Wars
At the end of the First World War, Afghanistan declared independence from the previous overlords, the British. They governed themselves for about 50 years before the Russians invaded and staged a coup in 1979. 13 years later, on 1992 the Russians were driven out by a jihad. Now, Afghanistan is under Taliban control.
The Anglo-Afghan Wars
The First Anglo-Afghan War: 1838-42
The first Anglo-Afghan War originated from Britain’s desire to invade in April 1839. The British believed that Afghanistan was either hostile to them or unable to defend themselves against the Russians. When the British forces invaded Afghanistan they installed their own leader by August 1839 in Kabul (the capital city). The Afghans however opposed this foreign occupation and Dost Mohammed (an Afghan who escaped prison) later lead the Afghans against this British ruling, resulting in the first Anglo-Afghan War. Soon after, Mohammed ended up surrendering to the British in Kabul and was deported to India with his family. |
The Second Anglo-Afghan War: 1878-80
The second Anglo-Afghan War was produced solely from British jealousy and hatred of Russia. In 1975, Viceroy Lytton (Governor General of India, who was British) was denied permission to enter Afghanistan as he was concerned with Afghan foreign affairs. So when Russian General Stolyetov was granted access to enter Afghanistan, Lytton took it upon himself to destroy his neighbouring country by invading them with a large British force As the British forces were invading the Afghan leader, Shir Ali Khan was forced to leave his country and later died in exile. |
The Third Anglo Afghan War: During WW1 the Afghan leader, Habibullah Khan, wanted Afghanistan to have no part in the war. This was until he was assassinated in Feb 20, 1919 and his son Amanullah Khan rose to the throne and opposed British influence in Afghan foreign affairs.
In May, 1919 Amanullah declared total independence from the British. This led to the Third Anglo-Afghan War between the already exaughsted, British army (depleted from WW1) with Afghanistan’s small army. The Afghans were victorious in December, 1919 and regained control of their foreign affairs and become independent from Britain with a peace treaty signed between them on August 8, 1919. |