Third Afghan War

Interior of the British fort at Thal, 1919.
NAM 1990-07-201-229

In February 1919 Amanullah Khan became the new Emir of Afghanistan. Emboldened by an alliance with the new Bolshevik regime in Russia, Britain’s traditional rival in the region, he decided to invade India’s North West Frontier. This region was unstable. The British had always struggled to control the warrior tribes that lived there.

Jihad against the British

Proclaiming a jihad against Britain on 3 May, he hoped to seize the old Afghan provinces west of the River Indus that had been captured by the Sikhs many years before. Amanullah believed that the British and Indian troops would be too war-weary to resist. He also hoped to take advantage of ongoing nationalist unrest in India.

Revolt in Waziristan

Assembly of Mahsuds, Waziristan, 1919-20. NAM 1993-08-106-185

Although there was a shortage of men, artillery and machine guns, a division from Peshawar defeated a superior Afghan force in the Khyber Pass and forced them back towards Jellalabad.

The main Afghan attack took place in the Tochi-Kurram valley area where the Waziristan Militia deserted to the enemy. The Afghans were also helped by local Pathan tribesmen who were always eager to throw off British rule. Fearsome warriors, they were also on the look out for opportunities to loot and pillage.

Thal besieged

Thal Fort, 1919. NAM 1990-07-201-222

Two battalions of Sikhs and Gurkha Rifles and a squadron of Indian cavalry were besieged in Thal Fort by a large Afghan regular force.

Although under constant attack for a week the garrison held out until they were relieved by a column under Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer. The previous month Dyer had gained notoriety after ordering his men to open fire on unarmed nationalist demonstrators at Amritsar in the Punjab.

Victory in the south

Motorcycle mounted Vickers gun, Afghanistan, 1919. NAM 1982-02-31-174

In southern Baluchistan the British successfully stormed the Afghan fortress of Spin Baldak on 27 May 1919. This fort guarded the strategically vital road to Kandahar.

Its capture reduced the chance of an Afghan invasion by that route. Fighting also occurred in the tribal districts of Chitral in the far north, but this was successfully contained. The British also launched air raids on the Afghan capital Kabul and on the city of Jellalabad.