Rebellion of Mohammad Yaqub Khan [‎187r] (63/174)

105
I860. ] AMEEB/s AGGRESSIVE DESIGNS on BOKHARA.
'command of Prince Abdool Mullik (the f rebellions son of the King of Bokhara’) if his abilities
admit of doing so; to conquer the whole country lying between Kurgai and the borders of
Charjoee, trans-Oxus, on the condition of their affording co-operation for the same He hopes
that, in the course of such events, the territories of Koolab and Hisar might probably fall into
his hands, and that his success would be ultimately beneficial to the English Government An
infantry regiment and a battery of artillery have to-day been sent to Fort Aliabad to salute
the Ameer at the time of his going to, and coming back from, the interview with thf*
Bokhara Prince.”
And, in fact, on the 18th September the Ameer wrote* to the Commis-
* This was sent in answer to the friendly warning sioiiei of bcsllRWUl, mentioning the in-
which Colonel Pollock had addressed to the Ameer iuileS which the Bokhara authorities had
in compliance with the instructions in Government *• n • j -j AC1 • j • , ,
letter No. 1132, dated 16th August.—See above, § 453. inlllCteCl OU .AigLianiStan in harbouring
Afghan refugees and giving them oppor
tunities of attack; prognosticating the advance of the Russians to Charjoee and
Kirkee with its consequent danger to British and Afghan interests ; suggesting
therefore to the British Government as a means of anticipating the danger that
those places should be occupied by him.
The insidious and dangerous character of this intrigue was represented by
the Commissioner of Peshawur, who recommended Bukhtyar Khan’s recall, and
by the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab, who recommended that <a) he should
be warned in very decided terms against meddling in Afghan politics, and that
Punjab Political Proceedings, October 1869, No. 6. , th ® Commissioner of PesliaWUl' should
he instructed to reply to the Ameer that
while deeming him fully entitled to maintain bis existing boundaries, and resist aggression
to the utmost, the British Government cannot approve of, or give its countenance to, any
line ol action which would not be approved by the public opinion of Europe, such, fur in
stance, as the act of aggression which he had suggested.”
457. On receipt of this letter, the Viceroy (No. 1482A, dated 13th October)
desired that Major Pollock should reply to the Ameer’s letter, repeating the
advice given in the Government letter No. 1132 of the 16th August, and telling
him that the Viceroy, while regretting to hear that any ruler of a neighbouring
State had shewn a disposition to encourage his opponents, was convinced that
any hostile intentions would best be defeated by endeavours to strengthen and
render advantageous his rule over his own subjects, and by proper preparations
for the defence of his borders, should they be attacked, rather than by interfer
ence in the politics or the affairs of any foreign State. The Ameer was also to
be told that the Government of India could not wish for an attack on a State
allied with a European power, which was on terms of close friendship with
England. Such an attack might be productive of danger to the Ameer himself,
and might weaken the ties between him and the British .Government.
(a)- An unsafe though undoubtedly able man in the Lieutenant-Governor’s opinion, but one who had done good ser
vice, and whom it would be a pity to recall, especially now that he had become personally agreeable to the Ameer and
was about to be allied with the Afghan nation by marriage. [Punjab lette'r No. 320—1068, dated 4th October 1869.]
In this opinion the Viceroy concurred, and observed that it did not appear that Bukhtyar Khan had instigated the
Ameer’s insidious design. Eventually, the- matter dropped as far as Bukhtyar Khan was concerned. [S. M., Nos. 87
to 91.]
Bukhtyar Khan’s connection with the Cabul Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. dates from 1857, when he was taken up thither as his Moon-
shee on Rs. 60 a month, by Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Gholam Hussun, nowin the 15th Bengal Cavalry at Peshawur, but in that year sent
up as British agent to Cabul. On Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Gholam Hussun’s retirement from Cabul in the end of February 1864, the
duties of British agent fell on him, and so lasted till the 18th January 1868, when Atta Mahomed came up as British
agent bringing his own Moonshee (Abdoolla) with him. Bukhtyar Khan, however, remained on, still, it is said, drawing,
his Rs. 6 ) a month. He turned his savings to good account, added to them by horse dealing and trading in the name
of subordinate agents, and no doubt did not refuse the offerings that were made to him by persons who desired to get
their suits listened to by the Ameer. He had indeed considerable influence till reproved by the Commissioner of Peshawur
for having presumed to offer his advice in the matter of the Ameer’s reception of the rebellious Prince of Bokhara, and
till he awakened the Ameer’s distrust by corresponding direct with official and non-official persons in Peshawur and
Lahore The natural jealousy between him and the members of the British Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. has lately shewn itself in disputes
which have even come before the Ameer’s Court. It is said that he is regarded with hostility by the members of the digni
fied Afghan family into which he married : and that his rival Abdoolla secured for the time the good graces of the party in
power by attaching himself to Uslum. Bukhtyar Khan has bought a fort and some land near Cabul, and has made it the
home of his adoption. The Commissioner of Peshawur deprecates his removal from Cabul, as this would put a stop to
the valuable communications which he receives from Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Gholam Hussun. [Memoranda by F. B. and An. Macna jj,
sent up in the Punjab Secretary’s demi-official note of the 31st July 1871.]
For an account of the action bv which Bukhtyar Khan compromised the British Government in the spring of
1866, see §§ 120, 134, 136, 145, and 150 of Mr. Wyllie’s precis.