The Third Afghan War (1919)
Mohmand Field Force - the perimeter at MattaThe Third Afghan War followed a period of relative stability between Britain and Afghanistan following the disturbances of the 1890s.
The First World War introduced new tensions in the region with Britain and Germany and its ally, Turkey, vying for influence in Afghanistan.
The murder of Afghan ruler, Habibullah Khan, resulted in an internal power struggle, and the consequent Afghan invasion of British India in May 1919.
This sought to take advantage of relative British weakness in the region after the end of the First World War, with many Indian soldiers still in Europe waiting to be demobilised.
Cutting reporting Treaty of Rawalpindi, 8 Aug 1919
The invasion was successfully repulsed not least with the decisive application of air power by the British.
Britain and Afghanistan signed the Treaty of Rawalpindi, on 8 August 1919 which brought the conflict to an end and finally agreed the border between Afghanistan and India.
Shown below is a newly accessioned digital archive collection belonging to Lewis Arnott, who was a British officer present at the peace negotiations.
It provides vivid snapshots of this important event.
