MCQ Detailed View

The First Anglo-Afghan War took place from 1839 to 1842. It was one of the earliest major military conflicts between the British Empire and Afghanistan during the period of British expansion in South Asia. This war is remembered as one of the most dramatic and disastrous campaigns in British colonial history.

The war began when the British East India Company decided to invade Afghanistan to remove its ruler, Dost Mohammad Khan, and replace him with a former Afghan king, Shah Shuja Durrani, who was seen as more favorable to British interests. The British feared growing Russian influence in Central Asia and wanted a friendly government in Kabul as a buffer state.

In 1839, British forces entered Afghanistan and captured the capital city, Kabul, without much resistance. Shah Shuja was installed as the king under British protection. However, the British soon faced growing resistance from Afghan tribes, who were angry at foreign interference in their internal affairs.

In late 1841, a widespread uprising broke out in Kabul. British officers, soldiers, and civilians tried to retreat to Jalalabad in January 1842, but nearly all of them were killed during the retreat through snow-covered mountain passes. Only a few survived, including the famous case of Dr. William Brydon, who reached Jalalabad wounded and became a symbol of British defeat.

Later in 1842, the British launched a re-invasion, destroyed parts of Kabul, and then withdrew from Afghanistan completely. The war ended in humiliation for the British and served as a warning about the dangers of military involvement in Afghanistan’s tribal politics.

Key facts:
- Years: 1839–1842
- British vs. Afghans
- Rulers involved: Dost Mohammad Khan, Shah Shuja Durrani
- Outcome: British withdrawal and failure

This war is often cited as a classic example of the "graveyard of empires" — a title Afghanistan earned due to repeated failures of foreign powers to control it.