FALL OF NAPOLEON PATHAN: ACADEMIC APPRAISAL

Abstract

International politics is a very strange phenomenon. Some areas and people suffer heavily and others gain due to power politics. The great game in Afghanistan had badly affected Bajour, Chitral and Dir. The most popular ruler of Jandul and Dir, Umra Khan of Jandul lost his khanate due to the Durand Agreement. He opposed the British appeasement policy at the cost of Bajour and Dir. He resisted the British decision of accepting the Afghan occupation and annexation of Asmar, a small khanate of Bajour. The Indian government arranged a special force, the Chitral Relief Force to expel Umra Khan’s men from Chitral. The British Commissioner in the Asmar Boundary Commission, Sir Richard Udny gave more areas of Bajour and Dir to Afghanistan while delimiting of the border. These areas are located on the southern side of Kunar River and now form part of Kunar province of Afghanistan. These include Asmar, Barikot, Narai and Dangam etc. In this way, the border in the vicinity of Bajour and Dir was pushed over 100 km towards the south. Bajour and Dir suffered enormous territorial losses due to the Durand Agreement and delimitation of the border. Dir and Jandul also lost a brilliant ruler, Umra Khan.