Internal and international situations in Afghanistan in 1918-1945

1. 
   Internal and international situations in Afghanistan in 1918-1945.
   

1. With the end of the First World War, Habibullah sought to gain reward from the British government for his assistance during the war. Looking for British recognition of Afghanistan's independence in foreign affairs, he demanded a seat at the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919. This request was denied by the Viceroy Viscount Chelmsford, on the grounds that attendance at the conference was confined to the belligerents. Further negotiations were scheduled, but before they could begin Habibullah was assassinated on 19 February 1919.

Habibullah's brother Nasrullah Khan proclaimed himself as Habibullah's successor, while in Kabul Amanullah, Habibullah's third son, had also proclaimed himself Amir. Nasrullah had been the leader of a more conservative element in Afghanistan. However, the Afghan army suspected Amanullah's complicity in the death of his father. Needing a way of cementing his power, upon seizing the throne in April 1919 Amanullah posed as a man of democratic ideals, promising reforms in the system of government. Amanulla proclaimed independence in February 1919. Later Britain declare war to Amanullah.

In 1919 the Afghan regular army was not a very formidable force, and was only able to muster some 50,000 men. In addition to this, however, in a boost to the army's strength, the Afghan command could call upon the loyalty of up to 80,000 frontier tribesmen. In reality, the Afghan regular army was not ready for war.

In May 1919, the British and British Indian Army, not including frontier militia, totaled eight divisions, as well as five independent brigades of infantry and three of cavalry.

  On 13 May British and Indian troops seized control of the western Khyber without opposition and occupied Dacca, however, the British camp was poorly sited for defense and as a consequence they came under an intense long-range artillery barrage from Afghan artillery before Amanullah launched an infantry assault on them. This assault was defeated and the British launched a counter-attack the following day, however, they were unable to consolidate their position and as a result it was not until 17 May that the area was secured and the Afghans withdrew. The British aircraft was subjected to a brutal bombardment of clusters of enemy troops, their way, especially the city Dzhellalabad and Kabul. Afghans who did not have any aircraft or anti-aircraft guns, were unable to resist the enemy air raids.

Although the fighting concluded in August 1919, its effects continued to be felt in the region for some time afterwards. The nationalism and disruption that it had sparked stirred up more unrest in the years to come, particularly in Waziristan. The tribesmen, always ready to exploit governmental weakness, whether real or perceived, banded together in the common cause of disorder and unrest. They had become well-armed as a result of the conflict, whence they benefitted greatly from the weapons and ammunition that the Afghans had left behind and from an influx of manpower in large numbers of deserters from the militia that had joined their ranks. With these additions they launched a campaign of resistance against British authority on the North-West Frontier that was to last until the end of the Raj. The national liberation movement in the interior of India, lasting guerrilla warfare tribes in the frontier zone, the defeat suffered by the British invaders in the Soviet Turkestan, and, finally, the growth of international influence of the Soviet Russia, to provide moral and economic support for Afghanistan, made the British imperialists to take time off from implement their aggressive plans.August 8, 1919 Anglo-Afghan peace treaty was signed in Rawalpindi. After the Third Anglo-Afghan War and the signing of the Treaty of Rawalpindi on 19 August 1919.

In a note appended to the text of the agreement, the British government recognized the independence of Afghanistan and its right to self-maintain diplomatic and trade relations with all states. The borders between Afghanistan and Anglo-Indian possessions remained unchanged. The British government has terminated the payment of subsidies to the Afghan emirs, also canceled the previously existing benefits to transportation across India weapons and military material in Afghanistan. King Amanullah Khan moved to end his country's traditional isolation by establishing diplomatic relations with the international community.

The external policy of the Emir, strive for the elimination of monopoly tutelage of Great Britain over Afghanistan, establish equitable contractual relations with the capitalist powers and maintain good-neighborly friendly cooperation with the Soviet Union - was one of the leading units in the anti-colonial and dependent countries of the East. In 1921 Soviet-Afghani treaty about friendship was signed in Moscow. This was an important event and had a morality considerable. After this Britain signed new treaty with Afghanistan. Then Amanulla undertook reforms. Emir Amanullah vigorously carried out an extensive program of military, political and economic transformation. However, these reforms were not bourgeois-democratic and left intact the feudal foundations of agrarian relations and the monarchy; Nevertheless, they certainly contributed to the progress and the strengthening of the Afghan national statehood. A key force behind these reforms was Mahmud Tarzi, an ardent supporter of the education of women. He fought for Article 68 of Afghanistan's 1923 constitution, which made elementary education compulsory. The institution of slavery was abolished in 1923. Some of the reforms that were actually put in place, such as the abolition of the traditional burqa for women and the opening of a number of co-educational schools, quickly alienated many tribal and religious leaders.

British ruling circles after the Anglo-Afghan War in 1919 have left no hope for the overthrow of the new regime in Afghanistan. However, the British decided not to resort to direct armed attack on Afghanistan. Experience three Afghan wars taught the British imperialists caution in dealing with the brave and freedom-loving Afghan people. It seemed more risky incursion into Afghanistan in the new international political environment. The British imperialists had to reckon with the growing power and prestige of the Soviet Union consistently and steadfastly oppose the machinations of the imperialist aggressors and to defend the independence and sovereignty of small nations. The British preferred to achieve its goal through internal coup. British agents established links with reactionary circles in Afghanistan: the leaders of the outlying tribes, disgraced nobles, senior Muslim clerics. In 1924-1925 gg. the British organized a reactionary revolt in Khost, was headed by a British agent Abdul Karim Khan. This rebellion was eliminated Amanullah Khan; but three years later, the British new venture was undertaken.

Following a 1927–28 tour of Europe and the other country, he introduced several reforms intended to modernize his nation. Before tour he signed Pagman non-aggression treaty with USSR. Amanullah Khan trip to the Soviet Union in 1928.

In Moscow both sides adopted a decision to open embassy buildings.

Since the beginning of 1928 from India to Afghanistan began receiving party of the English arms. The military authorities of the North-West Frontier Province of India sent out emissaries to the Afghan leaders in Dzhellalabada area. At the head of the entire organization has become the largest British spy Lawrence, acting under a false name Shaw. In the autumn of 1928 a rebellion broke out Dzhellalabada district Shinwari tribe, supported by some other neighboring tribes. From Kabul to the area [193] uprising troops were deployed. At this time, by Kugistana Kabul launched an offensive rebel troops under the command of Bache-Saqao, rogue, deserted the Afghan army, and trade banditry. Faced with overwhelming armed opposition, Amanullah Khan was forced to abdicate in January 1929 after Kabul fell to rebel forces led by Habibullah Kalakani(Bachai Sackao). January 15, 1929 Bache-Saqao entered Kabul and proclaimed himself emir named Habibullah.

Amanullah Khan, who fled to Kandahar, has tried for some time to continue the fight, but failed and was forced to leave the country. Bache-Saqao, relying on the support of the extreme wing of the reactionary clergy, overturned Amanullah carried out reforms. He abolished everything what established Amanulla. The masses, which Bache-Saqao demagogically promised all kinds of goods and especially the abolition of heavy taxes imposed Amanullah, were deceived.

The British hoped that the Afghan revolution will return them to previous dominant position in Afghanistan. British Ambassador Humphries, even before the revolution to establish communication with Bache-Saqao, felt master of the situation. But anti-British feelings were so strong in the Afghan people, even Bache-Saqao did not dare to go back to the status quo until 1919. Soon Bache-Saqao was divided parts of the Afghan army, headed by Nadir Khan, the Afghan general, to operate successfully during the Anglo -Afghan war.

Prince Mohammed Nadir Shah, Amanullah's cousin, in turn defeated and killed Bachai Sackao in November 1929, and was declared King Nadir Shah. He abandoned the reforms of Amanullah Khan in favor of a more gradual approach to modernisation and that’s why was assassinated in 1933. New constitution was adopted in 1931. Mohammed Zahir Shah, Nadir Shah's 19-year-old son, succeeded to the throne and reigned from 1933 to 1973.  During his four decades of rule, Zahir Shah became a prominent Afghan figure in the world. He established friendly relations with many countries and worked on modernizing his country.

This period characterized improving Afghanistan's relations with the international community as in 1934, Afghanistan joined the League of Nations while also receiving formal recognition from the United States. By the end of the 1930s, agreements on foreign assistance and trade had been reached with many countries, most notably with the 'Axis powers'; Germany, Italy, and Japan.