The Fight for Freedom

               In the late 1700’s, the British Empire was at its full might of imperialism. Corrupt leaders of Afghanistan’s government signed contracts for money or fame. One contract in particular gave rights to the British to manage Afghanistan’s foreign policy and affairs in exchange for gold and silver. (5) With another country managing their government, the people of Afghanistan were enraged. The citizens came to constant conflicts that turned up into the Anglo-Afghan Wars.

                During the year of 1919, tensions were high between Afghanistan and British India because the respective countries thought of each other as threats. (6) Following up the recent assassination of Habibullah, King Amanullah, the third son of Habibullah and a democratic influenced person, took the throne and decided to invade British India.(7)

                Using India’s civil uprising as a divergence to move Afghan troops to the border, the army crossed the Khyber Pass and attacked the small village of Bagh on May 3, 1919. (8) Following this first attack, many initial skirmishes were won because of sheer manpower and morale on the behalf of the Afghan troops. The British retaliated with better technology, transportation, and weapons. They also went into full force and used their royal air force to drop bombs and push back the Afghans into their country. (9) About a month later, this fighting was ceased when the Treaty of Rawalpindi was signed between the British and Afghans. This treaty recognized Afghanistan’s independence, stopped subsidies to Afghanistan, and agreed that British India would never extend past the Khyber Pass.