From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
List of events
The following lists events that happened during
1919
in
Afghanistan
.
Incumbents
[
edit
]
February 20, 1919
[
edit
]
The
amir
Habibullah Khan
, who has always been a loyal friend to Britain, is murdered whilst camping in the
Laghman Valley
. Thereupon ensues a competition for the throne. At
Jalalabad
a proclamation is issued that
Nasrullah Khan
has assumed the throne, but in Kabul power is seized by
Amanullah Khan
, the third son of the late
amir
. Amanullah's mother was Habibullah's chief wife; but the late
amir
'
s eldest son is
Inayatullah
who appears to have supported the claims of Nasrullah. Amanullah soon shows, however, that he has control of the situation and the rival claimant withdraws. There is more than a suspicion that Nasrullah (a brother of the late sovereign) was not unduly disturbed at Habibullah's assassination. The new
amir
, Amanullah, begins his reign by announcing that he will punish those who are guilty of the assassination of his father, that he will institute reforms in the country, including the abolition of the virtual slavery, which exists in a disguised form, and that he will preserve the tradition of friendship with India. On April 13 a
durbar
is held at Kabul, at which the assassination of the late
amir
is investigated. A colonel is found guilty of committing the murder and executed, and the new
amir
'
s uncle, Nasrullah, is found guilty of complicity in the crime, and is sentenced to imprisonment for life.
Early May 1919
[
edit
]
Amanullah launches what becomes known as the
Third Anglo-Afghan War
. A large Afghan army comes pouring across the Indian frontier and proceeds to pillage far and wide in the northwest provinces. Within a few days, and before the Afghans have suffered any serious defeats, the
amir
enters into tentative negotiations with the Indian government. The fighting continues, however, the British forces on the frontier being commanded by Gen. Sir
Arthur Barrett
. The aeroplanes attached to the Anglo-Indian forces bomb both
Jalalabad
and
Kabul
. After much procrastination a peace conference is opened at
Rawalpindi
on July 26, Sir
Hamilton Grant
representing the Indian government and
Sardar Ali Ahmad Khan
representing the
amir
. A preliminary peace (the
Treaty of Rawalpindi
) is signed on August 8. By the terms of the agreement the arrears of the late
amir
'
s subsidy are confiscated, and no subsidy is to be paid at present to the new
amir
. The Afghan privilege of importing arms and ammunition from India is also withdrawn. The frontier in the region of the
Khyber
is to be definitely demarcated by the Indian government, and the Afghans are to accept this demarcation. The Indian government expresses its willingness, however, to receive another Afghan mission six months later. Moreover, there is another item in the agreement which is subsequently made known and which evokes considerable criticism in England. In the past there was an agreement between Britain and Afghanistan that Afghanistan should have no relations with any foreign government except Britain. According to the new treaty this stipulation is withdrawn, the
amir
'
s government thus obtaining full liberty to enter into relations with any foreign government. It is regarded by many as a sinister comment on this agreement that during the year the
amir
sends a mission to Moscow.
April 13, 1919
[
edit
]
Amir
Amanullah Khan
declared Afghanistan's independence from Britain.