First Anglo-Afghan War
1838–1842 war between the British Empire and the Emirate of Afghanistan / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The First Anglo-Afghan War (Pashto: ده انګريز افغان اولني جګړه) was fought between the British Empire and the Emirate of Kabul from 1838 to 1842. The British initially successfully invaded the country taking sides in a succession dispute between emir Dost Mohammad Khan (Barakzai) and former King Shah Shujah (Durrani), whom they reinstalled upon occupying Kabul in August 1839. The main British Indian force occupied Kabul and endured harsh winters. The force and its camp followers were almost completely massacred during the 1842 retreat from Kabul.[1][4]
First Anglo-Afghan War | |||||||
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Part of the Great Game | |||||||
Lithograph depicting British-Indian force storming the fortress during the Battle of Ghazni, 23 July 1839 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Emirate of Kabul Principality of Kandahar Khanate of Kalat Khulm (August 1840, November 1841 onwards.) Marri Bugti Afghan Tribes Barakzai Loyalists |
Supported By: | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Dost Mohammad Khan Akbar Khan (WIA) Afzal Khan (WIA) Mir Masjidi Khan X Akhtar Khan Haidar Khan Nawab Jabbar Khan Akram Khan Nawab Muhammad Zaman Kohandil Khan Mehrdil Khan Rahmdil Khan Abdullah Khan Achakzai Aminullah Khan Logari Mir Wali of Khulm (November 1841 onwards) |
Shujah ul-Mulk X Robert Peel William Lamb Lord Auckland William Elphinstone † William Hay Macnaghten † Sir Henry William Barnard John Keane John Connolly † Sir Willoughby Cotton George Pollock Henry Marion Durand Robert Sale John Shelton (POW) Robert Salusbury Trevor † Edward Connolly † Alexander Burnes † Percival Lord † Fath Jang Timur Mirza Sultan Shahpur Mir Wali of Khulm (August 1840-November 1841) Hajji Khan Kakar | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown | ~40,000 British dead[3] |
The British then sent an Army of Retribution to Kabul to avenge the destruction of the previous forces. After recovering prisoners, they left Afghanistan by the end of the year. Dost Mohammed returned from exile in India to resume his rule.
It was one of the first major conflicts during the Great Game, the 19th century competition for power and influence in Central Asia between Britain and Russia.[5]