Colonial Ambitions and Afghan Sovereignty: Analyzing the First Anglo-Afghan War

Abstract

In the 19th century, Russia and the United Kingdom fought one other diplomatically in an attempt to gain more influence in southern Asia. The Russians called it a "shadow tournament," but the British invented the phrase "Great Game." The ascent to prominence of Amir Dost Muhammad Khan was seen by the British as a danger to their interests in India. It was claimed that by using Amir, Russia was intruding on India's borders. Russia's ambitions for regional expansion coincided with the British invasion of Afghanistan. The British redirected their attention to Afghanistan as a result of this development. The British persevered even after they were unable to persuade Amir Dost Muhammad Khan to sign a treaty that would have ended Russian control. Russia continued to communicate with the Amir of Kabul during this time. Consequently, in 1839 the British launched an invasion of Afghanistan, which restored Shah Shuja to his former position. A long-lasting and deadly power battle between the Sadozais and the Barakzais, two sections of the Durrani tribe, took place in Afghanistan in the early 1800s. Dost Mohammad Khan was named the new Emir of Kabul after the Barakzais won the civil war. However, in the midst of the internal strife, Ranjit Singh, the ruler of the Sikh kingdom, took control of Peshawar. This led to a huge and irreversible conflict of interest between Afghanistan and the Sikh state. In addition to identifying the crucial person who made the choice that ultimately sparked hostilities, the essay aims to make clear how these factors interacted and contributed to the start of the conflict. This invasion was a major blow to the British, and it was a turning moment in modern history because it was the first time the Afghans and the British had faced off, which ultimately led to the British's defeat. For its inquiry and study, this article uses a descriptive research approach and technique.