International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest

Extract

The British empire invaded Afghanistan twice – in 1838–42 and in 1878–81. In both cases the goal of the invasion was to deflect Russian influence and to prevent it from establishing a foothold in the strategic region. In response to each invasion, the Afghan population revolted against their occupiers. In 1838 Shah Dost Muhammad Khan, the ruler of Afghanistan, failed to organize significant resistance and soon surrendered. The British army occupied Ghazni, Kabul, and Jalalabad almost effortlessly. The British promoted a puppet emir, Shah Shujah, who agreed to cede to British hegemony. The majority of the Afghans, however, despised Shah Shujah for his political betrayal and initiated a rebellion against the British, whose army consumed essential food and supplies that raised local prices so high the local population in the capital of Kabul became impoverished. In turn, the Islamic mullahs began calling for a jihad – a holy war against non-believers, or infidels. On November 1, 1842, a popular uprising against the occupation attacked the British garrison in Kabul, killing hundreds of British troops. British commanders decided to withdraw from Kabul and on January 1, 1842, a regiment of 20,000 departed to the nearby cities of Jalalabad and Gandamak. The persistence of raids and ambushes by local militia during a harsh winter turned the retreat into a rout. Fewer than 2,000 reached ... log in or subscribe to read full text