In 1838 the First Anglo-Afghan War began.

The British had installed a puppet regime in Kabul. Without British support it could not survive.

Many Afghans were against this regime.

In four years, British were attacked on the streets of Kabul and forced to leave the country.



The Russians now moved into Afghanistan.

In 1865 they annexed Tashkent, then Samarkand. The Russian Empire now extended to the Amu Darya river.



In 1878, Britain demanded the ruler of Afghanistan (Sher Ali) to accept a British diplomatic mission. As expected, he refused. Forty Thousand British soldiers crossed the border, beginning the Second Anglo-Afghan War.



The war ended with a new puppet on the throne, and management of Afghanistan's foreign policies given to the British.



In 1884 the Russians seized the oasis of Merv and fought with Afghan troops over the oasis of Panjdeh.



The British considered the situation. They decided to accept the Russian conquests to avoid war. There was no Afghan say in the matter. The Brits and Russians divided up the area, delineating a permanent northern Afghan frontier at the Amu Darya.

Afghanistan lost much of its territory.



As the Twentieth Century approached, both Empires noted Germany's activity in the Middle East.



(It must be mentioned that these three nations were ruled by one family; Victoria's son was the King of England, her eldest grandson, was German Emperor Wilhelm II, and Tsar Nicholas was the nephew of Alexandra, Queen consort of Edward VII.)

To paraphrase an Arab adage; "Me and my brother against my cousin, me and my cousin against the world."