History repeats itself! Afghanistan, India and Western imperialist powers

- Dr. Makrand Mehta

- For centuries Afghanistan has been the meeting place of India, Persia and China and in terms of ancient Silk-route it connected China, Central Asia and India.

In Southeast Asia, Afghanistan is bordered by Russia to the north, Iran to the west, Pakistan to the south and east, and China to the northeast. It also has political, historical, geographical and military-strategic significance from India's point of view. For centuries, Afghanistan was the meeting place of India, Persia and China, and in terms of the ancient Silk-Route, it connected China, Central Asia and India. During the Kushan period (1st century BC to 2nd century AD) Buddhism and Hinduism were propagated in Afghanistan. For example, the empire of the great Kushan ruler Kanishka (16-190 AD) connected Afghanistan, Punjab, Kashmir, Bengal, Malwa and Pataliputra (Patna).

However, there were frequent attacks on India by foreigners through Afghanistan. Lack of space will give only three illustrations. The first ruler of Macedonia (near Greece) was Alexander the Great. 31 to BC In the meantime, they invaded India through Afghanistan and Iran. The story of "Alexander and Porus" (King of Punjab) is still known today. After Alexander, Muhammad invaded India five times from 1008 to 108 through Kabul and Kandahar in the city of Geez in Afghanistan, and in 108 he looted the temple of Somnath and destroyed the temple and the idol. After that, Babur of Central Asia also used Kabul and Kandahar as military bases, struck India five times and defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the battle of Panipat in the 19th. The Mughal Empire was established by defeating the Rajput king Rana Sang of Mewar in the 16th! The point is that geographically and historically Afghanistan is a very important country for India and needs a lot of attention. Pakistan and Afghanistan have very close brotherhood.

19th Century Afghanistan Britain always feared that Russia would conquer Afghanistan and attack India

During the 19th century, the sun of British imperialism was burning fiercely over India. Geo-political studies of Central Asia show that Tsarist Russia and capitalist-imperialist Britain were thumping for military and political victories over Afghanistan and Central Asia. Britain has always feared that Russia would conquer Afghanistan and attack India. Out of this kind of fear and hatred against Russia (Russo-phobia) three times at the expense of India, the ruling England had waged wars against Afghanistan. The first "Anglo-Afghan War" (18-19) took place during the reigns of Lord Auckland and Lord Eleanor, the Governor Generals of India. The Second World War was fought during the reign of Governor General Lord Leighton in 18-190. The Third Anglo-Afghan War (1917) took place during the time of Viceroy Lord Chelmsford. But at the end of these three Afghan wars, it was time for England to lick the dust. Afghans are people of very independent temperament, fighting, valiant, brave and self-respecting. Rabindranath Tagore's story "Kabuliwala" is a testimony to this statement. This article covers only the first Afghan conflict. But there is a lot to learn from it.

First Afghan War 1837-1843

The war was waged by the arrogant and exploitative Governor Generals of India, Lord Auckland (19-19) and Lord Eleanor (19-19) to extend the British Empire to Afghanistan, but in reality the conflict arose out of fear against Russia. At that time, as today, the Afghans were fighting, brave and independent. With the exception of war and bombs, he did not make much of a splash in the trade-industry. Dost Mohammad, the Afghan king of that time, understood the maneuvering of the British and turned to Russia. So Auckland declared war, defeated Dost Muhammad and enthroned Shah Shuja. But the independent-minded Afghan people hated King Shah Shuja, a puppet of the British. So the people revolted and burned down the British embassy in Kabul, and the British envoy there, McGhattan, was cut to pieces. The 18,000 British troops who were there to protect Shah Shuja surrendered to the rebels. The rebel Afghans agreed to allow him to return to India unharmed, but the Afghans killed him along the way. So the outcry spread in England and the company's board of directors returned to Auckland

And was replaced by Lord Eleanor (12-9) as Governor-General of India. Even the British authorities did not learn anything from the recent events. He continued the war against the Afghans and recruited thousands of Hindu and Muslim soldiers to fight it. But during the war of 18, Afghan soldiers killed ninety percent of the Hindus and ten percent of the British in the war. At the end of the first Afghan war, 20,000 people were killed by the British and fifteen crores of rupees were spent (at that time).

British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan (18-19) learned something from the three Afghan wars. He handed over the PM's job to Alec Douglas Home, saying at the age of 18: As long as you don't invade Afghanistan, Britain's chariot will run well. If I start a war, there will be annihilation. "Sir Alex Douglas Home agreed. But then British Prime Minister Tony Blair (18-2006) forgot. He signed an agreement with US President George W. Bush and invaded Afghanistan in 2001, known as the "War on Terror". Tony Blair's intention was to wage a "moral war against jihadist terrorists." When he announced on August 9, 2001, that the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan was a mistake, he had forgotten that in 2001, he himself had called for British troops to invade Afghanistan.