Afghanistan 2047

Episode 46: First Anglo-Afghan War

This episode examines the causes, course, and consequences of the First Anglo-Afghan War within the broader crisis of political fragmentation in nineteenth-century Afghanistan. It explores British strategic objectives in Central Asia, the restoration of Shah Shuja, the collapse of resistance in key cities, the role of popular uprisings, and the eventual British defeat and withdrawal. The discussion also reflects on the restoration of Dost Mohammad Khan, the internal struggles that followed, and the shifting geopolitical tensions that set the stage for renewed confrontation later in the century.