How The Afghans Defeated Britain & Won Independence | Anglo-Afghan Wars Documentary

August 19th 1919, the day Afghanistan gained its Independence... Kind of... Afghanistan’s independence can actually be traced back to 1747 when Ahmad Shah Durrani formed the Durrani Empire. Or even to 1709 when Mirwais Hotak pushed the Safavid Persians out of the country.
So what’s so special about 1919?
Well, it’s when the Afghans, under the rule of Amir Amanullah regained full sovereignty by taking back control over their foreign affairs from the British.

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Special Thank You to:

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Music used includes:

Doug Maxwell - Arabian Nightfall (Sting)

SYBS - At Odds

Wayne Jones - Epic Battle Speech

- The beautiful rabab music you hear in the video is Qais Essar. Check out his music at:

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If any of the images or songs are yours, please let me know I will amend them. Please don't report me straight away!

[HikmaHistory]

What date is the most appropriate for Afghanistan's independence? 1709, 1747, 1919?

[peelsherrif]

I am from India and I have to salute the afghans for their respect. And as an answer to your question, I believe that the date should be 1747 as one of the most charismatic leaders of the 18th century lead the Pashtun nation and turned it from a failed state to an asian power. We Indians never truly see the other side of things. When I read Durr-e-Durrani’s biography, I was really surprised to see the hardships he endured. Long live the afghan nation🇦🇫🇦🇫

[EcclesiastesLiker-pyts]

Very interesting, for obvious reasons.

[HistoryOfRevolutions]

"Once Europe existed in a Dark Age and Islam carried the torch of learning. Now we Muslims live in a Dark age"

- Mahmud Tarzi

[dCash]

I was gonna search for this for a refresher soon anyways. Nice

[FreedomFox]

I saw your livestream with Cypher. I really enjoyed your perspective on Afghanistan. Your channel looks awesome — I’m going to enjoy binging :)

[McVaySwifty]

Timely video. And woah, 30k subscribers!

[satyr]

Great vid with loads of new information I had not read or researched to this date. You've provided a wonderful resource for the history of such a large region so much thanks!
Hopefully they'll be more vids on Afghanistan soon.

[regulatorylaw]

Im following this channel as it gives clear historical information on why this country is in such conflict. It does well to understand thé current failures of America and Britain in describing the appauling situation and outcomes.
Thank you for sharing.

[Goodgangsta]

Thank you that was Amazing history💯. I'm Samoan an I love you Godbless 🙏

[MarriedToTheKGB]

What's your spin or opinion as an Afghan with the Taliban takeover recently?

[kaushiksheshnagraj]

Usually I don't comment on anyone's video but your content is superb so I am commenting on your video. Wow this video is fantastic. Every line is a point. Your channel deserve more subscriber. I regularly watch your videos from 2 years. As a old subscriber I want a help from you that please make a video on Michael the brave because I realised that only you can describe it nicely. As I know you from the old days, I think you will definitely make a video on this topic

[iliassaleh]

Good vid as always I really liked this one

[stab]

Just found your channel. Really well done. Subbed!

[abuhamza]

Great video, thanks for uploading.

Just one comment, sovereignty is pronounced sov-ren-ty

[daniyalahmed]

Every thing I can do for 🇦🇫🇦🇫 for my beautiful heart

[thorerik]

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY BROTHER, BY FELLOW PAKISTANI, MUCH LOVE

[jorgeh.r]

You should make a video on the life and times of Ahmad Shah Massoud

[jaylils]

I'm here from The Cynical Historian. You guys are great 👍

[squiddiefn]

The root cause of the Third Anglo-Afghan War lies long before fighting commenced. For the British in India, Afghanistan was seen as a threat. The British worried about Russian intentions, concerned that an invasion of India could be launched by Tsarist forces through Afghanistan.[8] This period became known as the Great Game. In an effort to negate this threat, the British made numerous attempts at imposing their will upon Kabul, and over the course of the 19th century fought two wars: the First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–1842) and the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–1880).[9][10]

The end of the Second Afghan War in 1880, marked the beginning of almost 40 years of good relations between Britain and Afghanistan, under the leadership of Abdur Rahman Khan and Habibullah Khan, during which time the British attempted to manage Afghan foreign policy through the payment of a large subsidy.[11] While ostensibly the country remained independent, under the Treaty of Gandumak (1879) it accepted that in external matters it would "...have no windows looking on the outside world, except towards India".[11]

In 1901, the death of Emir Abdur Rahman Khan led indirectly to the war that began 18 years later. His successor, Habibullah, was a pragmatic leader who sided with Britain or Russia, depending on Afghan interests.[12][13] Despite considerable resentment over not being consulted over the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907 (Convention of St. Petersburg), Afghanistan remained neutral during the First World War (1914–1918), resisting considerable pressure from the Ottoman Empire, which entered the conflict on the side of the Central Powers; the Ottoman Sultan (as titular leader of Islam) called for a holy war against the Allies.[14]

Despite remaining neutral in the conflict, Habibullah did in fact accept a Turkish-German mission in Kabul and military assistance from the Central Powers as he attempted to play both sides of the conflict for the best deal.[13][15] Through continual prevarication, he resisted numerous requests for assistance from the Central Powers, but failed to keep in check troublesome tribal leaders, intent on undermining British rule in India, as Turkish agents attempted to foment trouble along the frontier.[14] The departure of a large part of the British Indian Army to fight overseas and news of British defeats at the hands of the Turks aided Turkish agents in efforts at sedition, and in 1915 there was unrest amongst the Mohmands and then the Mahsuds. Not withstanding these outbreaks, the frontier generally remained settled at a time when Britain could ill afford trouble.[14]

A Turko-German mission left Kabul in 1916. By that time, however, it had successfully convinced Habibullah that Afghanistan was an independent nation and that it should be beholden to no one. With the end of the First World War, Habibullah sought to obtain 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, Frederic Thesiger, 1st 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.[12][14][16]

This resulted in a power struggle as Habibullah's brother Nasrullah Khan proclaimed himself as Habibullah's successor, while in Kabul Amanullah, Habibullah's third son, had also proclaimed himself Amir. 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. He stated that there should be no forced labour, tyranny or oppression, and that Afghanistan should be free and independent and no longer bound by the Treaty of Gandamak.[11]

Amanullah had his uncle Nasrullah arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for Habibullah's murder. Nasrullah had been the leader of a more conservative element in Afghanistan and his treatment rendered Amanullah's position as Amir somewhat tenuous. By April 1919, he realised that if he could not find a way to placate the conservatives, he would be unlikely to maintain his hold on power. Looking for a diversion from the internal strife in the Afghan court and sensing advantage in the rising civil unrest in India following the Amritsar massacre, [17][b] Amanullah decided to invade British India.[18][19]