tion of the E;ngIi>l~ oflicers to this fact.
Hut unfortunately I I O practical step.; were taken by the I:ngliah. l'he
English intelltion seetnrd to L3t; that tllc t wo contingents-our: frow
Kabul and the one at lalalabarl-3ho~lII' 11e nnited. while persistent
reports showed that General S~lt.':: CO~LI I I I I : urns 11eing strengthened at
Jalalabad. 'l'he lack of fulfrl~nutit of [he I<nglisll promise, and t l ~e
danger which lurked I)t.llind it . c )oll)rlleil S~ct i ar Mohatned Akher
Khan to detain the Er~glish forcp's 011 their way to Jalalahaci in t he
depth of winter . More I~r)stagt>s alko \cprt: drmanlled from them
hecause no artion hall ])pen taken I,:r the I a l n l ~b a ~l c o l n n i ~~ to Inove
out of that city prior to thy arrival of tlic. Elphitistone t o r c ~ from
Kabul. On one occ~nuion, three o f f ~ c ~ r s , alltl t)n the seconct or r -
asion they had to give sevel ~ lnilrtary f i e ttm nomen alld
twentytwo children nq I~ostages. T11e reason for giving \vonien ant1
children as hostages was that ac s~rc-ti !hey I-oul~l Iw pr\itrc.tc(l 1,y t he
horpitality of the Sirtler allti \tnuld ~ ~ I I I F ,' SCilJ)t1 !lie
rigour of' ~ci nt cr
and camping cliffic.ulti~. 111 111.3 sli >\ v. \el1 ,n,nat three wonlell
Lady Vcnaughton the uitiow of 11ic cieitd hl rnnr~ght on and l,acly Sale,
the wife of tile Knglish coni~nantler at .lalalahad, were also iucluletl.
In the ranks 01 the t r ~gh n~ilitar! of f i ~l . r i (i rneral I~ll,hinstorlc~,
(;enera1 ,ji)rc'f and t'01tiri"~r wcJrc- iii"111 Jell. t 11( ' 18>t rlalllp~J J, ( *i l l R the
signitory of tilt. I'rtsaty 1111d(.r rc I icn.
W1ie11 a1 lo8t i l \ v u k , c l l ~ i l ~ . d l ~ p a l t n ~ ~ I I A I ( ~ 1 1 r r n 1 Sale hacl no
intention of n~oving out of . l al al l ; ~l ~a~l . an11 \ \ a* c l r ~ ~ t ~ ~ . n ~ ~ n e t l t o I ' I ~ I L 11
-- 126 --
1,111. 111t ' 11(.01)le rvsolvc'(l that 111e tow f'clrces shall 1101 I)(. p e r n i t ~ ~ d to
loin I I ~ ~ I I I ~ ~ , i l t l r l ~1111s prc,crnted such a meeting of t hr two ber t i o~~s of
1111. I +: ~~gl i sl ~ forces. Vear ttlr city, Slrciar Alohemad Akbar Khan tur-
I I ~ I I towarc13 1,ughrtiati. and tdhing t he Iie;tagr* (with him he had thcni
Ilr.tni~ir.(l In tile housr of Riloharnetl Shaii liliari :it)aI);ikr Khail at a
p1ac.t. c. ' 11 let I. t2adia J h d . ikiohatned Sllal-1 Khan was the travellirig corn.
paIIIoI1 of ttir Sirdar at the tilrle.
I *: ~t . r ~. ~l i c. I \ I I I ) L \ ~ that c.\el~t:, t t i o ~ c ~ l fast i l l that pc-~iod of hi+
tor,. ~ > ; L C I I of \\- hi(-h rtaquires ail article unto itself. silrh a6 t he arri-
vill:: c ~ f ,i I,lrge I':nclibh forcr utitler the' r.otnmancl of General Pol-
iock a1 .I' ~l~tltit,a~I. the cLi,cortl of leaders at Kal)iil, the. going back of
t he , \ f ~ l ~ a l l t~,itiot~' il L'~)rces LO Yaljul , itnd the rrtnoval of the
hos1.1gc.3 t o lk1111y~i11. IIerc. n t . call hardly go into these points, but
11 i l l Irr~t-fly - r r ~ t l v I:I~. po$ition of Sirtlar Mohametl Akhar Khan at
i t I c l ~ ~ O llir LrcAatrnent of his ltostages arid others tll~rinrg
t11;1t pt-riotl.
Iiarlld llall hat1 .I tort. i t i l t l high wall- almut 23 nletrrs, high and a
I I I I ) ; ~ ~ ~ l l r ' r i , l l l l ~ ~ t ' ! ~ 11. 'l'he I I ~ s L ~ ~ ~ c s werr (11-tained at that place during
t l ~r tllrer, I ~ ~ I ~ I I I I I ~ wtit-~l (;r~it' rdl S~l t . atrrl t l ~ r town of Jalalbsld was under
;rslct-. - I ' l l 1 l i f t , li\efl tl~t*st. hohtagts l i d( l 110 similiarily with any
l\l.lbon I . ~- - I r 11.1 i c ~ ~ t - . (111 thr c-otitr,~r!. ho4l)ilality to t hr utnio9t rlegrre
. I I I I , I P ( I t rnll of I I I ( - , \ fghdr~s - \\:I* showt ~ them
I 1 1 1 , I . , I I ~ I I > I I tl~uni. ~elvf~n \trite t l ~a t the-c. h o ~ ~ o g c a thought that
)he\ tto11I11. ~ - c , r t ~ l i c ~ l y I ~ I . h ~l l c ~l . I)ul tlieg slowly realieed that they
R C ~ P r t ' dl l v ~ I I I V P ,11tlI that t l t t - y werr eilling their fst~rl with Sdsder
I I I ~I I ~I I I ~~I I \Ll~:tr ht1n11.
I' hlt~ wvrv ~)rl.rtirttt~rl to c o ~ ~ ~ ~ r ~ u ~ ~ i c a t c ~ with their r ~l at i ves at
. l a l a l a l ~~~~l . ,111d ~ r ~ ~ l t v l ~ l . I I I P \ usrJ to got r ) see ltreir f r ~endn artd the
( ~ C I I I S ~ ~ I I I I I I I I * ( I ~ V ~ l h f ' l f . \IIO 111,- W ~ I I I I P ~ of i l l 1 ~ronclern wa* that
I 1 1 r I I I I I t o Ha(lia 1lild. Strdar Moharntri
\ k l ~ r kl12 I I 1rtli41t.ll I I I - . l~o.tagc.- \ \ ill1 great cbo~~r t r bp\ ar~tl c.onsitlt~rn-
I I I I I I . r - ~~t - ci al l t \ \ o~~nl l ecl rncll. 0 1 1 the I\-av to J;ilalal)ad, whrlt they
l~r1111g11t , I \ ~ o I I I I ( I ~ ~ I I I I I ~ I ~ I . OI I P 11~111ietl h!~l1i1lp, Ilp hinlwp1f (the Sirdar)
Pclzir Yar ilIahnrnad Khan.
- 141 -
THE REGINNIKG OE' CEIVEHAL IIPRISISG AGAINSrI'
TIIE ENGLISH IN K4ND411I,4R
The well-known national move me ~t at Kabnl. wtrich
started ~ i t h the Iburning of the horlse of Hrirnes and of
his assassination sprearl with the utmost rnpiJiiy through out
the country. Thc: various aspects of this movenlctnt a s rtagards
such localities as Kab~i l , Ctlnrikar. and Ghapni har e 1)ei.n
(letailed t:) a
co~~i i cl er at ) l e extent. I,:lt this is he first article
which ccnirives tt, reveal t l ~ose national acticiticxs whi ch Mere
tlirected against G~ne r a l Nott at Kandahar. During this
natoinrl demor st r a~i on a large number ot ptlople collectetl
around the cily of Ka ~da ha r , and l ) y setting fire to the
gale of' Herat at Eia~ltlal~ar on tilt, 1:iglit of Io!h hlarc11 1842.
started to attack the ICnglisl~.
Tile great ant i -Engl i sl ~ national demonstration of I<atbul, ~ h i c l l
starte.l with the I,urning of the house of Barnes 31:d Itis ~s s as s i na
tion c\n :'hnrstlay 2nrl of' No~er nher 18dl. A.D. ( I 7t h. Ra31;:zan I 157-
A.H.) is one of tlie importatit rlates in the history of 4fglianisan. ~11i t . h
orlglit to callerl t he 1)ay of National 1 Tp r i ~ i n ~ nga i n~t 1 1 1 ~ for-
, .
eigu occupat i o~~ of the Cout~try. [hi * u:)riaing wai in very pos*ibie
v ny a na t i ~na l ~~pr i pi ng; bcca~r.~c. hy rhe movenlc ilt the nation wnu
1:nited againat t h c forchigncr ail11 a Ling who was the 1)rotector of the
foreign powers trccupina the country : nntl tnat i )y thr* cclrnmn~~d
of the ten1 lrllrlern of the rlalion. the pet)plp r o s ~ i n n lrnrly against
t h ~ enernieg of the coutrtr?. rht- rnov?ment at Kabul wllir'l r~s111-
fed ill a c.onflic:t
hetween the ~ P I ~ ~ I c t~nti t he ar my. ancl tlrr I , ~ol l l e
won the (lay r on~pl r t r l ~. [I](: whnltb movement gpre~tl like l i ghbl l i ng
in anit arnuntl katll~l. 80 that
firs: ui t hi n sis milaq, the11 to a c l i 3-
font of' 12 mile$. and later fnrther i t moved rapidly to hlnidan.
War,lak. l , ng ~ r , ant1 u;rtn C;l~azni, finallv r e a r l ~e ~i Kar~riol~ar.
-- 142 -
I'articulars of the Kabul Movement were given under the head-
illgs of Second of November 1841 irl the 30tl1 article of this series.
r .
I h r varioas points al)out l ~at t l es that took place hetween the
people and the English at Shai rpore wertx recourrted under the title
of "'She Mover. The Warrior, t he Victor and the Martyr" i n article
31 of this series. These particulars have, therefore, heen studied by
tllc rcatltrs. 'l'he reaction of t hi s movement was made manifest at
Charikar and the proximity of Kaljul, with Charikar as t he point of
contact betueeri these two plocr.; in this regard. TIINS the nationa.
lifits of the northern regiotls atonoe attacked thc Engl i ~b forces at
Killa 1,nghmani . home five miles from Charikar, and after aasassi-
~liiling wr nr Fng1it.h clTficerti here ~ h r y chaced h e Enylirh forres
to Kabul. and joilted hands ~ i ~ h ihe falrres of their Kabul friends
111 t h ~ . t*:ttllr.r o f lihrrirpore
Jn*pitc of t he fact t hat dliting l h severe wintrr of 1841. A.D.
at C bazrli comn;~~~iir.utior~rr trclw pen K:lhGI arid Chazni were very
cliffit-1111. the II~-w. ; of the uibrisir;g of rht* ,4fghans nt Kahul and \heir
c ' r ~ r i t i t ~ ~ l r r l rrristcnc.r. reacll~rl (;llasni. R I I ~ f hi e national n~ovement t l i t l
r ; c ~ t cSor r l r ~ I I H c-onc.111nive \tag? ri l l e t o circ.urnstances already narrated.
nonlrly tlir ocrrrpation of Kah111 and .Inlalabad hv the mtionalist for-
ce*. nnd ttir fw: t hat the Knclish forrep srill held Kathul's Rala
ili+.nr. From tire t~eginning 01' Novetir!,f-r 1811. -4.D. t i l l the begin-
#.
:,vr r y orla- k n o w that t l ~r r l r ~g tho and half yearr that thr
r l i m i I clc*ctlpatiori nf \fqhanistan in the name of
Sll:thsi~~~ji~ thtb f<rigli411 f c~r r . ~* wprr clistrihutetl RE t hree point*, that
i d i t ! Ki111lll. 111 kanrlahrlr tt11rl at J~l.alnl*;irl. At Kanrlahar, eke Engiistl
h . 3 1 1 :i ['l)litlc.;ll :jcl\i-rr ancj a (;rltlt\ral wi t h their :roops ~ n d onr of
the -on- 01' t l r r - . . i i l ~l g' ' S+a6il1uj.i w13 ~ i q n rherc R J (; nv~t nor of the
rd11c.e. \X. hcrl thrct. c\rve!trlm~c~nt t ahi rp plare at Kabul, ( k n h a l Notf
I < tht- rniliturv t : ~ ~ r n r ~ ~ : u ~ d r r anrl niajnr Hawlinsun AR i ht p o l i t i ~ ~ l
;~~!rnt ;\ I 8 I l a I I 1 1 recently given over
t l ~ t , 1.11argt> pri11ve 'l'i,t~ , I I ~ thert-,
--- 143 -
In +pire of !he fact that according to the terlnr of ' l ' rea~y of
I b t . l <l ~~nar ! 1842. -1. U. ( 161h, Ziqad 1257. A. H. ) after the murrler of
hf n, n; l ~~ght o~l (231tl 1)ecernller 1842. 11.A.) i t clearly laic1 c l r ) ~ ~ \ \ hat
\\ 11et1 the 151igli..l1 forces ar r i r i t11Jraw n from t i al ~ul , the ot her E:ngli,cl~
t ~ t i i t * a t ha~~cl t rhar ~ n d at Jals!al~atl >hall also n ~ o ~ e O I I ~ of t he co~l nt r y
IO I i l ~i i d. \ ~t (;enera1 Nott and Major Ra n l ~n s o l ~ at Kantlahr~r
a11~1 (;r:icdr.~l SI ! ~. at j a l ~l a l ~a d i ~ ~ s t e l d of tryiug to move out
ol lh2
p ! t l l . t . . ; ~ ~ - I u R I I ~ :\l.*dt: e v r y rfl' ort t o st r r ngt hz~l ~l renl srl \ es. ,\s cr)ulrl
1 ) ~ heell frciil~ the English historie3 wr i l t e ~ ~ at I ~ P tillre ( for illstallre:
'I'lir l)t,ok of E'irlrl l l L~r s ha l Sir h'ebille (:haml~rrlain. page lO2)t\vo [ { a ~ ?
aftel (lie a:stiss~~:atioii of Slucntlugl~tol~ on 2.5t!l. I ) t . r e~~i l ~r r 1842 I. I).
I'ottillger.. lllr cl ct ~l u~p of h1acnar:ghtoll a:~tl Illl)hi~ibtont~, tvrote a I ~t l i ' r
to hlaior I< 115 lillcoll at Ksn:-idhar ssyirlg thdi towar(1tj the e ~ ~ t l of I e l ~r ua r y
of that \ e a r ti?( t{,lwlinson) would move out. letter IFaR C ' I C R ~ i l l
its ternis stetiug that the offi cet . ~ ant1 Er~gl i sh trool~t; at
Kalidahar
and Killat (Ailzai whoulcl take the shortest route io 11idia from
that location. tHawlinsol~ gave no heed to that letler, thi11Li11g
that th.2 officer^ at Kabul hsd 110 free Iiand or i nd~pe ~i r l u~l t opiliieu.
1)ut were dictated to L y the z2fghar1 opiriion and pressure, a ~r d a\ \ ai -
ted instl-uctio~rs from C:alcuttri, so tliat liandahar like ( ; l ~az~i i \\.as l)t.-
seiged an:! a struggle between \he. penple and llle in\-a!lcr!ra co11~111tr1rce0.
The city of Kandahar is so situate11 that the i nhal ~i t ant s of
the tow0 live within tile fortific.ations. and i nl n~edi at ~l y outsidt. t11c.
walls of the city &he habitations of t h e village an11 cultivatort Ilegirl.
4 s t he new11 of the nat i nl ~al uprising was vol~statrtly reachitlg
t he city fronl fdr and near, and Gr nr r al N O~ L fearing iest the pro
ple of Kandalrar sutlllenly riae. gave orrlers that no one ot l ~t - r
t h a ~ ~
trader^, some divinrs and a few 0 t h ~ ~ ~ rar1 he allowerl o~~t s i r l e thc
city walls or come
into the city.
Thi a urcler wna given on 3 r d hl arcl ~. 1842. #\. I ) . 'i'here is. of
rolrrer, n o d o ~ r l ~ t t hat such all order indic-dtecl a fear 011 thcx part of
thc n~i l i t r r y ufficrrs allt, ~ h t : groizing feelings of the pco;ble of t he city.
'I'his WHH. ~ I O W C V I ~ ~ , n o t
enough to 1)acily ~l l c. fears of 11ir Lllglirh
r ~~i l i t ar y
r omn~a~~[ l er . ; for he later OI I sent out certain of hie 1111its
outeide tlrc city, and nrarrlrctl out of t i a~ul nhal . will1 !lib Inell
on 7th March..
-- 144 -.
IN his ~l ot e s rnzarcjing his di ci si oi ~ 3 ~ v i l l e Chamberlain writes
" Al ~ h o u ~ h withill tell milea c-~f our camp Lie t ~i ~s i t j e r e t j uurselves safe,
yet t owar i l ~ ~l uak a large ~~unl bt t r of ho:<i-n~c.n np:)eared 'on our left
l'1anL.s. our cava!:!. l'i~reil thcm arr:l our gii ! s Sircd upon them, but
I l ( ) [iglltirlg t!.,ok l i l . l ~' ". 311 I \vfX rrt ar; i r, l t.o our C ~ I I T I ~ . On the 8t h of
!larch, a groul, of ~ l i r t . ~ . chr Tol~r i l l o ~ l s a i;,l ho' rsemen made their
appesrance tow~1. 14 o u r :eft at I l l r t . 1 1 . o:lr i'.iva!rv. twelve of our guns
nr l : i infantry WPt i i 0 1 1 1 to rlietlt 111e;n. \Vc: rirlwe t l l m back t o about
eight n~i l es wi rl ~ lirc-: aiul g me . I.ut sl~!idf' l~ly ~l i e y attacked us and
our gun.., ail I t l ~ 11.1 I ad,;.~ac:e 1 t i ) aI).-11iI 1.50 or 2')O paces when our
intcr1.w lire was (1irc:cle;l t~;vs;.~I.i then^ I :he most gallant
anl:)rlg-t thcni f I . l l I ! ) :,ur Ttrv, an'.] th:: re.~lailii:ig retiled over the
river. Iii3i:lej 111e \ s ; o ~ ~ ~ ~ 1,::i t ~ I ) o : ~ t f o r t y were l:i!le!l,
On t l ~ r 0 t t 1 of hI l ~r r h, i n t h ~ a i l r ~ - ~ i w~ n we, rr~oved aovlards Tulo
h l ~ a n . \\r her1 I \ C \+ t mrrh ~' i ' O~-i : l g I I I ~ * I l i l I on the w,~y. some rnen fired
at rpllr :;t*nrra!. I, i ~t a defericl~nc cni t rari rlp t hr ~ hill abonce anrl 40
11atrir)t.i n r r e hi l l c~l . ,\ fr-.M nlilc* aitay we wcrch a'lle to see through
thca I)ir~c)c.rrlar. rt1.1t ;I grolll) of n111)ut tl1rt.t. to four thousand fighting
111t-11 \.\tart- c'otrverfii'l:: ~ot t ar i l i l i l ~nt l nl ~ar l ~ r r t no tighting took place.
\\ e rr11:rl:trl frc HI 'l'(.lu k l i a ~: at riight ar,rl t hrrr wae some sniping
.,
( I1 11:v L\a). . .
t I ~r ~us. t ~l ~l rl r )ug, wr.rt. I I , PVP- I I I : riedr the city for an opporaunity to
,~rt,~c.l, I ~ I V ~ I I , Q ~ I + ~ I i orw-. t r ihc- in\,~c!il g tr( OFS o r c ~ ~ p ~ i n g thc city
of Knnclci!lar. 0 1 1 10111 Mart11 Icrgr 1111n111c.r. OF (;hazib mustered in
I I I Y ga-1lrtl7 : I I I I I ~i ~r i - ol ~ncl r d the tow11 of Kant l . i l ~~r . 'Their target thie
t i l l r \ + ' I . (11: ci t y. 11 I;. rr~I,ttc~~I t h t an ol t I rllari named Raba Ra-
Lll'iri r111111g a clunl..cy actually I)etoc)k llii~iself as close to t he walls
of the rity a- ~ I I P lIcrat (;ate of Kantlallsr, and sought permission
to eritrr the (.it). A3 he ditl not receiit' permission he ~~nl oadecl his
d ~ ~ r ~ l \ t . ~ arid put llia t)urdcil consisting of t hor 11~ bu.shes at the
g.~teitay. S c ~ n ~ e of' the Gh a z i ~ , finding tht: opyortur~ity, eprinkled some
oil oil [lie ( I c y loat1 ailrl set the moss alight. Its fire spread on to
1ht1 ~ o o l wo r k of the gilteway, which (.aught fire. In t he leapini,
flames of the gateway, the k:nglieli forces eaw that t he Ghazis were
attacking the gateway fiercely . The comrntlndcr of the Engl i ~b
forces, considering the position serious, ordered that all the bags
containing flour for rations oi the troops were to be stacked against
the doorway as a protective wall. The English troops were firing
from the loop holes, and corners of the streets and walls upon
the Ghazis , but the attackers oblivious o i impending deat h, conti-
nued to attack the city and were advancing in over-whelming num-
bers. Two guns and three hundred soldiers were continuously fil-ing
at the Ghazis , and barriers consieting of flour bags and animal
carcares, constituting hinderinces kept the attackers back and away
from the gateway. According to the English veraion at about 9 in
the night the gateway fell outside tho wrlls, and Ghazis swept
through the raging flames, climbing the flour bags and dead animalr
anci again and again engaged the enemy with renewed ferocity for
three hours. The defending troops were active till midnight, after
wich the Ghazis went back.0n the 12th of March General Nott returned to
Kandahar and the position of thc English was then felt to be strong.
But the newe of the fall of Ghazni which reached Kandahar 31at
March, sounded a danger signal in the ears of the English general.
AKHTAK KHAN SAWARI
ARTICLE 1 Hl R7 Y EI GHT
The gallant men who appreciated tho importance of their
independence, during the unified Anglo Shuja rule in Afghanis-
tan had not deristcd from opposition, in all places, and in every
corner of the country. All knew and took inepiration froni the
nationalist movemente of Kohislan and Kohdaman and were aware
of the great efforts of the men from the Eastern eections of the
co~~nt r y. They knew, too, about the movement for national
liberation and rctivitier allied thereto at Killat Ghilzie, and
of the men of Ghaeni. Here in thir article we wish to reveal
another aspect of the rtruggle trscied on in a little known part of
the country through a etudy of which one would note that here
ae i n other rcgi c~ns of he counlry, arose r national hero who
struggled for the indepenndence and relerer of hie country-
men from the etrngle-hold of the foreignere.
-146-
When the English occupied Jalalabad, Kandhar, Ghnzni and K&nl
in t he name of Shahshuja i n 1255.A.H. (1839.A.D.) they had
placed
0.1 t he throne one of i he sons of Shabehuja, Fateh Jung wherea,
the real gol ernment Has in the hard6 c,f Majcr Linch at Kandahar.
Bu t as difference of opinion arose between Linch and Macnaugh-
ton, the Political Adviser of the Englishat Kabul, Linch was replaced by
Major Rawlinson bho had seen service for years i n Iran. Rawl i nso~~
spoke yersian w ~ l l and was well versed with the conditiorle in the
East. He was appointed on 4th. July 1840. A. D. i n hi s new post at
Kandahar, and ofcouree, t he military conlrnand was under General Nott.
The howeler was highly self-opinionated and of kerv limited-
vision regarding greater things. Macnaughton, too, was not too
pleased with General Nott.
During the first year of t he unified rule of the English a d
Shshehuja (18W.A.D. while Shahehuja held, ' through EngIiA s u p p i
of course, an unwilling mastery over Kabul and the regions of the
sont l ~er n Hindu Kush, the English helped t o improve m e of tke
activities of internal administration-according to certain vicwa. Hut
much time had riot passed. when the banner of resistance a ga i n~t
them and their protege Shah Shuja was raired at Kandahar and
i n the north-west of that area.
The outbreak i n the area of Dawar is imputed by some t e
be due to the collection of land revenue ( this is t he English version )
by Shah Shuja, while othern think t h a ~ the insurrection waa car~rcd
through the jealousy of the B a r ~ k ~ a i s and Sadt ~zai r Mr. Close, an
English writer Lrlieves t ha t the Dawar revolt was caused by one
Aklltar khan. who was not elected a9 t he head of that region. R I J ~
according t o the ver.iion of John Williani Kep, an E:tlglish author
of H hook entitleti The IIistory of the Afghan Wdrs, the real reason
of that ~r~overnent was the resentnlcnt t ) f t he proplc. of D , l ~ a r and
Akhtar khan clue to the interft:rc:nc~ of tllc foreigrlera i l l their land,
that is to aay the Eoglish were interfering in thr: life ant1 work of
the Dawar people. l ' l ~e author says that t he Fh g l i b l j had f or got ~en that
their unpopularity was due tn the activity of the kirrg whom they
( t he Engl i ~h) had 1:Iaced upoil the t l l r o ~ ~ c of Afghaniscan. And that
the preserlce of theee English force4 was directly c~ieaclvantcgeous to
the man whoni they had placed at t he&om of Kabul.--It- has also
been raid that Shahshuja himself had a hand in the events then
happening at liandahar. but this wou:d certainly net be .the case, for
when Shahshuja heard that the revolt Kandahar at was being imputed
by some quarters to him he in related to have said that if he could
find the person who prornted that lie, he would have the tongue of
euch a man torn out from its roots.
Ah we ourselves know, ant1 tht. English havc rnt~ntione(1 in their
oyn writings, Vazir Yar Mohamed khan Dawari had a grt.at share
i11 oppoaiug the comhined rule of the English and Slialrbhuja. As
we had said in our nr~i cl e elltitled YAH MOHA4&1k:r) KHL4N AL,KO-
ZI, thi3 Inan had dcrile a great deal in thwarting the English c;esiglis
and those of the Persians and the Russians regarding thtiir desire
t o gain asce~ldency over Herat when he was a minister of Kamran
Shah, anti had taken advantage of the nioney of tlli* English in
order to strengthen liis master's position in Elrrat, and yet had
not yielded to the English in giving any preferential rights in that
locality to Lngli*h trade or English Politics. It was Iris efforts which
1)rough the actiuitie9 of Pottinger and Stuart arid Todd i11 IIerat
to nought. Again i t was he, who wit11 the help of the Persians in
Meshad, and the muvement set up hy Akhtar Khan, aad Akram Khan
ditl everything to protect the 1)awar region from Engliell penetration
and their erplusic~n from t he areas of Arghandab and the Helmand
Ilarin. 'I'hese matters are made k~iown i n one of his letters which
contains the following points:
(. . . ,Ei,very one of you should csoliert your follow el.^, arid betake
your~elvcs to Dawar a : d he prepared there. I. too, wi l l reach from
Herat
fbr help, and from Meehad we expect to receive help in the
shape of Len tlwusar,d. fight in^ mnen. ant1 twelve guns and two laklis
of rupees. I &all come with great speed by the end of hfuhharram
at Sukwa. Ue sr~re that none of the 1)urrani nobles who have been
gathered together
not disperee. i dl l el l he coming for certai,i. . .)
, a L
When at that time, too, Vsdr J'er Mohamed Khan, had expelled
'I'odd from Ilerat, the Emglieh had wei dered thie action of the!
Vazir as a great @light upon themsel~ee. Macnaughton in great wrath
-148-
over the matter gave orders that Herat should be attacked by gune
and abbody of English troops, and as a first step. the insurrection of
Akhtar Khan, whoae territory was nearest to handahar should be squaeh.
ed. Taking thib plan in view, Rawlirrson, the English Politiaal Agent
at Kandahar, wrote to Russell in Sindh, and to the commander of
EnglieE forces, so that whatever troops were available at Sindh
should be sent to Kandahar, so that an expedition may be la~inched
towards the region of Dawur, Herat and various other points in the
western area. But Macnaughton and Lord Auckland were divided in
their epinion in regards to an expedition to Herat. Macnaugtlton wantod
that the region of Heri Rud ohould be brought under the rule of Shah-
shuja atonce, whereas Lord Auckland held that first of all the English
troops should assume strength and mastery in the whole of Afghanistan
after which the Herat question should be considered. Lord Auckland
indeed, was not even a supporter of fighting for Herat, but thought to
solve the prohlem through sending envoys t o Herat.
It would be seen, therefore, that whereas the hiaher officials
in Calcutta were opposed to any military expeditior. against Herat,
Rawlinson had the intention of launching out againet Vazir Yar
Mohamed Khan, so that from Kandahar measures may be
taken to invade the Dawar territoy, Herat and western areas
and to encompass it. In any case an expedition againbt Akhtar
Khan was very positively in Rawlinson'e mind. I t was atlast
resolved that Rawlinson's arsistant, named Elliot, should proceed
toward, Dawar. The purpoee of this journey ot Elliot was not
to fight or to precipitate any ~ o r t of etruggle, but by
some means
to conciliate Akhtar Khan. Elliot met Akhtar Khan, and the leader
of Dawar was pacified through receiving some advantage8 from
the English.
Thir "pacification" had but a ruporficial arpect as far as
A~ h t a r Khan war concerned , and Rawlinron, the Englirh
political Aaent, l i kewi e was treating the matter in the same
light on hi8 part, thinking that the patch-work of cordiality was wry
temporary. In actual practice the rerult wae eeen, for the Chrl-
Am raiser1 a standard of revolt ~ a i n mt the English, and when
the Englirh forctb now paid d me r attention towards the
Ghilzais, Akhtar Khan fou~l d his opportunity, for although th e
Durrani rulers had reduced the levy of re\.enue.i. and other
adju3t1nentu had 1)een lnade in the Dawari atiministratiou, hut a s
the Inen of Dawnr were very n~lich against the f or ei ~ner s they
paid I I ( P atterqrion to the reduction of revenues and other adminis-
trative re-adjustments snd backed 114. three thousand fighting
men Akhtar Khan r,,w against the English.
Macnaughton was ,low heside hin~self regarding the strond
revolt 01' Akhtsr Khan, ar.d wrote to Rarvlinson that whoer-ever
eoulti produce the severed head of that noblen~an of Ilawar,
hhall receive a reward of ten thousslr~d rupees. 7'hr English authors
writing of these matters, generally believed that every revolt of
this cle~cription that raised its head was dne to the individual
intere-t of persons, and had always felt that the people of Afghanistan
woi~ld 1.e willing to come under the . foreign yoke. Thus. they
tlrought that Akhtar Khan had become their enemy for persomil
aggrandi ~emen~, and that hi s head could 1)e purchased with money.
Al l the English officers. and more e~peci al l y Kawlinson himself
a1 Kandahar could see that the position of the n l i l i n
Afghaniatan was getting pracari ou~ every day, and that a political
deluge was about to cccme upoil then1 one day.
Macnaugbton, sent out froin Kabul one of his officers
named Warhurton of Shahshuja's force with n unit of the Fifth
Infentry together wi t h a cavalry unit and gulls, the whole number
qf whi ch was . . . . . . . ( irrcomplete . . . . . ) version in Persian
ha8 been on~itted here, for on pagr 119 ( E'ersiati version ) the
material run8 out; and page 120 of Persian Vtarsiorl 1)ppins wi t h
a quite
diffetetwt ~ l j j e c t . . . . . . . I translator. )
TI1K RISE F'X1,T. OF KANDAI-IART YIRDARS.
,d R'l'1I;LI; : 7 lf I H 7 F lV1A 7 H
As H res~i l t tar the Rarakzai 13rotl1ers, a feudal form
of adn~ir~istration calnt. i nt o h~i r i g in ilfghanibtan. Rut the
Barakzai Sirdar at Kandal~nr and ill its et l vi r o~~s ~ s t ~ l b l i ~ h r d
- 150 -
-
a local government, I n this Unit of administratiem f o ~ i ef
these Barakzai nobles ruled: Sirdar Shair Dil Khan, Sirdar
Pur Dil Khan, Sirdar Mihr Dil Khan and Sirdar Kuhandil
Khan respectively. But after the death of Sirdar Kuhin Dil
Khan ( 7t h. Ziqarl 1271. A. H. ) this system was fortunately
abrogated, so that Amir Dost Mohamed Khan with hie
political acumen and policy and hi s Son A ~ i r Shair Ali,Khan
brought the whole under a wellknit system of admiaistratim
and unified the whole under one centre.
Amongst the 22 sons of Sirdar Payanda Khan, five ~ o n s
from the eanle mother-a lady Ghilzai i n origin-were famous. They
were Sirdars Shai r Dil. Fur Dil, Kuhin Dil, Mihr Dil and Fiahm Dil.
'They were also styled as the "Kandahari Siradrs". Due to their rna-
ternal i nf l wnce in the regions of Arghandah, Tsrni k, and Helmurld
the above lnentioried appallation was applied to them, a5
contrasted with t he Peshawari Si r da r ~, that is their brothers
associated with the Peclkawar area.
' l here is little doubt that the rise of the Harakzai Brotl~errs
as a whole, nnrl without differenciating one group from the other,
g i ~ e s it in thc 1')th. century periorl o i Afghan hi ~t or y a 11nic1ue poai-
tion. It is a story in to which is knit rlramas of various kinds-which
P ~ O N the tra119fer of power from one dynasty t o anotller, and which
had precipitatec! fl10 country into i nt ert ~al and atrternal entanglement,
and \+hen: he territory wns riividetl u p into feudal a form of
gocernment. inla) east. south and sout l ~ west areas.
I n tliis artii.le. howrkrr, u e woulrl not concerll ourselves with
the m:itter ol
gtbt!rral rise t o power of the Barakzai Brother*, I ~ut
wcul~l interc1st or ~r ~t l be s or~ly nil11 tlir progress ancl clr~relopn~ent of
tile jkohpr atid er.tivit~es o l he kar dahar i Sirtlilrs of t he Uarakzai clan.
l\ lien \'azir P'ateh Khan was hlinrlcd t,y t he ortler of prince
karnran nf Herat the k) r nt her ~ Shair Ilil Kllan. Pur IJil Khan and
Kohinrlil Khan left l hnt city a11d took t h r . rity of Ksnrlr~hat from ( i d-
Mohame~l
Khan, H I I O tvaw then thc governor of ~ I l a t tow11 o r Ilahalf
- 151 -
of Kamran. From that date onwards the influence of these Barakzai
brothers became paramount at Kandahar. Sirdar Shair Dil Khan was
the head of the administration at the time. It was a time, too, when
on the eastern side of the realm Sirdar Mohamed Azeem Khan and
Sirdar Dost Mohanled Khan had raised their standard against the Sa-
duzais lrom Kashmir, and hatl driven Shah Mallmud-the Saduzai-from
his throne at Kabul anci had put him to flight towards Herat. in
the' eastern ~r ovi nce these two brothers had completely taken over
the goernment into their hands. Nor was it all, because personal ani-
mosity and rivalry reared its head amongst them, and a contest for
power had started.
'She Sirdars of Kandahar were now ruling over n territory begin-
nilig from Kelat upto Grishk, and from the distant regioils of the
river lndus to the south-west of Afghanistan. For years the rulership
of Shiksr Yore was in their hands, so that one of the brothers looked
after the government there.
These Si r dar ~ of Kandahar had. at their time of greatest power, not
desisted f ~ol n casting eyes upon matters pertaining to Kabul, and when
Sirdar Mohamerl Azeem Khan died, and his aon Sirdar Habibullah
Khan took the place of his father, the Kandahari brothers interfered
in Kabul scenes, and once Pur Dil Khan and 0'1 another occa-
sion Shair I)il Khan entered into the Kabul intrigues. when agree-
ments were ninde regarding the division of the territory amongst
these brothera, and when Sirdar Dost Mohnn~ed Khan made the
rulership of I*;al)ul scoare for l~iniself. Pcepite of i! all, and tliroughout
his entire perrod of reign however tllr l'redornitlence of the Kandahari
Sirdar remainecl in tact in Kandahar. Whet) the Engli~lt and Sllan-
shuja rinder Macnauglitnn ii~vaded Afghanistan ant1 were converging
upon Kandahar, Sirdar Kohin I ) i l Khan was raling over Kandahar.
a11t1 bvi t 11 the help of Sirclars Hahrn 1) i l Khan and Mihr Dil Khan
prc~parr~l to offer rf.sistanc.r. to thc aggrcXwsors. The foreigner's troope
werv nblr lo overpower hat resistst~ce due to thc il~ternal strife and
treachery of rnme of the people thenlselvcu. Ae n res~i l t these Sirdars
had t~ take refuge i n the territory along the river. and for a rime
11:d to remain as ref'ugeea in I'ersia. When Amir Doet Mohamed Khan
- 152 -
was permitted to return home from India, these Ba r ~kz a i Brothers
also returned to Kandahar, and Sirdar Kuhill 1)il Qan o n w again
took the gove r t ~n~e ~l t of :\;an,iatlar irl to his hand.
'The Sirdats Mi hr Llil [ilrsn atill Ktahin L)il Klian die11 withi11 a few
months of each other (tht: first 11an1e:l o n t he 27th c ~ f 1arnarlu.i Sani;
and t he later on the 8t h of %i l b;j of Z2iI.,2.H.) [ t \vau the seventh
year sf the reign of Amir 1)c~st Muhallled Khan when uporr tlie death
of Si r r f a~ Kuhi , ~ Dil Kha;r a rift appearecl into the rarlkh of the
Kandahar SirilLrr5 a n i t hei r influetlce lwgrr~l to wane.
I'articulars of this evelit are that afttar tile death o! Kohin Dil
Khan, hi s 8011 5i rdar Mollamed Sadiq Khan, ai d his unr-lr Sirular
Rahm 1)il Khan bechnle contestants fbr rulership of kandahar. -4
etruggle emuetl. Although Rahm 1)il Klltln eventually w. 6 ~ victorious,
yet Sirdar Mohamml Sarliq khan 3iicceeded in gatherink round hi m
his cousins and continued to agitate. 'I'hew causina t,eirrg the suns
of Pur I)il Kh~ i n a1111 Mihr r)il Kl ~an. ~~i i c . 1 1 one of there cousins
cunsidere~l hirrlsrlf a d the proper c-hinurlt, and as in (rut of these
hatiles one Mi r Afzal, thr w r l of l'ur l)il khan was hilled the whole
matter astwrnatl ii vrry grave aspect, tlie , nephews ~f Hahm
I)il Kllarl ayypqlel to their ot hr r uncle the limir at Kabul :U
interfere in kirntldhar mattert,.
I n the first instance An~ir Ilost l\lloltu~netl Khan bent a r n~ssenger
t o hie, k~rottrer at ksndahar to mend hi8 ways, and to c m e w i t h
t he pale of Kabul governm~r~t. ktlt as t h i ~ method did not
succeed. he ordered his so11 Sirdar Shair Al i Khan. who was' his
f at her ' s, repr~eent at i ve at Ghazni to march out oo kandahar with a
sufficient h d y of traops, Sirdar Shair 41i Khan did 60 and t~ivouaced
at Ileh iihojn near Kandahar. Shair Ali Khan opened ov~t ur6#
with hin uncle at Iiarldahar, and L y opening a way into the
cl t y he wcretly introduced a hundred or two hundred of bie men
daily into Kenrlahor tilt three reyirncrrta of Ka h i saMiee. and
field gun& wrr hidden in the city at variour point@.
\I, ht.11 this 1i i 1l i tar! i ~l f i l ~r at i on a co~nl)lele. Shair Ali
Khau the11 tool\ tile \ r g an11 Killa of Xzi111aL)atl. a nd without
recoume to actual figliti~r g
Sllair Al i Khan tnauageJ to overpower
his u~lc-le i n Kontlahar, so that in the year 1272 A. H. Kancia-
har and i t ? envirous fell I I wi t 11 tlie rest of the clominiona
of.41ilir 1)ost h2011arlieJ I aricl the last vestige of the
Kai ~dal ~ar i Sirtlars was tlius reliiovrd fro111 the scent- oC government.
'l'his was really a great stel) that tlnd 1~ee11 taken towards t he
unity of the hingcion~. Sl ~ai r Ali Khan's rjuccess lnade Sirclar
Ra h~n I I to S ~o\varcir hlarouf. Sirclar Mohrnleti Siddiq
Khan. the $on of Si r dr r kol i i l ~ I h a e t to liarall. Sirdar
Khushdil Khan. son i . , f Sirtlar h'lihr I ) i l lihalt. and Sirdar Sultan
Ali Khan son ot' Sirtier IioI1i11 I ) i l h t i a ~ ~ f!eci to l' oshanuj. The
remaitling descr~irlents of t l l p Kanclahari Si r d a r ~ f o u ~~t l their respective
hiding places far anil 1it:ar. 5ir(lar Sliair Al i Khan, ho~vever. chased
all of then^, so that S i r l a l l ~ l ~ l i t i Khall. the son of' Sirdar
Mohan~ed ALlbai kt i a l ~ arrestetl Sirclar Mohalned Sadicl Khan at
F'arah, i t 111- eucal~ed i ) t l t l ~r \\lay towarcis Gulistan of (;hour.
Rut front there he arrived at the court of Amir Ilost Mohameil Khan.
Sirdar Hahm Ilil Kliart after a great chase \\!an 11rought before t he Amir
ancl Ijecause of ~r r o~i i i ses of pardoll that had been give,, through
the iutermetliatioll o f Sir~ltir (;hula111 llaider Khar ~. t he former
came tn realist: hat his rl ai t i ~ awl t l ~osc of the othere, no
longer held true . alill Filially, therefore , tht. cntire deecendents of
the Si rdrrs o f rhtl a nc i e n~ ciiy o f Ka~l dahar loel all claims to
rl~lerohip.
l l l ; \ l SIII,'I'AX AHAIAl ) KI.IAiL:
a ~l d.
'1'11E; I-ik:Hi\'l' C;0Vk:KhMEN'l1.
AH?#~l,k,' k'ORTHIETH
111 this artic-le particlrlar* will 11r give11 allout a I I I ~ ~ L . whole
place i n iIl110llgst tho firs1 i n the rank of those who served the na-
tional causc3 rllrring the l i r s t Afytian War. ' l ' l l i k great warrior, who
was not frietlclly t o Aniir 1)ost hlohanlrd Khan, took refugc. at the
(Iajjar court. and ac.cep~e(l the gu\ r r t l l i ~r l ~t ol Herat for t he bole pur-
pose of oppusing ,411iir 1)ost Llullarnrd ~ \ I I H ~ I . 1~0tll i l b a rival and
an e ne n~y of the All~ir. h o cloubt 111 hi* t t nl per arrcl aclioll, there is
nrore a tilere auggebtion of ~eyaral i *nl . tiut 111 elf( c.1 this is no
more than tendency of bt.lla~ dt t . ~, rsb \\ hi c h t xit ~ r d ;n.ot1g+t all the
leaders durillp the 18th arid the 19th ctrltury. so that in order lo
appreciate this f t el i l ~g. olle ought to keep i t ] vi t u t he time and the
circumstal~ces that obt ai l ~cd at the llnrt .
One of the youtig Sirdars , ~ r i t h a cl t . t ern~i ~~t l t i on alitl warmth
of an Afglla11 bpirit , wlro attract cil\r attelltion t l uri r~g the difficult
tiniea of the E'irst Afghan War ( 1839. A. I). ) arltl whose career lasted
upto the end of Amir Dust ?,lohallled khan' s reign ( 'l'uesday 21.81.
Ziqrda 1279..4.H.) was t he aorr of Sirtlar blohatned Azeem Khan. one
nametl Sirdar Sultan Ahme11 Khali.
. .
I h e life ant1 work of Sirdar Sultan Ahmetl khan according to
hietorical analysis come under two head$. i n these t ho phase8 of his
activities, a few year8 of his life as a refogre muht also be counted.
Although these two sections o f his life's acn~ivities al,l,ear as rather
contrary to one allother. yet if o11e were to consider t h ~ real facts,
this apparent co~ltradiction does not really exist in the lllental rnahe-
up of the Sirdar.
-1 ht. role ~ h i c . t ~ t t 1 1 ~ Sirdar ha< ~) l a) r ~r i In t he periorl of the firkt
quart er of the 10th century I,t.lr,l~g~ to that vhararter which show*
him battlirlg againkt tht ag(trtansrbe forres of t hr E:11gli~h. i r r de-
fence of his 1)royle Cronr aggrensiorl . atid his c~nt!r.ticourw for llle
expuleiorr OF the f or ei gnr r ~ frctlrr Afghar~intan . 'I he next phase
rela tea to that tv hi ch rorlcerns his adhe~l oi l to the I'c-raia~r view
prrlnt. (:ircumutancrs had so cc,ntricr>(l [hat this Sirdar a110111(1 rulc
over Herat. and frc nr t h i ~ CMS I I principality hr rhoulti play a role
in the rnovi~~a affairs of he, east.
- -155-
Sirclar S:lltan Ahrnecl Kha~l was a pl a ym~t e of Sirdar Mohanietl
Akl~ar Khan, one of the sonr of Aulir Dost Mollamed Khan.
ant1 hotli (luring their yorlnger clays and when they were grown
men, they r:~rnailled p e a l friends. Not ol ~l y Ijecause of their
association cluring 1Jlelr 11ut aIfo in regarcls to higher things i n
r ,
life, the views of the two were s i ~l ~i l ar . I heir personalities ought
to I)e L.rl,t i n ~ i e w a -
to t l i t ' ~c t i vi t i r s of each in the develop,nent
ot' historical r\*cJlit,s as the time progresses so that the trou1)les
anti trihrll~tiono f i f of' tile times col~lcl he seen a s ref1ectec-l
by the two carrers.
\ I A i r 1)ost I o h a n l Khal i Iracl taker1 refuge i n
Hokhar;~ O I I the k:nel~bt~ Ilivasloll of Afghanistan arc.onii,anied hy
Shah Shrlja. ttie-r, two Sirdara were I ~r ~s y i l l clevi~ing schentes.
r ach in his o\ \ n way, to win 111ch ~ l l r ' l i l ~rrat i on of Afghanistan.
h i I l)o>t h' loh~l~i~ecl khari ~~l t i l ~l a t r l y reached Kal ~ul , the
two Sirclar.3 I ~ I I I I I ~ I I t o of thy ,2mir of' Uokhara,
were released in th,. !Tear 12.57. .2. [ I . on,] crossing the oxus
reachecl the ~ ~ I I I I I I I S re,^ of' fial111l onre again.
,4s c,ver!: I ~o t f ~ kr~c~\ vs tllc~sr were the limes \\.hen t he great
Illovenrent of t~;ltionnl lil~eration \\;as a foot at [<al)~tl. At Stlair
I All11Ila1 Kl i a ~ ~ Avhi l kxai u-as ~l t t ar ki l ~g the l hgl i sh guns
c*o~lwtantly t i l l o r l c b ( f i t y I I I Yirclar- al.;o rrac.!led the l~clttle
fiel(l a ~ ~ c i fonlltl t l ~ ; ~ t t h t . 11tht.r great tlaliotial hr r o- Al ~( i ~~l l a h l i h a ~ ~
Arhakxai-w:~s r t l .rtally \ vo~l ni l ~~( l . At'trr illis, i l l ;{I1 I~attlt' s an11 forays.
sl r r l ~ as t l ~ t ? I ~i l t l l ~s :it Sl l ; ~i r I'or. Ilil,i hlaliro. i l l all collferencen
of tile I~.i~cltrs of t h t - ~ i a t i t ) ~ ~ i i t I E:~~glisll. a5 also i l l t he
a s s os ~i ~~a t i nn OF \lac.t~;ighte~l. i l l t l ~ c . c.o~lferr>~~c.t. whicll t t * ~ nlinatc.11
i ~ r \lie trrxnly of the. E:nElisll anti t t ~ c s i r ~~l . ot ni se t c ~ avrlaruate Kallul.
i l l tliosc. ~ I I I I I I I I I I i I I I I I ~ ' e a ~t e r n parts of
thr c . o ~ ~ i l t r v . i t i t I : I I . in fl i t . I ~; ~t t l es of Jalalal)ad,
i l l the ~~fl ' orl u 1 0 lIlwarti!~g the. Forres o f ('tnnt'ral ~' ollock. i n the
I s . i 111, l i l l clior~ i l l 1111 those battles and engagements
tllat were t ~nt l erl i l kr. ~~ for t l ~ r ' cl c-l ' r~l (' t ? of' the ronntry spainst t he
agresF)orA Sir~lttr I I I I ~ K I ~ n l l took nntaljle part. From
lllc *malle$t to grraleht of tht-*e r \ t 2~l t s he was a11 active partner
I hi* c.o11~itl i ~ n ~ l f'ric.nci Sirclilr 4lohar1lr1l ilklmr Khan. Incieetl.
so claw was t he co-operation of these two young warriors. that
those events which were c.onsi(lererl as most r i anger o~~s and
important. were all entrusted t o Sirdur Sultan Ahmed Khan. This ro-
operatior1 lasted till Afghanistan was rill of tile agcressors, and Amir
1)ost Mohamad Khan once again arrived in Af gha~~i st ai l in the
month of Ha~ilazan of the year 12.58. 11. fi. (1842. A. I). ) and
i n 1259. A. H. occ~ipiecl the throne of ,4fghan;<ta11.
With t he dinappearance of t he English aggressors from Afgha-
nistan t he first phahe of tilt activities of Si rdar Sultan Ahnled Khan
terrninatetl. 'l'he r et l l r ~l of Alnir ]lost hl ot ~an~ed khan, however.
persuaded hi111 along with Sirclar hlohalnecl %an~i i n khan to Ibid for
t he k:mirate of Afghani-tan.
Sirdar hIohamerl Aklbar Khan. seri ng t he whole hearted support
[hat he had all along rcc.eivecl from Sirdar S ~ ~ l t n n Ahmad Khan.
gave promise to his cousin cl l l rl c. o: n~~~rt i on of many I r at t l e~ that he
(Sultan i\hmt..l khan) h a l l receivv the govt-rnersl~ip of tile northern
regions of the Hi ndu- l i usl ~. Sirrlar 5~1l t ar1 AI~lne(l kha n was content
wit11 thi* offer. hut i n effect lie t ho~l ght of grt.ater t hi ngs for hinl
self. Wtlen. however. Imir llost Moharllrrl hhan *at on the ~ h r o l ~ e
of Af ghani s t a~~, hr hearrl, 01' c,olrrse, of Sirclar S111tal1 ,4trme~l Khan's-
ur~il,itions, anci cluitr rla~urally r l i t l not like :triotI~er riial. It is also
relateel that this rlifficullv wa.; r111r to sorile personal rrlotives which
were furtller inl' la~r~erl I,y thr i ~~f r i gur r w at t l ~r c-ollrt. Sirtlar Sultan
Ahmetl kllia~l' s poi nt of v i r ~ t that as 11r harl prrforli~ecl nal i o~al
*ervice, h r ot~\.iouslv rlrser\rrl his rectartl . l h t very pro/bal,lv the
reason of the ~lrrilno*ily I)et\$ec.ri tiirn arirl t hr Aniir u a * clue to the
foreign policy of the c- or ~r l t r ~, for the 5irclar tlirl not cor~eidrr the
attittirle of the ,4111ir te)w:ircls tlbr. ~ ; I I ~ I I * I I a.3 derliraljle. I'or the Sir-
(Jar had. clifferer~t ic1r.m .\n> t o 13 hat the k;rlgli~I~ \vanterl in pursuit
Ibetuern t l ~ p 9n1ir ant1 I Sirdar. A l r t ~ r r written l,y Sirciur
Sultarr 4111neil khan r, , t l ~r KJ I I E o f l'erria wah capturecl t)y Sirdar
Sul t ar ~ Mohnrr~v~l lit1911-a~iother 1,tc)lht.r of :\rnir I)ost hloharned
khan-ant1 this occ.a.sir,~~r~l ~ h r * flight of S~r t l ar S111tet1 Ah l ~~e d khan
arrd hi3 taking r ef l ~ge at 111r (Jajjar c*o~lrt.
-1'.7- ..
when the question of Herat was settlrrl througll I.:ngli3ll i l ~t er ~- r l i t i ou
a t the Persiari Gulf vide the Agreenie~lt wriicl~ \ \ as s i g n ~ ~ l c)n t l l w 4111
of March 1857 A. L). Any person, therefore, anyolle \ vt ! v was the r i ~ ill
of Alnir Dost Mohalned Khan, and an enemy of tlie English was, of
course, a great "asset" for t he persiane. who thought thnt 1)v gi\-ing
asylun~ lo the disgrountlt-d Afghans at Herat. their purpose coultl he
well serverl. It was l'nrth:lr consiclere,l by the Persians ( a l t l i ~) ~j g~i tliry
the porsians) had undertaken urltler t he treaty rnarjr with tht, l~:r~,vlistr
regarding the non-intervention i n Herat affairs, not to clo -0) the),
coulil use an Afghan at Merat for their own desings, an Afghal ~ w l ~ o ivas
at one and the same tinie an enemy of the English and a rival to Anlir
Dost Mohnlerl Khan. According to his idea Nasiruddin Qajjar sllorved
much respect t o Sirdar Sultan Ahmed Khan, and hie son, for he
gdve the title of SIRKAR to Sirdar Sultan Ahmad Khan, and bestowe(1
the title of Alilir Punji upon the Sirdar' s son. Jn these ci rcu~nst an-
ces. there for a struggle was precipitated between a great .4fghan
hero. tic11 with the services of the nation. an.] .4rnrr Do3t \ l e)hnn~t . ~l
Khan at cl t i ~i i e when the unity of the Kingdorn~was in the n~akirig. At111
;,I1 this dllc to personal interests and 011 accoiillt of the refuge taken
by the Sirdar at the l'erbian court as a160 hy hi s governorship of
Herat. He was, too. the son in law of Amir Dost Mohamed khan for
Ilia wife was tllr real sister of' Sirdar Mohamed Alibar Khan and Amir
Shair Ali Khan. I-rere was an unfortunate position, for so close a
relatior~ship was converted i nt o deep animosity.
When the sending of I e~t er s and com~nul l i r : ~~i or r s a l i l l l i ttlt: gctc.td.
an11 (as Sirclar S u l t a ~ ~ Al i l l ~r t l kl ~nn now c~o~rtt~u~pliaiell ,711 e\ l , rri i t i orl
agai ~i st Farah. .\rnir I ) o ~ t iVtloharnetl Khan was t.oliir,el]ed to Pet t i t .
the Hr r at qtleslion orlce and f;)r all. . i n tbxpr(litioll \va& sent out again$[
Sirtlrr Sultan Ahnletl khan under the leatlership of Sirtlar sllilir
:\li kllari. a1111 the Anlir himself lea\-ills his l\-inter quartera Jalalahatl.
H I I ( ~ 11avillg plac.e(l nlatters o f Ksl.,~rl nncl hanllahar c , r l a f i r l l l I; , ol i l l E,
let'[ fctr tleri-ll. 'l'he iirnlics enc,alnl~rc.i C I I , ~ ~ . l o 1 1 1 t h ( 1 1 ' itlt. , . i t y
of Herat.
F 1 ' l ~ i ~ dad story of Iu~ttles b c t wr ~n the nephew ant1 thy allele.
t t l c t,attlc het wren the fathc-r ant1 ttir 1111sltar111. nnri 111is tug
of War t)et~veeti the king ant1 a Ilerctir- Sirtlar , i b one oi the
tragedies of those timee.. The siege lasted for ten months, a d
-158 -
eat-11 one of whi ch reqi ~i reh a separate chapter to itself. It i~
strange. too, that thih tragelly stroivs t he valour and the Afghan
-pirit on both sides, hut nlost nnfortunately, that very unhappy trait
of ~l i scor d which ha(i time and again hiridered t he happiness
and hat1 distressecl our c.ollntr\ is singularly rnanifestrcl in this
as in other.-. 1)aring this t r ap( . enc.irclemel~t of the town of Herat,
t he Si nl ar an11 his wifp (lied within a -1iort time of each other.
tlnli the city ~rrrrunderecl: I t s l i o~~l d I ~ P reconjert that two weeks
aft er this thr: 4 1 i r t o . (tied. ancl thns t h e c~lrtairi falls ilpon
1411s tragecl y.
'I'LN MON'I'IIS SIK(;I+: OI.' HI4:HA'l'.
Arllir IJok! G l ~ h i ~ ~ l ~ e d k; t ~a n cer,Gils Sirciar 51il tan Atinled K hall.
'I'lie laqt vear of the life ant1 r ci g~l of tlrnir I),st l/lohame,l
Klran was r)rac.tirally spent in lavlng ;I i t egr of' Tierat ( 1278.
4 4 . 11. ). 'This \\a- 11 lmttlrs whit-11 hall all the sppearanrr of
:rn i r~t erneci nf\ ivar. 11uf a-; the f ; ~t e of iIrrilt cleylcn(lf*rl 11po11
it, both the Ling an11 t ht . ~ , c . c , ~ ) l t . of Herat were cletrrrliinecl
t hat t hi s tl~sst' l mu&t t i ~hr ~,lac.c~. i 1111l t t i r fight 111:lst rot1
linue to I I . S i r 5 1 t i \ h; ~l r c l . 100. ~ l i ~ l not P ~ O H
t t ~ e ? i l ~ ~ I . ~ t c . . ; t 111c-lillatinrl t o weahrln. ant1 c - n r ~ t i n ~ ~ ~ r l to Jt~frlicl
the city gallantly . +o hat tllt, SirOar c l i c l ~i ot s~lrrenrler
t i l l h e clierl, a11ci tlic. king c l i ( l I dl (. t i l l he clili ;lo1
myt ~r r e thr. citv. I I I h i q 0111 ;I$<,. t ht h r?atiorial urge riirnr
rlpon the I . a i n his failinp hr al t t ~ at111 ~) l ~vui r al cli9-
nl1ilitie.s he pt.ree\ert.rl 1 1 , rml ~ I ( . P f l r ~r at aricl wa* n~rc*cv~s~!'ul.
( or was i t rlt:ath tllat d r , l \ t v l tlir. c l ~~~. ; t i on ! )
-1'here i n little r l o~l l ~t that 11 wa* birclar S ~ l l t n ~ l . l h ~ ~ i c d Khan.
t h r *on S r r h1oIri1111ecl Azcenl Khan. ~ h o pi11 in a rea at
(leal of arSort t o expel the aggrrsqor* frc1111 the realm. arlrl
towarcls hi9 Inttar vear.1 wn9 ;I 1.Ia1mer11 t o the throne. HI I I when
tllrt Fael~rlg t l i t l ~nc l riot tranblattu Itself into rralily. ( throngh the
- 159
influent-e of Sirclar l i 4L 1,ar ktralr. rvllicii nlatle l i i l l l
*)low H 5pirit ot' co-opel.atio11 all11 c:ol~te~iln~ellt f or nllal he was Ileilig
offereti as :I rewarti fq)r ~ v r k ~ c ~ t ~ s ~ ) bu! I I ~ I . ) I I L41111~ ~ ) OS I h1~)1lillll(d
Khan's at-carssjoll 1 1 , thr r o t . 1 1 clue' to the collflict with
the -41nir's f e ~r e i ~l l I . 1 f r e ~ of' i r o on forc~igll
policy arust: Let\\erll 111t. I . .4c:c%orlling to t hr agret.rllel11
which Iir ]lad 111atlt: I I k;l~gljsll at Kailtlatrar, that ht: will
not ilrtrrfer ivitll t l l V lrltliair allair*. a150 in regart!$ to tht. ljerot
clueslioll, LOO. the Alllir liesitateti ( i l l t he last. inonler to I\no\t thr.
i ncl i ~l at i ol ~ I I I . I as I I a* Sirclar Sultan ,,lhmed
l i ha~l wa* tile i l vo~~r cl elltblrly 1 ) s the: b;~lgIiali a11tI tlieir i~irperialist
designs irl the taast. Ire \ \ as. tl1t.rt:forc.. r l o fall i ~ r \ +i l l 1 llle
views of Lllr All~ir. r I I I Y j111ir \ \ . ? I s L)oi11it1 I I ! engagerntJirts nil41
tlie )I;ngltati. At last ht. !eft Af'gharl t r r r i l or \ ci r l r , to persolla1 alitngo-
ninn. alltl well t to 'I'ehrall. I r l orcithr t ( I ri\' al Arlrir Ilost IClollal~lt.cl
Khan alltl to oppoatA I t l i s l ~ whrrt. \. rr Ile I I thetn.
he acc.!eptetl t11c go~.errlorstlio I a t I liege lo the I'ersiarl*.
It was t hi s c.lrcisiurl that 111acltt tire r l ~ i c l ~ alld 111r rlrpIle\v. the
father-in-law i l l ~ c l t hr I I - I oppow tfa(.ll otlier from 1,ehitltl
the walls of tlerat, all11 1, ) t'igt~t out [he issue till t hey (lied.
I I h~i,.,I~a~i~eci hlliili i110vt:el f' r~rir kaLul togetlier with
several Sirtlara 'arl(l lt.a(ler.s i o\ ~ar t l s Iferat on 8t h. Shawal 127;.
A. [ I . 'I'ltr. acivilllcc: party \.tar ~ C I I l ~lridt*r 5irdar Sliair ,411 kha11
al-lcl S i r . l o I ~ ~ i ~ e i Alllirr Klrarl all11 Sirdar hlollaniecl Sharil'
Khan-110s~ Xlolia~l~etl i I I I I a k tJle c'ity
ot' Farall r Mi r :\fzal I I . a p p o i i ~~e e of Sirclar
Sultall rlhnled 1 1 1 1 . ' I I I tile Ileacl ol tiia ow11 arnly
joillc:cl 111( ~ I I 1)arly. I c:olnbitlrtl Corc:es utter ljreal
erlgagt. ~i~t. l~l* aga~ribl 5i nl ar 1 i 1 I I I I Y O I ~ S h i l l i ~ i t l ~ a ~
Kha~r a1 I I 1 1 I I r o l l of I y surrouncie(l the
city of Ileral.
'1'1111s 111t. ~ : i l y 01- lltaral I\:IS l w~ei get l OII 111t- 10th or
5af ar l 122;. A. 11. ( . \ I I ~ I I * I 1HOl. A. I). ) k~or i ' i ~t * [lays t he I ) r wi g i ~ l ~
army ilur: I t ~ I I I the city. nml f'retlul:l~t uight raids.
tunrielling alrd su~ltlry cllg:~gt~lllt:rlis ~or i t i ~l ~l v( d fur six 111011tlls.
Sirdar Sul l al ~ Al1111ed Khatr. clrlring the cliFCicult day+ of
aiege wrote a letter to N;~sirucirllrr (Jajjar nr eki ~l g I ~r l p. I ) UI lhr
- loo-
king of Persia did not give him t he slightest assistance excua-
i ng himself due t o the treaty with the English which he had
made i n 1857. A. D, and so gave a flat refulsal. Furthermore
Abrlr~l Ghafar Khan, the English representdtive at n'leshad wrote to
Anlir Post h l o h ~me d Khan, informing t he Arnir of the neutrality
of thtx Fhah touarcls this struggle over Herat. The Amir had
managell to conley ttle reply of the Shah and the English repre-
~~111; ~t i vr ' s letter to the beseiged Sirdar, Sultal? Ahnled Khan, and
.sent these communications to the Sirdar at Herat. 'l'he Sirdar
sent
a reply to Amir Dost Mohamed Khan i n these words of the Persian
verse. "Rhat if we have no pilot for our sliip! We have a God,
arid need no pilot!"
De ~yi t e t he f a c ~ that the rigoura arid di et r ee~es
of the siege
1ncrea3ed. the Si r d a ~ tlirl not give in the slightest rlcgree in hie re.
solvr alld puryosr, a~rt l continiretl to defend the city. Overcome with
grlef. tht. prlucr.ss Ilawalj Dokhtar, the daughter of Alnir Dost hlo-
hamell khan, \ ~ h o was the witness of' thie tragedy died during the
elgirt11 n~onl t i of t hr siege overcome by the ~trife' between the close
11t1vnhers o f the family. The ead death did pr odi ~ce a certain amount
or' strar1vin:r cffrt-t Irpnn the conflict. The bier ot the, princes was
c . ~~r r ~t - ~l ( 1 1 1 t of I tic* 1.1 I F . \tit11 the p ~ r r n i ~ r i o ~ r of the Anlir arid accorn-
~ : , ~ r l l t , l l t, v ~ I I I - Iilrlv's ~ ~ n a l l son Abtiullat, Jan, was buried with the
I I r f ot I relatives at Cuzargah. After the unual
I t8rt I I ~ O I I ~ ~ 11 r 111r. tleatl. all11 the return of :oung Ahbullnh Jan to
I I I V 4 i r ) 1 1 1 ~ ~ -leg,. ( . C , I I I I I I I I P I ~ . I,ack of food and other clrfficulties 01 those
t i l ! i ol ~ght grv~lr ~ I I + I ~ C S F I upon t he people. I t is related t hat
( ~ I I I I ~ I ~ t t 1 1 1 + t tlayh. ,4rr,lar >ultsn Ahmad Khan personally distributed
tuotl a1111 I I i I at the four corners o f the
t i r e : I I I I ~ I I SPI I to tbrit*ouragf' the people to reaiet, t i l l thp
r 1 I t I Al l Illat r ~nl ai nr t l were the animaJr, and the
rj . -t r~*b of I I I C I ) V I I ~ I P U; I S rxlrcrnc, so that the Sirdar himself strrrck
tbv t hr t r agt ~l y of' the- ~ l e a ~ l l of Itis wife. died after a1,out a month
al ~, l ' I I t . 0 I I tlattle +uI,siclerl and once again the
gateha! ot He r a t \bay olrerltvl ;in0 he was lnuried , all the Sirdare
taking part i n the ccremony except the Amir : and the honour for
t he titad \*aa f ~ ~ l l \ nl arl ~rea~ed t)y t he linee of wl di ers OII the riled.
- Ibl-
He was llurieci alorlg side of 1iis wife, and after three days of fune-
ral and memorial ceremonies, the gateways of the city were again closed
and the siege continued.
At t hat juilcturr. Luth from the
side of Anlir Duet Moharrhed
Khan an11 the people of the city every endeavour was made to
end the senseless struggle, bu t the sons of the late Sirdar, es-
pecially Shah Nnlvaz Khan, who had succeeded his father were
gready opposed to any peace settlement. Towards the tenth
n~ontli, hc;wever wllen the rations had Leco~ne exhausted, the people
of the town thelriselves along with scme of the leaders, like Mir
Afzal Khan, ban of Sirdar Pur nil Khan, and Ghulam Mohayuddin
Khdn k o ~ l of Si rdar Kohin Dil Khail also fakoured the people's
point of view. Hut Sirdar Shah Nawaz Khan insisted upon
continuing the defence of the town. The above mentioned two
Sirdare were ashetl lo leave the city, and he together with his
brothers continued to defend the city. But the inhabitants of the
city con111 not undergo any further privatioi~s, and prince Shah
Nawaz Khan and his brot t ~ers were per saded to the gateways of
the ci l y on 11ie 8t h of Zil Hij 1278. A. I i . ( May 1862. A. D. )
and the troop. of thc ~Ii ni r entered the c~l y.
ljurillg the clays wllen tlic intensity of this eiege was at ita
highest, alld thest> struggles unto death between father-in-law and
,man-in-laiv were ragi ng at their greatest point, he illneos of Dust
Mohanled Khan increased due to general physical weakness and
110 remedy serined to (lo a ny good at 81.
When the Arnir saw that
his as t hl n~ woilltl prob'lhly kill him, lie called a meeting of his
eons and others of llis near relations and selected Sirdar Shair Al i
Khan as hi a buccessor. And ar the Amir's condition Lecarne
clangeroua and gkiie' anxiety to all princes beside him, the gater
), f iht: ci t y of 1Ter:lt wcre opened, and the town wars eurrundered.
L)uring I l i r; i l l n~hs all t he sad events, such a3 the death of hi8
daugl~lrr, ~l l e ftlar of an intenleciue war and so forth were over.
whelming 11il11, ye t he hat1 desire that Hcrat should be reducad
at a11 costs. Go.1 gal e bin] two more weeka of life, so thdt
he col~ld see llie fa11 of llernt before his death.
- 162 -
THE REV0Z.T 01: AZAl i Kl I AN. THE GOVERNOR OF KASHMIR
'THE; :IC?'ION Of; H. hl. TIMOUR SHAH
AGAINST HIM.
ARYICLE I'OHTL' SECOND
From the time of Iirs Majesty A h m~ d Shah upto the time
of Rawab JaLtar Khan, who was the governor sf Kaehmir, the
Afghan governors of that province designated governors, or Ad-
ministrative officers or merely of f i ce~s of the kingdom d Af.
ghanistan had each and everyone of them raieed their heads
in revolt against the central government as rulers of Kadarnir.
Such governors as Ahdullah Khan Alkoeai, Shair Mohaned
Khan Bamizai, Atta hlohamed Khan Bamziai, and Sirdar Mo-
hamed Azeem Khan did so. Nor was that all. because soine
sf them had ~ i t h held the revenue of the province. One of
6uch petsorls is Azad Khan son of Haji Karim Dad Khm,
who after the death of his father became governor of Kmh-
mir. We give here the @tory of his revolt and the punishment
~ h i c h he received at ?he hands of Hie Majesty Timour %ah.
The last of he bt,\Prnorb of Kaehnrir appointed by His Majesty
Ahmecl Shah Ilurrani was one Haji Karim Dad Khan Arz Baigi.
He ruled over Kaslrmir during the last years of the reign of the
Afghan emperor Al ~med Shah Ilurrani. The death of this governor of
Mashn~ir took place at about the time of the first arcending to
the throne of Ahtned Shah'$ son 'l'imour Sl ~ah. The new king ap-
poir~ted the son of the deceased Governor of Kashniir in place of
hi8 father.
Azetl Khan w:~s a great warrior. very resourceful and e m
rather inclined to insolence. Aa enon as he became the governor
of Kashrnir. he felt lrinlsclf drunk with power and eaw dreams of
hi e own greatne9s. tie tllought of making hiniself Independent,and
by gioirlg large sums of money t o the c.ornmandera of the army he
won them over to hie side. Abo he enrolled three thoneracl Kmh-
miree Indians i nt o hi^ army, end raisecl the etmdar,i of nvol t
- 163-
winat hk king. H e then went further and kept 1)ack all revenues
which were d.ue to the central Government.
As soon as these unseeming activities of Azdd Khan r ~a c he d
dhe eats a@ the hijag in, Afghanistan, he ~ e n t an officer, one named
Mr ilb4harnedl A1.i Khan, known a s Kifriyat Khan to giveUgond ad--
~h" b, bkm sobel. The kLlatg's messenger, due to his wisdom mana-
d 80 permade t i e rebek CQ come to hia senses. and not to indulge
ipli mch mts again& blia guuernrnent. lie also advised him to send
h e lakh afi rapacs to Afghmistan and be received at the k i d s
dieurn.
The " d e k " goiuennor lmd hardly e~nerged from Kashn~i r, when
tlhe kim h e a d f urhhr relpe~as agaissk Azad Khan from the 1iw of
Imia brobhns mmely Mwrtaea Khan a m 1 Zaman Khan. who had beem
a a k d by k i r bcmhe~ehe governor of Kashmir-to leave Kaslirnir,
and who had taken ~ef uge at the Afglian courl. 'The hina became
enraged against Anad Khan a n~l crrinnuanded t h ~ t thirty thousand
fi.ghting men ~houl d ilmrnediately Ire go to Kashmir a d thab Amd
Khan should he punia5ed. The Icings's arrxy enr*~rnped Kashmir en
the oslhkirts of a village named Nakl i on the Lranks of the river
M~affa~raabad. It s o happened that Azad Khan at that time woe on
t.b okhca side of the river i n the house of hi* father i n law. A
h.ttk, therefore took place between the troops of t he kint: and the
Ilnshmkeee. h l l a h i Azam Klran. the coann~ander of I<ashmi.r trooge
was killed and the king'^ troops were victnriotts. 'I'wo t hawand
men of A7ad Khan were drownctl in the river at hluzarffal~ad , and
the rebel governor wan.ted to flee, 1111 t hi s cousin, one named Pahlawan
Urn h u d d him t ~nd Made him ~ithlihand ihc onslaught,so that bv
repeated attempts ai fighting, the rebel's troops sieaciily achieved bb
upper hand ;and the king's forces were defentetl. t-ldvincr gained victoqy
Azad Khan returned to Kashmir and t l ~e hir~g' s nicn re~reat ed to Kabul.
It ib related that (luring this figllting 11w Y ~ ~ e u f Zai ciem.
md bhom of Pesl~awdrr, showed loyalty t o the Satluzai kings' cwm.
One of t he~u Syetl Olul! Shah belonging to the clan of Utnilao W1d
f ought so, gdlaotl<y, cj e5pi k nlauy w w r.tb. t h a ~ he was bruuaht b s ~
-164 -
fore Azad Khan and was t h e object of much appreciation from the
govcrnor of Kashrnir. Impressed by the fighting qualities of tfib
man, it is related that thl: rebel governor enrolled one thousand
a r ~d five hundred of his E usufzai clansmen in hia army. When His
Majesty Timour Shah heard the news of defeat of his army, he
thereupon resolved to take an cxpedition himeelf to the east. With
a great army he arrived at Pcashawar, giving the command of the army,
the military quarters a ~ d the arrangements of war to Sirdar Madad
Khan Isshaq Zai. Madad Khan took his men across the river Indus
near -4ttack to the corifinea of Kashmir. Azad Khan on hie part
stood on the defensive. Whilst mall engagements took place, Madad
Khar. got a certain number of Azad Khan's me11 to withdraw their
allegiance towards him , and brought them to the king'o fold by
prorni~ea and
othm devices. By the order of Azdd Khan, Shadi Khan
made a night attack upon the king'e forces, hut ar Madsd Khan
was well informed of that plan, battles were fought out and ae
Azad Khan heard o i the plans of the king's commander and
found that hc cou!rl not cope with it, tooh refuge in the liouse of
his father in law. The father in law of , 4 z d Khan di d not want to
implicate hirnqelf with hi? son i n I J W' J evil rll>inqs, therefore. with
the help and co-operation of the king's commander, he (the father
in law) by degrees reduced the nurr1hr:r of A ~ a d Khan's men and
when one day Azad khan was sleep alone in a room. hi 8 father i n law
locked the door of tne room. and t he rebel was Captured. His fatber
in law was rewarded by being ir!stnllrd ds ilp offict-r of t wo thouaand
hnraemen in the service of the king.
Azad khan finding that hi 8 oppc~i t i ol ~ had no furthrr rneaninR
wanted t o blow up his hrains with a revolver, 1)11t he hi~naelf took
out Azad's eyes anti then cut his h ~ ~ r l and ~ e n t t t ~ ~ r ~bcl ' y he:id to
the ki ng at Peehaw at arld conti nn~cl to t,e i n t h ~ hing'p rrrrvice.
It i4 relatrd that Ti ~nour SJIRJI was rraIly ~li$rcfi*cri alro11t the
murder of Aznd Klian, whom he tegarrlwl RY a grc-at figli~er wi t h
r 7
manly character. I he rebel was bu~i ed with t 1 1 ~ honoury I)y the or-
der of the king. and his mother was ~nmmnnvd f r onl Kanclahar. When
mite wae aekerl to remarry, and take rfn (rbe of tl,r nohlrs of llle ~u1 . R 88
husbaad,so :hat she might become mother to another son l i ke Azad
Khan, who might have great c1llalities of hravery of an Afghan;
the Afghan woman replied t hr r e would Le no such man as Ahmeti
Shah, to whom n .on l i ke Timour-a just
and a good king may he
born, nor would there he another Haji Karim Dp.d Khan, her decea-
sed husband from whom a so11 like Azad l i hnn was to he horn. The
reply pleased the kin, greatlv a nd she'was highly honoured. The
emall son of Azad Khan went to Kalldahar and liver1 duri ng t he reign
of Timour Shah.
6 *
TlMOllR SHAH DURHANI AND THE PLAN OF
VAZIR SHAH WALI KHAN.
ARTICLE FORP'Y l HI RDl H
About the ei-ents of the Saduzai dynasty, the events of t he
coming upon \ he throne of Ahllled Shah Durrani, and
the reasons of the plans of Vazir Shah \Tiali Khan i t i s impossible
to arrive a t a clcnifite' con :!u$ion. ?'lie real arid rhe hidden meaning
differ, anrl as documents in this corincr:'ioil ar e feb and for between
are qui ~e vagrlr 011's judpelncnt ourlit to Le carefully weighed.
~ l t h ~ u ~ l l 11re nilnil)er of wives r ~ ~ d ( he sons of Elis hiajesty
A\lmed Shah 1111rraili ar e not correctly known , yet lit- i o said to
have hail nix $OIIS, who- ( - nilnltx- itre
given helow : Prince Timour,
Prince Sul ; r i ~n~n ; l'rrnce S ~ h a l i , l ~ r . 1'i.irlre Shnhal), Prince Daral) and
Prince Parrva;~. Prince l' imour was t h r r.ldest son of Ahrned Shah,
whose rnothe Le l o~~z t d 111 Il ll~sood of Jdldl,tl)nd. 'l'his prince had been
appointtsrl fi r\ t as govc.rntlr of tllr I'rrnjal~ ai ~rl then of FIc.rat duri ng
t hc lift t r m , of I 1 1 1 1,1?11cr. 'l'llc-th appointments ellowell the ilupor-
tancc o f tti i g prrncc in t 1 ~ cyee of his Falllt-r.
It i q rc-latrcl i h a t P.hmrd Shah prior to hi e going out for a
rent towarrl3 the Tolmb n~orlntuitlv from Kanciahar in t h year 1187.
A.H. ( a b o l ~ ~ 45 nliles eRst of Ka11~1nhar r*onvcr~c.d a meeting of hi s
-- 166-
sons an& the heads of the clans, at which he yroclairrled his zl de~t
son ' rimour as his heir to the throne. After that he journeyed to-
wards Mahal Marouf. When, however, the illness of 12hint.d Shall
took a dangerous turn, Prince Timour intended to come to see: his
father at Kandahsr . but when t o arrived a place called Washair,
which lies on the way to Kandahar in the Helmand area, he recpiiled
in_;truc8ions=to return to Herat. The return of this Prince from so
close a proximity of Kandahar is a very delicate matter tu juriga ,
for it is a fact which reflects uporl the activities of Vazir Shall Wali
Khan and the raising to the throne of his son-in law Sr~l ai n~an. auci
explains thc motive behind the order not to proceed further than the
aOove mentioned point. As the king was very ill, it is c o ~ ~ j e c t u r d
h a t the paohibitory wder wae iesuqd by the Vazir on hehalf of tlle
king. In any case the proclaiming of Prince Timour as the ki ng
hy Ahmed Shah was a fact which was enacted in the prejence of
eha heads of the clans. When Prince Timour, however, went hack
lierrt and was still there, the death occurred of Hi3 hlaje~tv
Ahmad Shah at Kandrhar, and Prince Sulaiman tvss placed up011 the
throne of his father. Prince Sulaiman was younger in years tn his
elder brother Prince Timour, and' his acceksion to the t hr onr v,aR
regarded a9 the. action of Vazir Shah Wnli Khan . bshn was the
father in law of the young prince Sulaiman.
There ie little doubt that Vazir Shah Wali Khan was a marl (11
foresight and wisdom and his oratoryiwas well known. for
~hf. ~l l ow
of language he could keep his hearere spell I,ounrI, ant1 hi.; ritals
were al way~ afraid of his mastery in that direction. 'rile a - s mp -
tion of kingahip hy prince Sulain~arl at the time of allsenre of
hie elrler brother, who was a t Herat. at consiclerationn which
have provided contradictory observationu in thc hi st ory of' :;atlt~x;ai?-.
S m e opinions have been expressed that the arlsun~plio~l of
rulership on the part of h i n c e Sulaiman wn* orlly a t,,-li;lllr-lrv
measure and a matter of policy of the time. Sr) nirrc-h so l a hl
the late Amir Hal,it)ullah Khan is also of the parrlrs ~ [ ) I I I ~ O I I .
md that by this action Vazir Shah Wali Khan hntl I r.spcriflI
plan 7'1mour Shah. But a n y proof vi di cat i l ~g thv V:rzir fot this
r sr is a difficult matter. His relationuhir) with l'rinc-r 511lalllrall~
-167 -
I~is i ~sui ng the order for 1'1ince Timour to return to Herat.
arid t l l v r l cluichly placillg Sulaiman upon the throne are ulattere
wilich are apparently against the Vazir. There is, however, t hr
ele111e:it of the wrong reporting on behalf of the rivals of the
Vazir at t he court, for at that period of our history, eucfl elements
were ~rnforiur~ately rife and had their power, and thus they niay
have colitributed towards the severing of friendly relations between
the \ a ~ i r a ~ ~ d the Prince.
\\~lieli t t l v I I PWS OF ille acceesion to the throne of Prince Sulainia~l
reactiv 1 t!ie ears of hi s elder brother at Herat, he ( ' l ' i n~o~~r ) at
once \iar!etl for Kandahar. According to the recorde of thc time,
a ~ o o d nurnher of [he heads of the clans, who did not set: eye to
eye wi t h the F a i r also left Kandahl r to r e c e i ~ ~ Prihce 'l'imour on
hi3 uay to lidiiiiallar. Some were headed by such Sirdare as Sirdar
hlu(lat1 khan Ibshaql.ai.
'l'hc ?;omeljhat surprising fact is this that on one side the Vazir
said t o have placed his son in l aw on the throne, atid on the
ulller I~~inrl, he himself also si:lrted uestward to receive 1'rinc.e
' l ' i ~~~our . ;In explanation is give;] 114. saying that the Vazir had placed
I'ri11c.r Sulaiman on the throne, so that no interim difficulties about
lhc. ar.c~t~wsic,n may occur. 'l'hus in reality the Veair wae in favour of
1'rinc.e 'l'i~nour. Ru t those who surrounded Prince Tinlour had yoi-
bnnetl lie ear* of the Prince to such a degree that the Prince \tould not
w e Vazir 011 l i i ~ way to Kondahar.
I t is rcportvd that the Vazir end the Prince were vrry near
l :dral ~ one coming from I-lcrat and the 0 t h from Kandaher. The
1nrlir.r had a l arge arnly with him, while the Vagir was accotnpatried
1,s olily our: bundred and fifty horeemen.
\,; so011 ; i ~ t11ose who accompat~ied the prince heard or the
Cnz i l ' s i l I ' r i \ ~ I a t T'i~~ilh, t hvY ~dvi sed the prince with the conniva~ire
I ' a , : I i i l l l ~ l i l l t i r ~ , that tht. Vazir ahould be killed, and that
t ~r slloultl c.rrt;linly i ~o t see the Vazir, because the purpose of his
rthrcpliorl l)y tht-. C'azir was no other than to deccivt him.
- 165-
With thc pennission of the prince, therefore, t wo heads of the
clans nanlely llrlko Klian Uamizai and Islam Khan s~sassi nat ed the
great Vazir, who had serve1 go \$ell, at a place called Siah Aab in
t he westtarn porlion of the B~kwa h desert, together with hi s two sons
and two of his neplzervs. As a result of this sham:ful action, and
prior t o a s c e n d i ~~g to the throne, a large number of the leaders of
the clans were prejudiced a g i n s t the prince. When Prince Timopr
reaohetl Kandahar, his yyc)unqer 11rothc.r Prince Sulaiman very gladly
vacated the royal place i n favour of his elder brother from Herat.
A number of the leaders of the clans were left at Kandahar-Kandahar
a s t he cer,ter of administration-and Timour started towards Kabul.
Inspite of this his atltagoniuti were not quiet and made a pact
around Abdul Khaliq Kl ~an, t he uncle of Ahmed Shah, and attacked
Kabul. Ae a rasult 1,attles were fought afid at last Tinlour Shth wao
eecure upon the throne.
'J'HE LAST DAYS OF AMIR DOST
klO11AMED KHAN.
One of t he reaeonu of' rivalry and animosity of the Barakzais
and t he Saduzais was that I-larat remained in t he handa of
weak princes of' Snduzai ~ and the Alr!kozai~, and their weakness
cornpellpcl them often to seek t he tielp of t he Qajjars of Persia.
During ttic-ue ttlr1)ulent timrs hecaure one of the events had
asoumetl high i mport anc. ~, (Si rt l ar Sultan Ahrned Khan had
ebtablirhetl a rulernhip at Herat ), t he last year, of [he reign
of Alilir 1)ost hlohalned Kl ~t r r ~ was spent i n sol l i ng the Herat
question, an11 the reduction of Ii erat wa6 t he last act of hia
reign ~ h i c h gave him satisfaction at his death-bed, after which
he died within t h o v,.,eeks.
During t he wintrr of 1271. A.H. when , h i r Dost Moharnecl Khan
wes as usual at Jalalabatl. t-~e received a letter from Saifullah Khan,
- 169 -
one of his sons at . E'arah, where he was acting as his father's represen-
tative, saying that Sirdar Sultan Ahmed Khan, who was the nephew
of the Amir and the Amir'sr.si)n in law has raising the standard
of revolt and independence against the Amir at Herat. Saifullah
Khan's mother was a Hazara woman. The newes shook the Amir
and he gave orders forthwith
to start for Herat.
The Amir arrived on the first day oi' the Idd (Feast) at Kabul, and
the people went out to greet him and to celebrate the Idd
at Siah Sung. The Amir being in great habte to march upon
Herat aeked the people t o pray for his victory at Herat. Reclining
up011 a cushion on the back of an elephant. he entered the city
by the L,ahori gate, and as the number of troops accompanying him
was large 11e did not halt in the city h i t encamped near the village
of Deh Bori (~oday' e Karta Char) end at that point) Sirdar Mohamed
Al i Khan. the son of Sirdar Shair Ali Khan was appointed as gover-
nor of Kahul and after tweety day's stay at Kabul he nloved west-
ward Herat.
-4s w~ 11arl mentioned i n our article entitled " ?'he 'I'en-Month
slt.ge of Herat.. Sirdar Shair Ali Khan who had been colnnlanded
to march to Herat from Kandahar was joined by the Arnir'c troops
at Farah. 'l'he corrll)ined armies ultimately reached Herat. 'She t ~ o
armies were rrow prepared to decide the fate of Herat. orje was l,e-
I i i ~ l t l 111~ wal l $ of the, city and the others war, attacking. Various facts
hat1 Ibec~n ~rarrn~ci l in the above mentio~led article. sue-11 as the
grief
of the Zmir's tlaughter over tbis fight arnongst her close relatives.the
death of the princses from heart break, ancl the kteakuess O K the Amir
due to illht~altlr al ~d worries of adrnirri,stralion. thefie e\.ents M-t?re
w ~ l l in the nlirrtl of the ailing Amir in the year 1278.A.H. llhoae
~rtlic~s Hrrr plegliant wit11 lually diffirul~ies for lire leaclclru of he c1a1l.s
hat1 I , r . c ' l ~ cli\irlecl into tno srwtions. .ls albo \\tire tlre pec,l.)le. so that
dirt. 10 per>onal ~IlterestF, a~l t l the can~rivancr of'sell-aevker*. a n 1111for-
tunate conflict hat1 ttrerm prrripiia~erl I)etk$et.n a gallarlt S~rt l ar
like Sirdar Sultan Allmed Kbali ant1 n gre,ii Lirrg like 1)crst hlot~ajtled
Khan over t he hopes and frare of one oT thc important cities like
llrrat. Wt ~rreas eteryone knew that i t was an inlernecine war
a~i d no one was ex2ected to profit I ) y it, yet tempers Here so
i nfl al ~~ed on both eides every m RII' S hantl H a s lifted against his
-170-
brolhbr. As we havt $lrttidy mentbhd, ' sht t h t ~ ~ r t i df a%
kingdom one of the gmnds ow of the' had been made t k
governor. But a large number of t he kh&' &- ~e) at f vt s werdwith htm
o n this Her at txpedition, each one of whom h d a plan unte
himeelf t or ' his personal intereate, etcbpt Si rddt Mdhani~d A F d
Khan. Each, too, had come expectationsa fw the t hr ont of their
father.
Apart from this the queetion of Herat had become a matter
of cont ent i ol ~, for Sirdar sul t an Ahrqed Khan would not give
up resietance and continued to fight, and after him his son
Si r dsr Shah Nawaz Khan, despite t he solicitatidns of the inhabi-
tants r;f t he town would not give up. Quite naturally the illnesa
of t he ki ng untler t l ~i s strain of war a ~r d worry progressively
became worse, and added t o other difficulties producing a situation
at which might well shed lcars.
A s Alnir Uost hlohamed Khan norv paw t he danger of t he
eiruation from all direclions, and hoped hut little for his succeS;s,
only two matters hyrl any impclrtanc'e to hitn. Both of them had
the gignif~cance of l i f t : allil death to Iiim ; the first was the
appoir~trnent of a n heir t o tire throne, ar~d the second was tile
fdll of Eierat. 'I'he Aniir was of the opinion [ hat eve11 i f one
of these two ol,jt.crs ccluld not he aecured, prior to his deatll,
t h m t he !%hole pi c' t ur ~ of event4 ad he saw them would be gravely 11is-
t ~ r t p d af r f J L8*carlle orlr way intimately related to the other, and since no
other pc-rsllrl co111d corrrlr~ct the warfare evcrpt himself, he reeolvetl to
ciill a rr~ertirig of hi,h ~ 0 n . s anrl princes, leadern of the clane ai d
htari- of tile dfpartnrr r I S c 8 f the army ro lhat hc rc:uld ~cl l \ e [he
( I I ~ ~ - - ~ I I ) I I \ v i r ' ~ I I P I I ~ 811 1 l)c~fort~ thr-rn. h1i r ~; i t'aclut) Ali Khan writcn of
till, i n 1 1 1 2 11ook c' ~, t i i l t , l L" I ' h ~ $~at r ~nl r r l t s of the: I , a ~t ki r l g. ~ of
, \ ~ : I I . ~ I ~ I Q I . I ~ . as I I YI ~I V:
"111 the I ) r h IJori of a 1 1 I faster,ed tile sword to the
ci r ~l l f * 1 1 1 1 1 1 ~ ~ r i ~ ~ l d - ~ ~ r * 5irqlar Mollan~r,tl i l i lillart, 8s the brir of
h i f i t i t i I I\;l,nn~, arifl nlalic hirn go\ernrlr of
I . 1 ' I 1 t 1 i~airc. a~l fl rcs~t . , l t l l r ~ ~ renlarkcj t i t f i t YOU
. , .
- I T1 --
. ,
should ac,knawledg,L ' ~ i r d a r ' ~hdi ~ i i Khan as my succesmr. t o day
t he' Si rkar7s illnesp ik grave and theie is no hope for his survival.
With your consent and approval I wish to make my successor Sirdar
Shair All Khan. What is yotir opifilon? All the elders who were preeent
agreid to the command if the king and said that may this decision prove
auspicious. After that he placed his own turban upon the head of Sirdar
Shair Ali Khan, and fastened hi, own swdrd to the girdleof his son.
All t hj s' was enacted i n front of t he big and the small, all high
ranking officers and the army. All acknowleged Sirdar Shair Ali khan
as the king presumptive and congratulated 11inl. After that the Aniir
gdve an advice for uni t y and the ileceseity of preserving unity, and
commanded that all 'should obey Sitdar Shair All Khan. When this was
finished, the Amir emphaaisetl t he necee~ity and urgtl1t.y of reducing the
Hergt citadel wi t h all possilhle haste, and exhorted hia men to launch
an attack On the. city. MP wi s l ~ed t hat the cilv he captured during
his life t i me, addin;, that as he had not l ong to lire the sooner
the city was reduced the happier he would feel a13 their k i r ! ~ , eo
that he may retrirrl to his God after thet evenr.
The heads of the a r mi r ~ and the Sirtlars wPre greatly iml~resaed
hy the king's "last words" and prcpara1ic:ns were set nn Ec ot to
launch a strbng il1tar.k upon Hkrat as a result of which pri ncr Shah
N a w a ~ Khau and t h ~ i ~l hnt r i t at t ~ opened t hp patcu I f Herat 011 8t h of
Ziqad 1278 A.H.nild i ~nr l er the i~;rstructions of tire new ki ng tile city
was occupied. The Iilst wish of Anlir 1 ' ~ ~ ~ Mo11a1~1ci-j Khan was t h ~ l s
fulfiller1 and in conformity will1 the orcasion much tejoining took
place
on the fall of ttie city, in all cities ant1 provi nces.
AI1IR 1 1 1 1 A KT1 AN STR1 ( ( 1 IIS W I 1 H HIS
1 ~ 1 ~ O ' ~ ~ I i k ~ l ~ s
AR'IICLI:' POK7'Y FIF'I H
. 3
1 I I P prrioci of wig11 of AI I I I ~ %air '411 kt ~an ~ ~ P ~ ~ ~ I I I ~ I I ~ fro111 t he t ~ , i
of I i 1 2 1. 1 10 i h t I)cgiriilinp of ihr year 1283 A. d,
meclllig a ~lrriocj of fo1:r : ~ r t l a Iloll y;irrs, rlt+pi!~.sll t l l c ~ good
ilitcr1t1o11.1 NI I I ( . I I 1117 ha11 I I LI I C Iw-i I I I I Y ~ ~ ~ S I ~ 01' t11c k111~-
- 172 -
dorn. he was never free from the troubles and turmoilq erect-
ed by Iris brothers. It w& not like the period of Zsrnan
Shah, when the Sodozai brothers had' to be content with his
reign. From Zarrnust, Takhta Pul,
Kandahar and Hazarajat,his
brothers, like Sirdar Mohamed Azam Khan, Sirdqr Mohamed
Aslam Khan, Sirdar Mohamed 4fzal Khan and Sirdar Mokamed
Amin Khan had arisen against him, nl !d although the Amir
was successful
in the south, north and t he west, he was at
last overpowered by them.
Cmt rary to Timour Shah Sadozai, who did not declare any
of his sons as heir to the throne ( the number of such son@
being 24 ). Amir Doet hlohanlecl Khan had more sons than the
above mentioned, and at least 12 of whom survived him. During
hie life time the Arnir gave special attention to this n~at t er of
succession. First of all he appointed his eldest son Sirdar
Mohamed Haider Khan as his heir, but after the death of that
Sirdar. Sirdar Shair Ali Khan w8a made heir.
As we wrote in the article entitled "'l'he Last Days of
Amir Dost Mohamed Khan", towards the end of the year 1278. A. [ I .
when on one eide he had the expeditiort of Herat on Iris handa,
and on the other his ailment was getting very serioae. he eum-
rnoned prince Shair Ali Khan before all Sirdars. military officera
and elders ar~d had the prince acknowledgrd as hiu auccrsaor,
showing the wisdom. so that :at that ( l e l i ~i ~t r junrture jt:altsueies may
not disturh the accomplishment of the task Lt:fore hi m. But ur~fortun-
ately, history ahow8 that when Aniir llost Mohanreil Kha n rloged
hia eyes and departed trr the next w o r l ~ l , t h r : laal, rites of his
death had 11ot as ye t bt:c:n over, w1re11 the new king war nur
rounded hy fraternal discord.
Iluring the actusl t i of i n t i of' his father, Amir
Shair Ali Khan had been ~narle y a r a n ~ o ~ ~ r ~ t rrr all mattcbrs relating to
t he army. till 1Ierat was retluced. AlrJ thirteen c l t t y ~ after
death of the Arnir and the termination of all ceremonies, a
return to Kabul waa undertaken.
-173 -
At this tilne t he following of , t h e of A111ir IIUSI
Mohan1ed Khan held offices in the country: Si rdar Moharned
Afial Khan, the eldest, was rul i ng over t he territory north of the
Hindu Kush;
Sirciar hIohanled Atnin Khan was rul i ng at Kanclahar:
Sirdar Mohalned Shar i i kha n was at Farah; and R/Iohamcd
Hasain Khan was at Hazarajat; while the rest were all a t Herat.
Inspite of' the fact that ~c kno~l e dge me nt ei t her in per8011 Or
by letter was giver], but illbart]ly not olle of the111 Was ('Ontent
with hi s lot. Prior t o tizrnty days, when the new Amir was to
leave Herat for KaLul, plot* \\ere L,eiog hatched and new
plans were I ~ei ng made against h11n. 'l'he most i mport ant of
these plans \+err lllade I,y Si rdar %lol~arnetl 4xan1 Khan. Both
for hinibelf al ~t l 11;s real hrothvrh thc allt)\ tl nan1c.d Sir tlarb had
espectations, alltl to all of siicll l l i k i ~~ci t emel l t a r.xcercised
to the full.. He a1rot e a letter to Sirdar 3lolian1ed rlfizill h1.m
at 'l'nkhta I ])ear l l azar S l ~ a r ~ f , al,tl i l , t i t t tl I in1 t ( 1 t ake
Kabul. At t he tinle. as, n3a) IIV l t n r r n\trerttl iht. t i \ y w a k ~i l ~j l e r
the governor$hil, c t f l'ri~:rc*. Il(~11omc c l Ai i h l ~ a n . rc 11 ol >hair
Ali hhall. ISut o u t of larye l l c. art t . (l ~~e. c~ I l r sent i l l hi s rt newed
allegiance to >]:air A l i hhall. allti eo11t ( ~ . t l t d hin.$elf ~ c i ~ h gc~verning
onl y ( I ~ c - ~ n o r i t ~ c r l ~ rc3p~cri, ~. ,.z+ ~hi , i ~nci t t nl t nt na$ found t o be
of no a \ ' ~i I in thc cast. of Sirclar Xlohn~~ietl 4fzal khan ... lle Pent preat1nta
ttlronph hlirza 411111~(1 hhilli kashnliretx ancl Xazir rJnitlar Khan
-both lleinn his trufitecl 111c.n-to Kal111l. Hut a l ~ t ~ c r was cliscoveretl from
Sirclar Mollamad Aztlm Khan i l l i4hic.h he l l nt l wrrtrelr to:hi% frrother to
take h a l ~u l . I I Amir. wh o \+an ~laluinll,' s ~ ~ s c t ~ l ~ t i l ~ l e . ?l+tought
~ h n l thi s lettc-r was intlirdti\e o t ' ~t 1 a l l i a ~ i ~ c I ) * h t ~ e e ~ i thp ~ W O ljrothers
fro111 rhr. noti11 a11,l 1ht0 P O ~ I I ~ . and to I of them replied t hat
they should eith(*r a 1 1 1 i o 1 or 11r. r f d y 1 0 fight. He
aent P nun\t)er ( , t ' fighting nithn to\rrtr(ls Znr m~i t againat Sitdar
M9hame.d Azani hllail. a11(1 a* he 1~o111(i not ~ t a n d hi^ ground,
he wa8 forced to eRcapc- to India to thr~protecti~rn)of,tI~e~ b;':t~glieh. J-fy
!hie time Ami r Shah Ali Khan had t l i a~~rnsrel ~ i t h hie rival%
ant1 therl t h ~ ~ l g h t of rlrivir~g final conr l u~i ons Ibetwepn hin~self
; rl ~(l Sirrlar hfoharncd 4fial Khan. Sirciar h40llamed :\fzal Khan
hat4 11o real anilnosity against his brother t hc .4n1ir. and eyprcU-
4etl I nllrgiar~ce I I I I ~ friencl9hir) towarcls %sir Il i Khan. b ~ j t
- 174-
the Amir had hecome susyi doue towards him b o ~ h because he
helped t he revolt of Sirdar %Iot~anled Aslam Khan and because of the
disc.over! of a letter of Sirdar Mohamed Azam Khan, decided to
march his troops t~orlhwarcie. A Iwdy of men under t41e command
of prince k1oharner-l -4li Kharr. the son of Amir Shai,r ,4li Kha11
marcliir~g to the north contacted d ~ e ot her lr0ODs in
:he valley I tlajgal~ near the Seighan and Kahnlurd. The
&on uf t h r '4niir Sound l~irnself victorious, and the Aulir hi mel f
arrived i i t the r r ar . -4t the Uou Aalb of Shahpasuritl. Sirdar
hl ol ~amed Afzal Kha11 []lade a n appearance lrefore the .2rnir
Sfl ai r Ali Khan. Rather than to t ~ ~ a r c h back to k'aljul, and give
tht, go~er l i or shi p o i t he rlortt~ t o his brother, thc Alnir ~r~archecl upto
hlazar Sharief', ant1 S ~ r d a r ALdur Hahman 1101 liking tlie idea of
his father >uhnritting to Sflair Ali Kh a l ~ tent as a refugee tu HoLlrara,
1% bile $lohatried ,lfzal Khan kbaci put urider house-arrest, so that
ihe Ibig~est ot t he claimants to the throne was squashell.
Sirrlar illolrarned .lrlarn Khan resolve(! to f l y to Ilazarajat. 11t.
had all idea that with hi* real lbrotl~er, Sirdar hloharned Musai~i
Kha11 try 111ight still offer some resistance. Before t he Anlir reacliell
liaIt111. the allove rnentionrtl Sirdar reac.11rd Zo r n ~~r t ant1 t v i t l ~ t hr
help o f the tril, esn~yn 1)~lnngi11y t o his rnoi11r.r'~ (.Ian. Ilc attackrrl
Kabul.
Zr~lir Shurr .Ili I i ha~r wap \\el! dwure of thrse plana. He. too.
laid rlur plan3 in that ctirer;tior~. I n liandtlhar. Sirdar ?rlohamecl Amin
Khar ~ riitl rot ecllrl hid 1,rtter o f Allegiance,
hnt he wae, l eft ~ h ~ r e
unmolested for t he time Lwing;. I n the J-Iazarajat. the' otliar brother
df %lolramed A9lan1 Kharr ~ a r r givctn a letter o f ~rclm, and i n
addition. thr An~i r Enti tetl the people: there to nrarkt. allegiance to
h i n ~ ( t o Stlair 1 hhnr ~ ). AH tire j~tlople utlnttd to reel t ,
Mol~nrned .AsIan1 Khau was won over hy Sirrlitr i\llohamed Af zd
Khan. anrl despite the fact that he hacl writ in hi & I.etter of
Al l egi an~r to Amir Stlair
Al i khan, Ire ecmtinoe~l to Ikcel l ) the en*
micfi of t he +Inlir. and ent l eavo~~ret i to ally t hrm to hio own cause.
\\ hen Sirtlar \lolr:lt~~t.tl AZ:IIII lillor~ had ~epar at et l llirnself from
Anlit Shair , \ I [ h11a11 at 51il1~1sar ( Sheen 1)111111 ), Ilr reached Ztrrrl~tlt
quickly, and tl struggle was prrcipitated there; which compelled t he
Amir t o turn his troops towards t hat direction. When, however.
peace wa i sought and Sirdar Mol~arned Afzal Khan came to the .-\rnir
himself. hut the t hree months grace that lie sought for coming t o
Kal~nl, elapsed and he did hot r et r ~r n.
Zllrnlut, [herefore. continued tu Ile a point of' a~i r i r t y. \F'e .uaiJ
aljove that Si r dar hfoharnt.cl .4fzal Kh;lr~ had srnt his T,etter of
Allegiance ro Hrrat. all(] (lt$pittl this co11ti1111ed t o tlelp the ki ~i g' s
enemies. ~i amel y the Si nl ars Jl ol l ~ni c-d A+lanl h1iu11 a1111 Ijrotkrrs
hlohamell Husai.1 khan. an11 11.ieI1 10 illcit~' thf3111 agai l ~st ttlt- k i ~ ~ g .
Yr t when Aniir S l i ~ i r Al i K t ~ i ~ i i r e ~ ~ l ~ t b r l ka111rl 11t. partlo~ic-ct 5rrtlar
Alohanreci Aslam khan and hir 1, r ot her ~.
But t i e etlll could nut 11,. I vl t 111 prac'r. lor t l ~ r di st ur l ~er * oi
prclce had thpll uttuc*hrjl Kar~tlaliar. :i111l h1r11ar Jl oh~l i i r t l A \ ~ ~ i i ~ ~ hl ~a l l
ditl not git" l l i b oat11 of al l t ~gi , i ~~c~r to hi* Or-~tbt' r a~icl raise11 t he
st an(l l l rci of r r i ol t ;1gai115 I I I :Zt t l 1i 3 11l ca .\rilir
startcl1 wi t h Ili,s elclt.*t st111 51r11'1r \ 11111; 1111t ~l 4li hh' l t ~. and n llattlr.
tooh plil(.r ; ~ t Klljl~as 511111t~ cmlgli t 111tle~ s o l ~t ! ~ \vt>.st CIS C;110~1ii, w11e11
tlir 1111(' l r' BI I I ! 1 1 1 1 9 1 1 t * ~ 1 1 1 t ~ \ t \ \ enb h l c ~ i ~ ~ 111 l \ Li t t It ' at tlie hands of r*acll
other. '1'111.- n,,? > I I ( . ~ I ii ~ 1 i o c . L to tlle \ ~ u i r tllat for +onIc: tilntl he
wael-let1 his Iialid? of 111t. affairs of t l i t . Liugcloni at111 rrtiretl t o the
Shrine of the Robe of the J'rophet at tihalidntiiir.
It that periocl at
Kal ~ul Sirdar \%'ali hloliL~lued khnu at111 Srrd'lr hlol~a:rlc.tl 1 I I - U ~ h l ~ i ~ l i
ber e a t the hrlni of aifair* as joint parts i l l r ul l l ~g tlir city. S i r d ~ r
Al)ll\tr Kol l ~nar~ F(ht\11 Ilenrirrg of' ~ t i r c.o~ltlition ol tlie \ n ~i r that Ii(2
had take11 111 a life of a re(-lusv arrivtd (111 t l i c . 11ortlrvtn c onf ~l ~e n
of the coul~tr!. an11 Si r ~l nr Ilolianlecl \ ~ , I I I I I \ I I ~ I I I rlirt .Il)dur I{ahl i ~a~l
KIl.n:lj~ ail, f 1 i r 1 I $0 illr r~vl, llrs a ~ t ! t11t- ullclt. eoliitlrgnl
~ 1 1 o n lialbnl. ' rl~r \ n l ~r I l e a r ~r l ~ of t l ~r ( l eci pl l ~ o f bll)dur Rrlllrna1l
Kl l i l l l : I I I I I S i r d ~ r I \ I ~ I I RI I I CI I I h l i a ~ ~ setit
illililary force agai l l ~t
the tbto. arl(l at 1a.t hc hirnwlt' siarlecl toi\artls Kal ~ul , hut i n 1)attles
fimt \\ ar ~l ak hr \ +as dt *f r a~r d. ant1 relrcatcd to Kentlaher. and Srrctar
Mnha~l l c~l 1 fral f(ha11 a l l r ~ x;lr i t ~ ~ p r i l o l ~ ~ d t l l ~ r ~ and had allied
binhzlf wi t 11 t he Ling and \rrr at that time i n a ( i hnr ni prisoll rval
reltb:i~t*~l a11d rt >d( - l ~ed t l ~ e ~ l t r o ~ l t ~ of Ka\bt~l \ \ i t 11 t i l t * 11eIp of l l i ~
-176 -,
and hid brother, so that d u r i ~ g his four and half rears reign Amir
Shair Ali Khan had not a minate peace ( from the end of the
year 1278. A.H. to die beginning of the year 1283. A.H. ) 'Jhe
ciifl'iultcics that heset the path of r b i i r Shair Ali Khan wi t h his
t)rothere. Ita\e a close resemblal~ce ni t h the difficulties which were
coliirontetl It!: Zaman Sl~ah, \tho, OF course. was deprived of his
5igh t. i h i I i Khan, thougli found a second opportunity
to rlile. hut the aclivities of foreigners destroyed the deeires and
aspirations of hoth of these kings.
In respetSt to t he k:ngli~h aggressions, which are generally
6 t y I ~ ( I ;la the F l r ~ t an11 the Serond Af ghan \%ars, the English
a11thtJr5 h a ~ e \\ rittvn r yrtaat c!ral, ant1 sonit. of their histnri-
ni l +, kilo\$ ill^ full! ~ t l l l that t llr had 1we11 the instigatord of those
\tars, gil1,e I I O cau+cs f or t ht t he bars. for sollie of thcir politic-a1
leader* rnught to ~e a kt a r ~ ' 1 rrLltion. FC) that their 01\11 polzer
a*1(1 inflr~t.r~ce stioulcl increase I hereby.
I n point c b f f a(-t the-e nt'rt* r c~ul t s of thc t wo s!stenw of
~)olic.ie* of t h e k,~lglish: ivhir.h ar r 1~11own as the Forward I'olicy
ant1 the. ( , l ~, - e Hnrrler Policy. Some of the viceroys of the
P:rtgliah here therefor^. wf~rlrled irr the one or ttic other of these
tb+o poliric.2. Acting on these, and Rome time trying the one
~ ; , , f at o t f l ~ r accar i on~ prr~jecting the other i f the previous did
ttleir p~l r ~m~e- t t l ey fotmd Pxruses for their interventfon
erld marit. effl,rls to rpduce t l ~ ~ power of a country-Afirhrnistan
- 54) that t he y t he ms e l ve ~ ]nay hrcome powerful.
'1-he k;t~glieh Irate experience anti shill when the conditions tern-
yeramunts of the eastern peoples are ronrerned in which noone can
equal t11e.n). Vor would anyone deny their skill
in thir r ~ ~ a r t l . The
po\ilicrl iraders of the Engl i sh ~ i t h great foresight and penetration
- 177 -
introduced their inflnence in the eastern regions of India ; and pro-
gressed in that land gradually- (whi ch need not detain ue here).
For the first time they contacted Shahshuja and the Afghan officers
in Peghawar in February of 18N. A.D.
'I'l~ie first r r e t i ng was at a time when the struggle between
the Sadozai prirces brought Shah Mahmud to Kabul from Kanda-
har, and Shahehuja, after his defeat at Nimla, in place of ascending
the thronc of Kabul retreated to the land of India, and after marly
~ribulativns and t ri ah of life, at last took his atbode at L.udhiana in
r~ort h India.
!a Afghanistar itself the plans of Mahn~ud the Sadozai and his
minister Vazir Pateh Khan Harakzai, and other Royal element8
produced mm-tplicratiaus, which ultiniately brought Arnir Dost Mohamed
Khan to the throne, who was the youngest of the sons of Sirdar
Payunda Khan, the Barakzai. Aniir Dost Mohamed Khan wbo had an
excellerlt plan for the ranily of the realm. resolved to make a pact
regartling Flerat, ogaiast Russian and Persian disigr~s, with the E11g-
l i ~ h . He clearly mentioned to Alexander I3urnes that he waa not
in(-linetl toward8 the English in regards to the. Ruasian promises.
Just that time I,srd Auckland at r ~ved in Sirrjla as the Viceroy
and in opposition t s the clear call of -4mir Dost Moharned Khan he
paid no heed to hi@ proposal and'saw the things i n quite a dilferent
11gIlt than perceived by the Amir. Maud Dyer , the authoress of a
IwoL I-ntitletl "Fro~n Kabul to Kandahar" styles Lord Auckland aa
t i l t . ''Vrry (:arefl~l" ptarson. She wr ~t es : . . . . . Al l lIiings demanded:
hut t ~ t * di d not ~lremise any thing, and as Arnir 1)oat Mollarneij
I(ha11 i r a s nnt rcatlp ttl:+t he coultl give c,ar to surh indefirlite
pronlises . . . .
'l'hin Viceroy with his wisdom an11 foresigllt, who had Beela
atlj\r~lgt\rl correctly by one of Ilia own corlntrywomen, plunged the
Sirltlll Cor(-rs into Algl~snistan agoinrt a Ling who offered co-opera-
iioll t o t I 1 ~ i s . ' 1 1 r es ul ~ of those aggressive rnovernents
~ . f i ~ j l l +l lllat which the k:l~gli>lr aulhorena 111 rself nl;inifc.s~s in her
writing$; that i~ 10 say ~ h n t ;IS
811 ilnj~lst resolution and decision,
the 1 ) ~ b t interests of thc Englisll tlic.msc~l\cs received a check, so
that . . their . , important men were killed , their army was destroyed,
Shrhshuia war !hro~vn out, and the prestige of the aritieb w-as.cqgt
- t i ' I 1 I = .
to \he dli~st and disgrace, and those wb o had driven Amir boat
h!o$a111ed Wa n froql his cougtry, bad \u bring him l ack to his
throne with the S H I I I ~ grandeur and honour as bcfom and to place
. I .
him on the throrle of Afghanistan. Furthermore, that pact which
had bee!) prt~jected in 1837. A. D. was qnec again
revived in 1855.
A.D. , a114 1857. $0. During the years
when the Ruq#iane foVnd ,a
footing i n Ccntral Asia and came nearer the northern borders
Afghanietan, the Englibh ma& their po~i t i on stronger i o tile
1 I
Punjab. John, Lawrence, the governor of the punjab, the advocate
of the Rack to the I!ld:~e Polic~y, who cc,nsidered the natural Laundry
to Ile the Jndus river r et l ~r ~l ed to India as a Viceroy. Between
these two there wah an affinity of thoirght. In he like manwr Lord
Mayo too agreed with the Arnir, Lu t wit11 the apFoi nt ~e nt of Lord
Sorthbrook RB a Viceroy ( who belonged to the Forward Policy )-
whatever effort Was An~i r Sirair Ali Khan made regarding an agtee-
men1 wi t h the Er%:'e1i against tile Ruseiaiis. no sttention ,was paid
t~ his yr~>posals, even the promise t o give hety in cane of Russian
aggres~i ve was 11ot given. Arnir Shair Al i Klian'e de8ire to offi-
cially ack~owletlgc Sirtltlr Abdullah Khan as t wi r was also oppow~j
ant1 clue to a rrgrettnl,le 1ac.k of npprecia~ion of t he opyor t ~~l ~i t y
on t hv part o f tht: 1 rceroy n11d hi s I<nglish stalesment the Aolrr of
l \ f gh~n~at at l \ras r-c~n~yelle(j 1 0 t ur ~r I I J B fdce away from the Euglish
arrlt t c ~ inc.llne ! ~ i l i ~ - e . l I t,,wnr(t4 the Hasaianv. 'l'he Nunqian rrpresen-
t s t i v t s at K H ~ , I I / t r n ~ l th:rehrr. tu be rt.ceive~i by the king of Afgbaois-
. ,.
ratl. 1 I I I ? f r \ t , u r ' ~ i ~ l r i l l t~trlcie of tht. Afgllan ki l l g to\\arOa t h t h
sianrr.rlu~~t- I I ~ I I I ~ T ~ I I i cIisl,Jr~;l~rfitl thc~ En~l i sl l , an~l 11i:vde the111 retlli~e t l ~ t - j f
o w n I ~I - t nkc- . d l i i 111ey L)~giill tc, Il'tit' 110ul~ts about the Afghan
rnorrarc.11. r l t t r t l l , ~ t bilqa S~l i r r arlrl I ,ytton I tile
, , ,,1 , I I '1r111 r at s ~ i ! ) l ~ i * - l ~ ~ ~ r l l
I 1 1 1 1 I , k t 1 t 1 1 I L \ . I I I I ( . ( , ~ ~ I I , t r , b! ~\ l 4 , ~ ~ g I : \ ~ ~ ~ l sfl>i~ii!
a t kbi,a,ek,
t -.,\I\, . t l t ~ i j d q 1 1 , ; + i l l )):I( k I ! I ~ ~ ki11g 01 lhls , ~ f g ~ l ~ l l u
at r , ] ),i. r 1 2 i >l ] l :
+l r . , 1 8 1 1 1 0 t , t i l it] ! + I I / I ~~~~~ir \Itb\V$. Ijllt ( b l l ( ' t ' agaill
I l l < a, , , I -I ; , j,, I n i l 1 1 c t r 1 j 1 t ~ 1 - 11,11\t1-. 1;)1 I I ' P \fp1lil11 K I I ~ ~
$11''
r n l i c ~ l \ n l ~ ~ l ~ , ; I , , (
; , , , $ I , i l 1 1 I ) ) t l r l , o- t . . 1. 0011i 1 1 1 b t 01 er t I ) r ~ w f i l J
t,,lg 1 2 p , l l t , , , I \ ! l;,l--i,111.. : I I (1 t o t , \ ~, el I I I I * I ~: I - SI - I I ~ r~*l)rf6*f' ll-
tat,t.- f r , , l l ; f\ , l r l 1 1 , I I ~ , ; I I ' , I . I t 1 1 1:11::~1*11 \i1'111 l r l t ~ i ~ * I ( * ~ I I I . l ' h l ~
- 179-
brought the aggression of the English to t he land of the Afghans. Once
again the righkful king of Afghanistan had to renounce his throne and
his kingtlom, and once again t he heros ot Afghanistan, fighting frorn
the foothills of Asmai and Shair Darwaza at Kabul and from the
plains of Maiwand gave a stern reply to tke aggression of the invaders
H ~ O had no perception of their lost opportunities.
But the losses it caused to our country are positive facts. irlst
decisiolls would incontrovertibl!: prove i hat the Kngliah thetnsrl ~es
tllrew over I,c)artl t11e chances they were give11 at a Inoct rritical
l,eriotj of tin](= wi t h their own h a ~ ~ d s . Opportunities ~ h i c - h tlley 111em-
selves had so~tght they rliliherately threw away and wi t t i ~ h r r r 11arlcls
beahenel4 the 1.ou11lry and the l an~l thc strengthcnirrg ol'\+lrich was
ill Lheir o c v ~ l interests a point ol' t h e ~ r own policy, alld lay .tvrthin
tilt. atlllbit of their u\ +n gelleral line of statestnt~r~sliip.
--
b e *