‘A collection of treaties, engagements and sanads relating to India and neighbouring countries’ [‎209] (226/578)

Mmammmmmmmmmmmmmrn
AFGHANISTAN. 209
to acknowledge Slier All Khan as ruler of Herat as long as he maintained
himself there and preserved his friendship for the British Government.
Muhammad Afzal Khan died in 1867, and was succeeded by his
brother Muhammad Azim Khan, second son of Dost Muhammad, who
was recognised as Amir of Kabul and Kandahar by the British
Government.
Not disheartened by frequent reverses, Slier Ali busied himself ir
preparations to renew the struggle. In April 1868 Kandahar fell to the
forces of his son Muhammad Yakub Khan. Later on Sher Ali himself
marched on Kabul; Muhammad Azim, deserted by his troops, fled to
Turkistan, and Sher Ali entered Kabul in triumph in September 1868.
The British Government regarded with satisfaction the re-establish
ment of a consolidated administration in Afghanistan; and, in order to
strengthen the Amir’s authority and enable him to meet the more pres
sing demands on the exhausted revenues of the country, practical
assistance in the shape of a gift of six lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. and 6,000 stand
of arms was afforded to him.
In the meantime Muhammad Azim and Abdur Rahman had col
lected their forces and marched from Turkistan on Kabul. A decisive
engagement took place at Tinah Khan in January 1869, which resulted
in a complete victory for the Amir. His opponents fled to the Waziri
hills and finally reached Persia. Muhammad Azim Khan diea on his
way to Tehran in October 1869.
Immediately after his restoration to power, Sher Ali had ex
pressed a wish to have an interview with the Viceroy, Sir John Lawrence.
The troubles in Turkistan prevented for a time the fulfilment of this
intention; but, on the defeat of Muhammad Azim Khan, the proposal
was renewed and an interview between the Amir and the Lari of Mayo,
Sir John Lawrence’s successor, took place at Ambala in March 1869.
The Amir was informed on this occasion that, while the British
Government had no desire to interfere in the internal affairs of Kabul,
yet they would view with severe displeasure any attempt on the pait of
the Amir’s rivals to disturb his position and re-kindle civil war. The
Amir returned to Kabul in April 1869, taking with him as a further
present from the British Government a sum of six lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of lupees and
two batteries of artillery.
Por many years the title to the possession of Sistan had been in dis
pute between Persia and Afghanistan, and Persia had more than once
invited the interference of the British Government, notably so at the
time of Amir Dost Muhammad Khan’s recovery of Herat in 1863. At
that juncture the British Government were not prepared to interfere :
and the Persian Government were informed that it must be left to both
parties to make good their possession by force of arms. As Persia was