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78-636: Operations against the Marri and Khetran tribes (also known as the Marri Punitive Expedition ) was the British name for a punitive expedition carried out against the Marri and Khetran tribes of Balochistan , British India between February and April 1918. The Marri rose against the British authorities around 18 February, encouraged by rumours that the British were short of manpower due to
156-524: A condolence message to Sher Ali, the British informed Sher Ali that the mission would leave Peshawar for Kabul in September. Lord Lytton , the viceroy of India , ordered a diplomatic mission to set out for Kabul in September 1878 but the mission was turned back as it approached the eastern entrance of the Khyber Pass . A deadline was established for 20 November, where if a response was not given by
234-642: A continuing buffer between the British Raj and the Russian Empire . Ironically many of these polices had been desired by Sher Ali Khan , and war could have been prevented had they been implemented earlier. The war was expensive for Britain, spending some 17 million pounds during the war, which was three times the estimated cost. The costs rose just before the British left in March 1881, estimating to be around 19.5 million pounds. Despite attempts from
312-756: A different route. At the end of the first phase of the war in May 1879, the Peshawar Force was withdrawn, while the Kandahar Force was reduced in size. In September 1879, at the beginning of the second phase, additional British and Indian Army units were despatched to Afghanistan, while the Kurram Valley Force was reinforced, and redesignated the Kabul Field Force. [REDACTED] This article incorporates text from
390-518: A force of 1,200 Marri, which were attacked and forced to retreat after losing 70–80 men killed and 100 wounded. The next day Hardy moved on Maiwand , by which time he considered that the main threat was over and the Marri limited to only minor raids against his men. The Royal Flying Corps , despite being hindered by poor weather, engine problems and mountainous terrain, operated with Hardy's column carrying out bombing and strafing attacks and aerial reconnaissance up to 20 miles (32 km) in advance of
468-495: A force of 3,000 Marri and Khetrans, armed largely with swords. The Marri occupied a number of bungalows as well as a hill overlooking the British position. An attack made by two companies of Coke's Rifles, with supporting artillery fire at a range of 1,700 yards (1,600 m), cleared the bungalows. The hill was cleared with artillery fire alone, some 32 shells being sufficient to cause the Marri to withdraw. Marri losses in this action were 21 killed and wounded. Miles, whose column
546-496: A goods train at Kach , six Indians and one European were killed and a further three Indians wounded. The railway station at Harnai was a major resupply point for the British during the operations. The attacks on Kohlu caused the British to consider sending a punitive expedition to punish the Marri and Khetran tribes and such an expedition was ordered by the Government of India on 28 February. Major-General Richard Wapshare
624-647: A mountain pass while it snowed, arriving at Rostaq , where its garrison defected. With the fall of Rostaq, Abdur Rahman met the Mir of Badakhshan in battle, forcing him to flee to Chitral while Abdur Rahman annexed Badakhshan. Abdur Rahman requested from Sultan Murad of Kunduz for military access so he could advance on Kabul . This request was denied. However, Ghulam Haidar Khan, Yaqub's governor of Balkh , attacked Kunduz, occupying it, and forcing Sultan Murad to flee to Fayzabad . Sultan Murad then aligned with Abdur Rahman, and encouraged rebellion against Ghulam Haidar, with
702-436: A nationalist Baloch politician. Elements of the following forces are known to have served during the operations against the Marri and Khetran tribes. Those units marked with a dagger (†) were awarded the battle honour "Baluchistan 1918" for their participation in the campaign. Punitive expedition A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a political entity or any group of people outside
780-468: A number of negative effects for the British. Tax revenues for Sibi district, affected by the conflict, flooding and grasshopper swarms, were down by 74,000 rupees on the previous year. Government-issued agricultural loan repayments were also reduced. The fighting threatened the grazing grounds in the Sibi district so the British authorities permitted villagers to graze livestock in the state forest . Because
858-398: A result, seeing some 6,000 women being enslaved, with forces from Sher Ali to repel the raids being defeated. With Sher Ali's death, a tumultuous period began over his succession. One of his sons, Muhammad Ali Khan, attempted to seize Takhtapul , however the garrison mutinied, forcing him to move south towards Dai Zangi , where he began assembling an army against Yaqub Khan. Yaqub Khan
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#1732791862134936-523: A significant reduction in tax revenue from the area and damage to private and government property. A council of elders was assembled after the campaign which recommended compensation payments be made by the Marri and the imprisonment of members of both tribes. The rising inspired rebellions by the Mengal and Gurgnari tribes, who killed their own sardars, and by the Musakhel , which was put down by part of
1014-565: Is mountainous and difficult to traverse with few passes; it is surrounded by the flatter land of the Sibi and Indus basins. Their hereditary leader was known as the sardar, though often referred to by the British as the Marri nawab ; he was assisted by a number of chief men, also usually hereditary. The Marri-Bugti country was administered by the British from Sibi District . The Marri were traditionally raiders and slavers, though these activities were somewhat curtailed under British rule. In 1840
1092-522: The 3rd Skinner's Horse , arrived at Gumbaz , a pass in Marri country, where a British post and garrison was maintained. He found that the Marri tribal levies had deserted and the pass had been blocked by a force of tribesmen who had cut the telegraph line to Kohlu . McConaghey sent the sardar of the Loni tribe to the Marri force to invite their sardar to a conference but he was fired upon and wounded, after which McConaghey withdrew. At 1.30am on 20 February
1170-545: The Amir – Sher Ali Khan to flee. Ali's successor Mohammad Yaqub Khan immediately sued for peace and the Treaty of Gandamak was then signed on 26 May 1879. The British sent an envoy and mission led by Sir Louis Cavagnari to Kabul, but on 3 September this mission was massacred and the conflict was reignited by Ayub Khan which led to the abdication of his brother Yaqub. During this period, Abdur Rahman Khan , an opponent of
1248-515: The Bukharans aided Muhammad Ishaq Khan, a son of Mohammad Azam Khan . He occupied Aqcha , but was later defeated. Following his defeat, the Afghan governor of Balkh , Muhammad Khan, purged much of the province of Afzalid supporters, seizing lands and exacting imprisonment and execution on those thought to be sympathizers. Districts that had aided the rebellion faced hefty fines, and the rulers of
1326-661: The Chahar Wilayat were mandatorily forced to re-affirm their allegiance to Sher Ali Khan by traveling to Kabul every year. In 1875, Husain Khan, the ruler of Maimana , refused to honour his oath and executed several government officials, declaring allegiance under the ruler of Bukhara. The rebellion was quelled, however when the leaders of the insurrection were brought before Sher Ali, he refused to execute them in honour of their former oaths, and instead had Muhammad Khan killed. These circumstances of events brought further support to
1404-663: The First Anglo-Afghan War . Mazar-i-Sharif was safe as well, with winter already ongoing, the British would be unable to pass the snow littered Hindu Kush . Alongside this, over 15,000 Afghan soldiers were present in Afghan Turkestan , which Sher Ali began preparing to assemble more men across Afghanistan. Sher Ali also attempted to appeal in person to the Russian Tsar for assistance, but he wasn't allowed to enter Russian territory, and their insistence
1482-542: The First World War . British attempts at conciliation were repulsed and, on 20 February, a major attack was made by 1,000 – 3,000 Marri upon the British post at Gumbaz . This attack was repulsed by a much smaller British force that inflicted heavy losses upon the Marri. A subsequent withdrawal of British forces from Kohlu and its occupation by the Marri led the Khetrans to join the rising. The town of Barkhan
1560-880: The Peshawar Mountain Battery , the Bengal Sappers & Miners , the Bombay Sappers & Miners and the 2nd King Edward's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles) were also deployed in the 1919 Third Anglo-Afghan War . In his official dispatches at the end of the Marri Punitive Expedition Wapshare mentioned the good work of Hardy and Miles during the war and that of the Indian government agent Henry Dobbs . Wapshare also thanked Khan Mahmud II of Kalat and other Indian leaders for their contribution of gifts for
1638-580: The Treaty of Gandamak on 26 May 1879. According to this agreement and in return for an annual subsidy and vague assurances of assistance in case of foreign aggression, Yaqub relinquished control of Afghan foreign affairs to Britain. British representatives were installed in Kabul and other locations, and their control was extended to the Khyber and Michni passes, and Afghanistan ceded various North-West Frontier Province areas and Quetta to Britain, including
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#17327918621341716-588: The 'Iron Amir'. He also refused to give information regarding his troops, with his own autobiography criticizing British policy, while also violating the Lyall agreement by instead of allowing the British to oversee his diplomatic affairs, held them himself with numerous countries including Iran , the Ottoman Empire , and the German Empire . Abdur Rahman also wrote in pamphlets, encouraging Jihad against
1794-492: The Afghan government, war would be declared. A day before the deadline, Sher Ali sent a messenger to Peshawar but failed to arrive on time, and turned away after news of the British invasion began. The first campaign began in November 1878 when a British force of about 50,000 fighting men, mostly Indians, was distributed into three military columns which penetrated Afghanistan at three different points. The British victories at
1872-840: The Afzalids in Samarkand, with many Amirs of the Chahar Wilayat beginning to correspond with Abdur Rahman Khan and the Afzalid faction. After tension between Russia and Britain in Europe ended with the June 1878 Congress of Berlin , Russia turned its attention to Central Asia. That same summer, Russia sent an uninvited diplomatic mission to Kabul. Sher Ali Khan , the Amir of Afghanistan , tried unsuccessfully to keep them out. Russian envoys arrived in Kabul on 22 July 1878, and on 14 August,
1950-507: The Afzalids. Ayub Khan began facing anarchy in Herat, with much of the forces from the expelled from Maimana demanding payment. Ayub Khan sent numerous requests to Mazar-i-Sharif, imminently requesting aid in cash. Despite receiving funds, the troops began rioting, and were turned away by Ayub Khan towards Yaqub Khan, stating he would be capable of paying them. With British forces occupying Kabul , Sher Ali's son and successor, Yaqub Khan, signed
2028-740: The British and the Russians, claiming both wished to end Afghanistan as a state. Senior British officials found it extremely difficult to further cooperate with Abdur Rahman Khan and Afghanistan due to the Turkestan atrocities, as well as his actions against the Hazaras . The British believed they had no other alternative but to support Abdur Rahman Khan, scoring a diplomatic victory for him. Despite this, no further trouble resulted between Afghanistan and British India during Rahman's period of rule. The Russians kept well out of Afghan internal affairs, with
2106-643: The British at the battle of Maiwand . The campaign ended in September 1880 when the British decisively defeated Ayub Khan outside Kandahar . Abdur Rahman Khan, now the sole ruler, created the buffer the British wanted between the Raj and the Russian Empire. British and Indian soldiers then withdrew from Afghanistan. A significant political group in Afghanistan at the time were the Afzalids. The Afzalids were originally supporters of Mohammad Afzal Khan to
2184-400: The British authorities. A financial penalty, totalling 558,580 rupees, as compensation for damage to British government and private property was levied on the tribes; due for repayment in four instalments over the following years. The final Khetran repayment was made in the 1920–21 financial year, though the final Marri repayment was not made. The tribes also lost 75 breech-loading rifles and
2262-414: The British demanded that Sher Ali accept a British mission too. The British informed Sher Ali that a British mission would arrive in Kabul as well with or without his consent. However, as news of this arrived, Sher Ali's son and heir, Abdullah Jan had died. With mourning and the funeral taking place, nobody wished to show Sher Ali the British message. Eventually the message was revealed by his chamberlain. In
2340-620: The British forces. The unit's commander, Captain George Roulston Travis, during a bombing raid was forced to land in Marri-held territory and walk the 21 miles (34 km) to Hardy's column; he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his contributions to the campaign. Travis' unit repeatedly bombed the Marri capital Kahan with nine Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.3 aircraft, which helped induce
2418-551: The British in the war to come. Many of the governors, having been imprisoned for longer than a decade, all due to similar oaths being broken. As a result, seeing an opportunity to declare independence, Muhammad Khan, the former governor of Sar-I-Pul , alongside Husain Khan, the former governor of the Maimana Khanate , all declared independence against Afghan rule, rallying their own armies and expelling Afghan garrisons. A wave of Turkmen raids also began into Afghan Turkestan as
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2496-606: The British informed Abdur Rahman that they were prepared to recognize him as the ruler of Afghanistan, inviting him to Kabul for a ceremony. Abdur Rahman called a Jirga , with many tribal leaders declaring for him, while Abdur Rahman was declared the Amir of Kabul . Ayub Khan, who had been serving as governor of Herat, rose in revolt, defeated a British detachment at the Battle of Maiwand in July 1880 and besieged Kandahar. Roberts then led
2574-551: The British no longer wished to uphold a British envoy in Afghanistan. However, both sides continued to differ, with the British wishing to keep Kandahar under their control with Sardar Sher Ali as governor, while Abdur Rahman saw it imperative as a part of Afghanistan. Believing that the British might withdraw, Abdur Rahman Khan arrived in Charikar sometime in July 1880, where religious leaders from regions such as Panjshir , Kohistan , and Tagab welcomed his arrival. On 19 July,
2652-428: The British post at Gumbaz was attacked by a force of Marri, estimated as being 1,000 – 3,000 strong, equipped with scaling ladders , under the command of Mir Khudadad Mari. The British garrison of 75 sowars, in two parties under Lieutenant-Colonel Gaussen and Lieutenant Harold Watson , together with a number of Indian Imperial Police officers defended the post for the next six hours. After hard fighting, during which
2730-526: The British to dissuade Afghanistan from Russian influence, Abdur Rahman Khan adopted an autocratic government similar to the Tsars of Russia, inspired by Peter the Great from his time in exile in Turkestan. Alongside this, despite the British attempting to prop up Afghanistan as a key ally, Abdur Rahman Khan often acted against the British, with atrocities horrifying even Queen Victoria , and he became known as
2808-405: The British, began distinguishing himself as a possible successor candidate to become the Amir of Afghanistan through his exploits in northern Afghanistan. Eventually after moving on Kabul , he was crowned and then later recognized by the British as the ruler of Afghanistan. The second campaign began when Ayub Khan , the governor of Herat , rebelled in July 1880 and marched on Kandahar, defeating
2886-484: The British, with his own men wishing for Jihad against them. While negotiations continued, the British considered numerous political solutions, including dividing Afghanistan into numerous kingdoms. The British were seeking to a quick conclusion to the war due to the resignation of Lytton , with his successor, the Marquis of Ripon , wishing to withdraw all British troops from Afghanistan as quickly as possible. With this,
2964-482: The Marri had ambushed the communications lines of Sir John Keane 's army fighting in the First Anglo-Afghan War ; a subsequent punitive expedition against the Marri was repulsed with heavy British losses. The Marri supported the British in a war with the Bugti in 1845 but in the following decades again came into conflict with the British. British officers John Jacob and Robert Groves Sandeman did much work to keep
3042-551: The Marri Field Force in co-operation with militiamen from Zhob . The rest of Baluchistan was quiet during this time and the major leaders, such as the Khan of Kalat, pledged their continuing loyalty to the British. Indeed, British targets for recruitment from the region were actually exceeded. Many units of the Marri Field Force, including the South Lancashire Regiment , Kent Cyclist Battalion ,
3120-602: The Marri Field Force. Balochistan , in modern Pakistan came under indirect British rule in 1839 through the Khan of Kalat . The 1876 Treaty of Kalat brought the province and its tribes under direct control as part of British India. The Marri tribe live in Marri-Bugti Country and are one of the most north-easterly of the Baloch peoples . Marri Country, at an elevation of 800–3,000 metres (2,600–9,800 ft),
3198-475: The Marri prisoners were all released on 18 January 1919 in recognition of good behaviour of the tribe, with the number of robbery and cattle theft offences both considerably reduced. A jirga to resolve the August 1917 Marri-Khetran dispute, which had been postponed because of the expedition, was held in August 1918. The Marri-Khetran rising led to other acts of rebellion against the British. The sardar and some of
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3276-479: The Russians allowed Abdur Rahman Khan to re-enter Afghanistan. Abdur Rahman made way for Badakhshan , whose ruler he had marriage ties with. While on route, he did a pilgrimage to the shrine of Khwaja Ahrar , taking his banner after claiming he had a vision that ensured victory. The ruler of Badakhshan did not permit Abdur Rahman to ford the Amu Darya, to which Abdur Rahman did so further downstream. He then crossed
3354-534: The Sherpur Cantonment in December 1879. The rebellion collapsed after the failure of a direct attack on Roberts' force on 23 December. Yaqub Khan, suspected of complicity in the massacre of Cavagnari and his staff, was obliged to abdicate. The British considered a number of possible political settlements, including partitioning Afghanistan between multiple rulers or placing Yaqub's brother Ayub Khan on
3432-508: The Treaty of Gandamak, whereby the British took control of the territories ceded by Yaqub Khan. The provocative policy of maintaining a British resident in Kabul was abandoned, but instead British Indian Muslim agents were to be left to smooth liaison between the governments. Britain would also handle Afghanistan's foreign policy in exchange for protection and a subsidy. The Afghan tribes maintained internal rule and local customs, and provided
3510-642: The affected state to favour one or more colonial powers . Stowell (1921) provides the following definition: When the territorial sovereign is too weak or is unwilling to enforce respect for international law, a state which is wronged may find it necessary to invade the territory and to chastise the individuals who violate its rights and threaten its security. Second Anglo-Afghan War [REDACTED] United Kingdom [REDACTED] Afghanistan Total: 10,000 dead Total fatalities are unknown The Second Anglo-Afghan War ( Dari : جنگ دوم افغان و انگلیس, Pashto : د افغان-انګرېز دويمه جګړه )
3588-513: The battles of Ali Masjid and Peiwar Kotal meant that the approach to Kabul was left virtually undefended by Afghan troops. An alarmed Sher Ali left for Mazar-i-Sharif . This was done in hopes of the British overstretching their armies in Afghanistan, and make it difficult for the British to occupy parts of southern Afghanistan for an indefinite period of time, as well as that the Afghan tribes would eventually rise up. Further drawing off of Dost Mohammad Khan and Wazir Akbar Khan 's tactics in
3666-466: The borders of the punishing state or union . It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavior by miscreants , as revenge or corrective action , or to apply strong diplomatic pressure without a formal declaration of war (e.g. surgical strike ). In the 19th century, punitive expeditions were used more commonly as pretexts for colonial adventures that resulted in annexations, regime changes or changes in policies of
3744-459: The chief men of the Mengal and Gurgnari (part of the Jhalawan ) tribes were killed by their own men. The excuse was that both leaders had agreed to provide recruits to the British, but both men were unpopular within their tribes for their attempts to curb raiding activities. The Musakhel , a Pashtun tribe located north of Khetran territory, also rose in March 1918 but were subdued by units of
3822-579: The cold and rain. Towards the end of the campaign the weather grew hot and the force endured conditions of 110 °F (43 °C) in the shade. Miles' column included infantry from the 55th Coke's Rifles and was reinforced by the Peshawar Battery of the Indian Mountain Artillery under Major EG Campbell on 9 March. Detachments of these units advanced to Fort Munro on 13 March where, two days later, they were attacked by
3900-661: The comfort of his troops; the Khan had donated 4,000 rupees to aid the sick and wounded soldiers of the expeditionary force. Wapshare was honoured with appointment to companion of the Order of the Star of India for his war service in George V's 15 June 1918 Birthday Honours and on the same day was promoted to lieutenant-general. Hardy was promoted to major-general in May 1918, backdated to 3 December 1917. Marri leader Khair Bux Mari's grandson Khair Bakhsh Marri , named in his honour, became
3978-405: The commander of Takhtapul declaring for Abdur Rahman. Ghulam Haidar fled across the Amu Darya, leaving the entirety of Afghan Turkestan under Abdur Rahman's control. The British, eyeing for a suitable candidate to be the ruler of Afghanistan , scouted Abdur Rahman Khan, and began negotiating with him. Abdur Rahman was reluctant to accept such a proposal, as he considered himself an opponent of
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#17327918621344056-403: The early 20th century the Marri had become more restive. The First World War , a major draw on British manpower, began in 1914. The Marri carried out a series of raids in 1915 and 1916 for which they received light punishment from the British administration. In July 1917 members of the tribe quarrelled with men from the neighbouring Bugti, resulting in the deaths of six Marri and four Bugti and
4134-532: The exception of the Panjdeh incident three years later, resolved by arbitration and negotiation after an initial British ultimatum. In 1893, Mortimer Durand was dispatched to Kabul by British India to sign an agreement with Rahman for fixing the limits of their respective spheres of influence as well as improving diplomatic relations and trade. On November 12, 1893, the Durand Line Agreement
4212-535: The first time. The sardar refused a request made at Sibi by the British political agent , Colonel Allen McConaghey. This led to increasing tension between the two parties and the sardar sought support from other tribes. The decision to oppose the British may have originated with the Bijarani section of the tribe who were prominent in the subsequent rising. The rising against British rule began around 18 February 1918. On 19 February McConaghey, with fifty sowars of
4290-462: The government treasury and burnt the administrative buildings. Raids were also made upon Fort Munro , which was partly burnt, and upon the inhabitants of Sibi and Loralai districts. Hindu-owned bunnia were particularly targeted and many camels and cattle were stolen. Attacks upon the Sind–Pishin and Bolan Pass railways led to the British placing garrisons at each station. In one attack on
4368-463: The horses were moved during breeding season there was a reduction in the number of foals produced at Sibi for the army remount service. The camels of the expedition caused considerable damage to olive trees at Sanjawi , Tuvekan and Harnai. The additional levies raised to protect the railway cost the British 11,837 rupees. At the campaign's conclusion a council of elders, led by the wazir of Las Bela , met at Harnai to decide peace terms. The council
4446-639: The land taken by the Royal Flying Corps for use as aerodromes, which the tribes were required to maintain at their expense. The council recommended that nine Marri and 41 Khetrans be imprisoned as punishment and that the Marri pay the costs for construction of a new road through their territory (the Baluchistan Agency had recommended this due to deficiencies in communications during the expedition). The Khetran prisoners received sentences of imprisonment ranging from 3 months to five years,
4524-497: The main British force from Kabul and decisively defeated Ayub Khan on 1 September at the Battle of Kandahar , bringing his rebellion to an end. With Ayub Khan defeated, the war was officially over with Abdur Rahman Khan ruling as Amir, he was seen as the real victor of the Second Anglo-Afghan War. Despite attempts by the British to hold on to Kandahar , they decided to return it to Afghanistan. Rahman confirmed
4602-716: The next phase of the Second Afghan War. Major General Sir Frederick Roberts led the Kabul Field Force over the Shutargardan Pass into central Afghanistan, defeated the Afghan Army at Charasiab on 6 October 1879, and occupied Kabul two days later. Ghazi Mohammad Jan Khan Wardak , and a force of 10,000 Afghans, staged an uprising and attacked British forces near Kabul in the Siege of
4680-528: The peace but in 1880 the Marri attacked British lines of communication during the Second Anglo-Afghan War . An expedition by British Brigadier-General Charles MacGregor , led to the submission of the Marri and the payment of fines, after which there was peace until the 1910s. The Khetran tribe are of mixed Baloch and Pathan origin and their territory lies to the north of the Marri and their only other neighbours are Pathans. Their leader,
4758-466: The perimeter wall was overrun, the Marri withdrew just before dawn. The British estimated the Marri loss at 125 killed and 135 wounded, though when reviewed at the end of the war this was considered a significant under-estimate. The British recovered 77 dead and wounded tribesmen from the battlefield the following morning. There were a number of policemen and civil service revenue collectors at Kohlu who were evacuated to Barkhan . Government buildings in
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#17327918621344836-517: The strategic fort of Jamrud . Yaqub Khan also renounced all rights to interfering in the internal affairs of the Afridi tribe. In return, Yaqub Khan only received an annual subsidy of 600,000 rupees, with the British pledging to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan excluding Kandahar . However, on 3 September 1879 an uprising in Kabul led to the slaughter of Sir Louis Cavagnari , the British representative, along with his guards, and staff – provoking
4914-486: The surrender of the tribe. Hardy occupied Kahan without resistance and on 8 April Khair Bux Mari surrendered, marking the formal end of the British combat operations. The surrender was reported in the international press on 22 April and formally announced at Kahan on 2 May and at Barkhan on 7 May. At the end of the campaign the Marri estimated their losses at 300 killed and 700 wounded; a significant proportion of their total male population of around 12,500. The campaign had
4992-480: The throne of Afghanistan during the civil war on Dost Mohammad's succession . The Afzalids were eventually defeated by Sher Ali Khan but many fled in exile to Samarkand in the Russian Empire under the authority of Abdur Rahman Khan , who was actively given asylum by the Russian government and brought worries to the British about a future pro-Russian claimant to the throne of Afghanistan. On one such occasion,
5070-482: The throne, but also looked to install his cousin Abdur Rahman Khan (half nephew of the former Sher Ali) as Amir instead. Abdur Rahman Khan meanwhile had been in exile in Turkestan. Upon the death of Sher Ali Khan he requested from the Russians to enter Afghanistan as a claimant of the throne. This request was denied. However, following Yaqub Khan 's abdication, as well as the British occupation of Kabul,
5148-456: The tomundar, was based at the capital Barkhan . Their lands consist of a series of fertile valleys. By the late 19th century they were closely linked with the Marris, Bugtis and Lagharis. The British authorities passed messages to the Khetrans via the Lagharis. They were described as a peaceful tribe in 1879, not noted for raiding. They sometimes came into conflict with the British for harbouring fugitives and accepting stolen property. During
5226-451: The town were afterwards burnt by the Marri, despite further attempts at conciliation by McConaghey. The Khetran tribe then joined the rising and Barkhan was reinforced with men from the Frontier Constabulary and Punjab levies. Despite this, the British commander at Barkhan, a police officer, determined that the town could not be defended and withdrew his men to Dera Ghazi Khan on 5 March. The Marri and Khetrans then entered Barkhan, looted
5304-424: The tribes. Miles inflicted a heavy defeat upon a Marri-Khetran force at Fort Munro on 15 March and then captured Barkhan, ending Khetran involvement in the rising. Hardy defeated a large Marri force at Hadb on 3 April and afterwards, assisted by bombing by the Royal Flying Corps , captured the Marri capital of Kahan . The Marri sardar Khair Bux Mari surrendered to the British on 8 April. The campaign caused
5382-421: The wounding of two Marri and three Bugti. The quarrel was resolved by a jirga , a traditional meeting of tribal leaders, in November. In August 1917 the Marri quarrelled with the Khetrans, leading to the deaths of two Marri and three Khetrans. In October 1917 the Marri sardar, Mir Khair Bux Mari, visited Quetta to pay homage to the Viceroy of India, Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford . The sardar
5460-487: Was a military conflict fought between the British Raj and the Emirate of Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880, when the latter was ruled by Sher Ali Khan of the Barakzai dynasty , the son of former Emir Dost Mohammad Khan . The war was part of the Great Game between the British and Russian empires. The war was split into two campaigns – the first began in November 1878 with the British invasion of Afghanistan from India . The British were quickly victorious and forced
5538-612: Was around brigade strength, advanced the 50 miles (80 km) to Barkhan, the capture of which effectively ended Khetran involvement in the fighting. Miles afterwards moved around 18 miles (29 km) south-west to Vitakri , meeting no opposition. The majority of Khetrans formally submitted to the British by 3 April and Miles' force withdrew to Dera Ghazi Khan on 20 April. Hardy's column advanced through Marri-held territory burning their villages and crops and driving off livestock. He reached Kohlu on 23 March, having met no resistance. On 3 April Hardy's column reached Hadb where they met
5616-400: Was attended by representatives of the Marri and Khetran tribes, who were said to be in a penitent mood. The council concluded that the rising had resulted from a feeling of self-importance among the Marri and Khetran tribes, with the immediate trigger being the rumoured reduction in British manpower. The council made a number of recommended actions against the two tribes, which were approved by
5694-488: Was declared the new Amir, with many sardars that were thought to have ties with the Afzalid faction were imprisoned. In Mazar-i-Sharif, Yaqub Khan's son, Muhammad Musa, assembled a force and seized Takhtapul, sending the leader of the mutineers to Kabul, where he was executed. Ayub Khan, supporting his brother's succession, did not oppose him. However, much of the military forces and officers in Balkh and Herat instead supported
5772-428: Was occupied by Marri-Khetran forces and raids were made upon villages in the Sibi and Loralai districts; railways in the area were also attacked. The British assembled the Marri Field Force of British Army and British Indian Army troops under Major-General Richard Wapshare to combat the rising. Two columns under Brigadier-Generals T. H. Hardy and Philip Miles went on the offensive into territory occupied by
5850-665: Was placed in overall command of the expedition and gathered troops to form two columns; one at Duki under Brigadier-General Thomas Henry Hardy and one at Rakhni under Brigadier-General Philip Miles . Miles' column was also known as the Dera Ghazi Khan column after the district that it operated in. The whole was known as the Marri Punitive Expedition or the Marri Field Force. The British were initially underequipped for an operation in Marri territory, lacking tents they had to improvise bivouacs against
5928-588: Was publicly rebuked by Chelmsford over his tribe's recent behaviour. During the visit the sardar and his chiefs seem to have been influenced by rumours, common at the time, that the British were losing battles in the First World War and were withdrawing troops from India. This impression was strengthened by British attempts to recruit men from the Baloch tribes: the sardar reasoned that the British must be very desperate if they sought recruits from his tribe for
6006-667: Was reached. This led to the creation of a new North-West Frontier Province . There were several decisive actions in the Second Anglo–Afghan War, from 1878 to 1880. Here are the battles and actions in chronological order. An asterisk (*) indicates a clasp was awarded for that particular battle with the Afghanistan Medal . In November 1878, at the start of the war, the British established three Field Forces – designated Peshawar Valley , Kurram Valley and Kandahar respectively – each of which invaded Afghanistan by
6084-434: Was that he should seek terms of surrender from the British. He returned to Mazar-i-Sharif , where his health began to suffer, leading to his death on 21 February 1879. Before leaving for Afghan Turkestan, Sher Ali released the surviving governors of the Chahar Wilayat that he had previously imprisoned. Upon Sher Ali's arrival to Mazar-i-Sharif, Sher Ali promised them the return of their states if they had assisted against
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