Indian Frontier Policy | Page 8

The principal terms which
were finally accepted by the Khan and his tribal chiefs were, that their
foreign policy was to be under our guidance, and we were also to be the

referee in case of internal disputes; that the commerce of the Bolam
was to be opened and protected, the annual subsidy hitherto granted to
the Khan of 5,000l. being doubled to cover the necessary expenditure;
and, finally, that a British Agent with a suitable contingent should be
established at Quetta. It is important to observe that the negotiations
were conducted throughout in a spirit of conciliation, and that their
beneficial results remain in force to the present day.
The policy pursued for many years on the Afghan frontier, although
regulated by the same general principles as in Khelat, was not
altogether so rapidly accomplished, or so entirely successful. The
circumstances were in some degree different and less simple. In the
first place the frontier was 800 miles long, and was inhabited by
Afghan tribes, who were more predatory and intractable than the
Beloochees; they were not only independent of each other, but for the
most part acknowledged no allegiance to the Ameer of Cabul. Border
disputes therefore had to be settled with individual chiefs; and no
opportunity was offered for our mediation in internal feuds, or for joint
agreement on external policy, as was so successfully accomplished by
Sandeman in Beloochistan. There was no general federation with which
we could enter into negotiation. As a consequence, we were compelled
to maintain a large force and fortified posts along the frontier; and
many punitive expeditions became necessary from time to time against
lawless offending tribes. Still, on the whole, and considering the
difficulties of the situation, the policy of conciliation, subsidies, and of
non- interference with their internal affairs, gradually succeeded; raids
once chronic became exceptional, and were dealt with rather as matters
of frontier policy than of war. [Footnote: See Parliamentary Papers:
_Afghanistan,_ 1878, page 30, and _Beloochistan,_ No. 3, 1878.]
It must also be remembered, as an additional complication, that in
annexing the Punjaub, although it is essentially the country of the Sikhs,
who are Hindoos, the inhabitants of the trans-Indus districts are for the
most part what are termed Punjaubee Mussulmen, that is, Afghans, in
race, religion and language.
From what has been said as to our dealings with the border tribes, it

will be evident that while our difficulties were continuous and often
serious, still, they were chiefly local; and that the defence of the Empire
on that frontier against foreign aggression depended in a great measure
on our relations with the ruler of Afghanistan itself. When Dost
Mahomed, after the great war, returned in 1843 to his former position
as Ameer of that distracted country, it was hardly to be expected that,
although acquiescing in his reinstatement, we should be regarded by
him in a friendly light; still, some years passed away without any
important change in our relative positions, one way or the other.
In 1855, Lord Dalhousie was Governor-General, and a treaty was made
with Dost Mahomed, by which both parties agreed to respect each
other's territories. In January, 1857, a still more important one followed.
We were then once more at war with Persia; and at a meeting between
Sir John Lawrence and the Ameer, an agreement was entered into that
Dost Mahomed, acting in co-operation with us, should receive 10,000l.
a month for military purposes, to continue during the war; that English
officers should reside in his country temporarily, to keep the Indian
Government informed, but not to interfere with the administration, and
that when peace ensued they should be withdrawn, and a native agent
alone remain as our representative. [Footnote: In view of the strong
objection to the presence of English officers in Afghanistan, Sir John
Lawrence intimated to the Viceroy of India that he had given an
assurance to Dost Mahomed that it should not be enforced unless
imperatively necessary.]
It is important to note that this friendly treaty was made at Peshawur,
just before the great Mutiny, and that the Ameer, though urged by his
people to attack us in our hour of danger, remained faithful, and would
not allow them to cross the border.
Dost Mahomed died in June, 1863, and for some years after his death
family feuds and intestine wars occurred as to his successor, during
which we carefully abstained from interference, and were prepared to
acknowledge the de facto ruler. Ultimately, in 1868, his son Shere Ali
established his authority in Afghanistan, and was acknowledged
accordingly. Lord Lawrence was then the Viceroy, and in a despatch to

the Secretary of State expressed his views as regards the advances of
Russia. After pointing out that they were now paramount in Central
Asia, he suggested a mutual agreement