Anglo-Afghan Treaties, Accords, Agreements, Memoranda, Conventions, Engagements, Protocols (1809-1930) Impacting Pak-Afghan Relations: A Way Forward

Abstract

This research article attempts to understand the British Imperial Policy towards Afghanistan in the early nineteenth century: Beginning with countering rival Imperial French influence in neighboring Iran and later, expansion of Imperialist Czarist/Soviet Russia into Central Asia. A critical analysis of Anglo-Afghan Treaties, Accords, Agreements, Memoranda, Conventions, Engagements and Protocols, signed during 1809-1930, reveals, the research argues, that the British took these diplomatic initiatives to: protect British possessions in colonial India and beyond; Expand towards North; And ousting rival imperial powers’ influence in the neighborhood. An unintended consequence has been definition, determination and demarcation of borders of modern state of Afghanistan, though, still vulnerable/questioned, especially, in times of stress. Lessons to be learnt by operatives of the successor state, i.e. Pakistan and current Afghan Taliban regime include: ensuring security; reaffirming inviolability of sovereignty and territorial integrity of respective successor states.