'Military Report on Russian Turkistan or Central Asia' [‎9r] (22/168)

5
Sarakhs, a place of strategic importance, on the banks
of the Tejend, was seized a few months later, a proceed
ing which was followed by the occupation of Pul-i-
khatun, on the Hari Hud, and of Panjdeh, on the
Murghab. At the latter place the Russians were con
fronted by a number of Afghans on the Kushk river, a
tributary of the Murghab. The Russians attacked the
Afghans at Ak Tapa on the 30th March 1885, and also
seized the Zuifikar Pass, on ihe Persian frontier, about the
same time. The latter was, however, evacuated a few
months later. A joint Anglo-Russian Commission was
appointed to delimit the Russo-Afghan boundary from
the Oxus to the Persian frontier, and commenced w r ork in
November 1885. The labour of defining the southern
boundary of Russia’s newly acquired territory, with regard
to Afghanistan, was continued until 1886.*
In 1889, a Russian “scientific mission,” under 18S9.
Colonel Gromchevski, was despatched to the Pamirs,
but Avas stopped by Afghan outposts. In 1891, a
considerable force, under Colonel Ionov, was moved to the
Pamirs, and two British officers, Captain Younghusband
and Lieutenant Davidson Avere summarily ordered to
quit “Russian territory.” The Afghan tribes of the
district refused to acquiesce in the Russian occupation
and Colonel Ionov retired, his action being disavoAved
by the Russian Government. The folloAving year, hoAv-
ever, the same officer returned to the Pamirs, and a
collision occurred between his men and a party of
Afghans. During 1893 and 1894difficulties betAveen the
Afghans and Russians continued to crop up until, in 1895, 1895 .
an Anglo-Russian Boundary Commission Avas appointed
to define the various spheres of influence in the Pamirs,
and to delimit the frontier. This Avork AA'as concluded in
September 1895.
* Certain questions were then reserved for further discussion.
Negotiations were carried on at St. Petersburg, the results of
which were embodied in a protocol signed in July 1887. The
actual delimitation ol the frontier Avas recommenced in November
and Avas completed in January 1888. The tmal protocol aud maps
were signed on the 4th February 1888.