The records of the British Legation at Kabul, 1923-48

This group of records consists of the British Legation's correspondence with the Government of India, the Foreign Office, the India Office, the Government of the North-West Frontier Province and the Afghan Government and representatives of other nations in Kabul. Also included are internal minutes and notes of the staff of the Legation, and a few items of vernacular files. Although the records should officially begin when the Legation was established in 1923, only those after 1930 are held. The original files before this date seemed to have been destroyed either by fire or by the Revolution in Afghanistan. A few replicas of the files dealing with matters of the earlier period are included.

For additional information on the Legation before 1930, see IOR/L/PO/214-216, Private Office files: Afghanistan affairs, 1922-1929. Other departmental files relating to Afghanistan: IOR/L/MIL/6, IOR/L/MIL/7, and IOR/L/MIL/17/14 for military records; IOR/L/P&S/10, 11, 18A, and 20B for the records of the Political and Secret Department; IOR/L/E/7 Revenue Department records. For index, see Registers and indexes IOR/Z/R/12/1-8.

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When the Third Anglo-Afghan War broke out in May 1919 it lasted barely a month and both sides sought peace. Consequently Treaty of Rawalpindi was signed between the two nations. January 1921, British Mission under Sir Henry Dobbs visited Kabul and negotiated further agreement. The second Anglo-Afghan Treaty was thus concluded in November 1921. March 1922, the first British Minister, Sir Francis Humbrys arrived at Kabul. His appointment signified the formal establishment of diplomatic relations. Although the British Minister was appointed by the Foreign Office, the post was classed and paid as a Residency of the Indian Political Department. The subsequent Ministers were filled by officers of the Indian Political Service and selected by the Government of India and the Secretary of State for India until 1949. The Legation in Kabul was simultaneously responsible to both the Foreign Office and the India Office while all correspondence was sent to both offices in London. Under the Minister, the rest of the Legation staff consisted of a Counsellor, Military Attaché, Surgeon, Secretary and Oriental Secretary. The Legation was housed in a building in the centre of Kabul. The building was burnt down in 1926 consequently most records of that period were destroyed in fire. The staff of the Legation moved into a purpose-built building in 1927. In 1929, the then pro-West ruler of Afghanistan Amanullah abdicated and civil war broke out in the country. The British community evacuated Kabul.From February to November 1929, Afghanistan was ruled by a Tajik, Habibullah Ghazi. The country was thrown into turmoil. One of the former minister of Amanullah, Nadir Khan and his brothers of the Musahiban family rallied support against Amir Habibullah Ghazi. In October 1929, Nadir Khan took Kabul, captured and executed Habibullah, and proclaimed king (Shah). The British Government soon recognised the new regime. In May 1930, the British Legation returned to Kabul and secretly supplied the regime of Nadir Shah with arms and ammunition. Three years later, Nadir Shah was murdered and the throne was immediately succeeded by his son. The actual government was run by the Prime Minister Hashim Khan and he stayed in power until 1946. At the end of the World War II, after India and Pakistan became independent, the British Legation was made officially an Embassy and transferred the full responsibility from the India Office to the Foreign Office.