File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎538r] (723/1080)

176. Afghanistan.
'Rerat .—July 1st to 7 th.—
(i) Akbar Beg, brother of the Turkish Minister at Kabul, with his
personnel of eight men left for Kabul on the 7th, via Hazarajat.
(it) The Naib-ul-Hukumeh entertained the Naib Salar, Brigadier Fazl
Ahmad Khan and the newly arrived cavalry commander with other officers
on the 2nd.
(tit) On the 3rd, Haji Mukhtar, brother of Haji Mahmud, Afghan Tujar
Bishi at Meshed, presented a messenger to the Naib-ul-Hukumeh and asked
for a Rhilaat for him as he was the bringer of the good news regarding the
Perso-Afghan Treaty which news was contained in a letter he bore signed by
the Afghan Minister at Tehran. The letter was sent on to Kabul and a
Khilaat given to the messenger.
(to) News has been received that about 20,000 (?) families are on
their wav to Herat from Kandahar. The Naib-ul-Hukumeh ordered the
Governor of Sahzawar to detain these families there. Ho recommended
to Kabul that they be not allowed to enter the Herat province as they will
create trouble and promote famine which again will lead to anarchy—a state of
things which would be most undesirable in a frontier province.
iv) A brother of Saiyid Ahmad Bek Jamshedi arrived from Russia with a
letter from the latter which stated that if an amesty were extended to him
he would return to Afghan soil with all his tribe. The messenger received a
Khilaat and was told that his brother was free to return without prejudice to
his safety.
(vi) Another doctor has arrived for duty with the Herat Consulate as the
previous incumbent ha<* continued on his way to Kabul in attendance on the
Russian lady whose arm was broken by a fall from her horse.
(vii) It is believed that more squadrons of cavalry are on their way from
Kandahar to make, with that squadron which recently arrived, two regiments.
(viii) Brigadier Fazl Ahmad Khan told tie Naib-ul-Hukumeh that the
Bolsheviks had been rationing Afghan Consuls in Russia up to the present,
chareino- them the value of the provisions &c., so provided. This practice
thev were now abolishing which would be a matter of great inconvenience
owing to the costliness of everything in Russia. He added that the Bolsheviks
had looted 3 > wagon-loads of gold and silver bullion and specie from Bokhara
nud that they were now 1'aving on the proceeds.
/fa) Brigadier Fazl Ahm^d Khan with his party left for Kabul, via
Ha/ami at His party consisted of a captain and two pahras of sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. from
Mazar-i-Sharif who had been arrested by the Bolsheviks at the time of the
Bokharan revoluiion and the treasure they were escorting confiscated. Ibis
treasure, togetlter with the a-ms of the party, has never been returned. The
mirtv is to return to their homes in Mazar-i Sharif. In their charge the Naib-
ul-Hukumeh sent two Russians who were going to Maitnaneh to relieve, it is
thought, the Russian agent there,
f/rt The Officer Commanding Chahildukhteran sent in two Persians and
an Arab who had cross'd the frontier from Russia. The Arab he had used as
an a-ent but found he had been acting in the same capacity for the Bolsheviks.
The Persians vveie ordered to be sent to Persia and the Arab to be put in chains,
pending sanction for his execution from Kabul.
(*<) An order prohibitory of the taking of bribes has been received from
Kabul \\ ith instructions that copies be displayed in public places. The offence
is to be treated as a seri us crime, no inter cession on the part of relatives
availing on behalf of those indicted for the offence.
(rii) To promote competition in trade Kabul has issued n, firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). regulate
in- prizes for those merchants who by success in trade have paid the largest
sums into the State Treasury. There will be a first, second, and third prize,
together with expensive Kbilaats. , P/Vir
(xia) Two troops of cavalry have been sent to QiiaNao to guard the Gov
ernment fodder there. 0~e troop has been sent to Guiran on relief.