Afghanistan In The 19th Century British Indian North-Western Frontier Policy

Abstract

The 19th Century Anglo-Russian power struggle in Central Asia is one of the most crucial topics discussed in the strategic studies debates. The Czarist Russia’s southwards march in Central Asia and the Great Britain’s Indian expansion towards the North-west in the second half of the 19th Century was considered as a potential threat to the regional peace. There was a realization both in London and Moscow that the stage of face-to-face confrontation between these two empires would be disastrous thus should be avoided. There must be a well-recognized buffer zone separating their geographic boundaries. Given this realization, Afghanistan appeared as the only option to serve as a buffer because it bordered these two empires. Thus, the country became strategically importance overnight. It became important to engage Afghanistan in order to bring about a clarity on its frontiers. This great powers’ power struggle and subsequent developments put deep and long-lasting effects on the regional geostrategic and political landscape that continue till date. Strategic writers call this Anglo-Russian power struggle as “The Great Game”. This research article explains British and Russian policy approaches and maneuvers to achieve their respective objectives in Central Asia and to maintain a buffering restraint as well as to avoid a direct conflict. Where did Afghanistan stand, what responses, options, gains, losses, etc. it had.? This article glances the topic through the theoretical lens of Realism that views the world politics as a continuous competition among the self-interested states struggling for power and good positioning.