A Political and Diplomatic History of Afghanistan 1863-1901

Based mainly on archival sources this book lays bare how the ground was laid for the emergence of modern Afghanistan as a nation-state, as well as for modernization schemes. It describes how Amr Sher ‘Ali Khan, more fully Amir ‘Abd al-Rahman Khan for the first time consolidated the authority of the central government at the expense of the local magnates . They did so in the days of the Great Game played between Great Britain and Russia for mastery of the Central Asian states. Although the Great Game resulted in the reduction of Afghanistan in size, it also led to the clear demarcation of its boundaries in accordance with international agreements. In many respects it is an account of Afghanistan’s history in its formation period.