Indian Frontier Policy

Indian Frontier Policy

Project Gutenberg's Indian Frontier Policy, by General Sir John Ayde
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Title: Indian Frontier Policy
Author: General Sir John Ayde
Release Date: December, 2004 [EBook #7021] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on February 23,
2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INDIAN
FRONTIER POLICY ***

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INDIAN FRONTIER POLICY
AN HISTORICAL SKETCH
BY
GENERAL SIR JOHN ADYE, G.C.B., R.A.
WITH A MAP

PREFACE
The subject of our policy on the North-West frontier of India is one of
great importance, as affecting the general welfare of our Eastern
Empire, and is specially interesting at the present time, when military
operations on a considerable scale are being conducted against a
combination of the independent tribes along the frontier.
It must be understood that the present condition of affairs is no mere
sudden outbreak on the part of our turbulent neighbours. Its causes lie
far deeper, and are the consequences of events in bygone years.
In the following pages I have attempted to give a short historical
summary of its varying phases, in the hope that I may thus assist the
public in some degree to understand its general bearings, and to form a
correct opinion of the policy which should be pursued in the future.
JOHN ADYE,
General.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

EVENTS PRIOR TO, AND INCLUDING, FIRST AFGHAN WAR
OF 1839-41
Proposed Invasion of India by Napoleon I.--Mission of Burnes to Cabul
--Its Failure--Hostility of Russia and Persia--First Afghan War,
1839-41 --Its Vicissitudes and Collapse.

CHAPTER II
EVENTS PRIOR, AND LEADING UP, TO SECOND AFGHAN
WAR
Conquest of Khiva, Bokhara, and Kokand by Russia--British Conquest
of Scinde and the Punjaub--Our Policy with the Frontier Tribes--Treaty
of 1857 with Dost Mahomed--Shere Ali succeeds as Ameer, 1868--War
of 1878-- Abdul Rahman becomes Ameer--Withdrawal of British
Army from Afghanistan, 1881.

CHAPTER III
FRONTIER POLICY SINCE SECOND AFGHAN WAR,
INCLUDING EXPEDITION TO CHITRAL
Further Advance of Russia--Merv Occupied--Sir West Ridgeway's
Frontier Commission of 1885--The Durand Agreement with Abdul
Rahman--The Chitral Expedition of 1895--Its Results--Sudden
Outbreak of Frontier Tribes, 1897.

[Illustration: Afghanistan and North-West Frontier of INDIA.]

INDIAN FRONTIER POLICY
AN HISTORICAL SKETCH

CHAPTER I
EVENTS PRIOR TO, AND INCLUDING, FIRST AFGHAN WAR
OF 1839-41
Proposed Invasion of India by Napoleon I.--Mission of Burnes to Cabul
--Its Failure--Hostility of Russia and Persia--First Afghan War,
1839-41 --Its Vicissitudes and Collapse.
In considering the important and somewhat intricate subject of policy
on the North-Western frontier of our Indian Empire it will be desirable,
in the first place, to give a concise history of the events which have
guided our action, and which for many years past have exercised a
predominating influence in that part of our Eastern dominion.
Speaking generally, it may, I think, be said that the main features of our
policy on the North-Western frontier have been determined by the
gradual advance of Russia southwards, and partly also by the turbulent
character of the people of Afghanistan, and of the independent tribes
who inhabit the great region of mountains which lie between Russia
and ourselves.
These two circumstances--the first having been the most
powerful--have led us into great wars and frontier expeditions, which as
a rule have been costly, and in some cases unjust, and their
consequences have not tended to strengthen our position either on the
frontier or in India itself.
It will be well therefore to give an outline of the Russian conquests in
Central Asia to the north of Afghanistan, and also of our dealings with
the rulers of Cabul in bygone years, and we shall then be better able to
judge of our present position, and to determine the principles which
should guide our North-Western frontier policy.
One of the first threats of invasion of