THE EMERGENCE OF THE NEW AFGHAN STATE: ANGLO–AFGHAN–RUSSIAN RELATIONS (1747–1880)

Abstract

This article examines the process of formation of the new Afghan state during the period 1747–1880 and analyzes the political relations between Great Britain, Russia, and Afghanistan. Along with the early political development of the state founded by Ahmad Shah Durrani, the study highlights the growing rivalry between the British and Russian Empires in the nineteenth century and its political impact on Afghanistan. The causes, course, and consequences of the First and Second Anglo-Afghan Wars are also explored on a scientific basis, with special attention to their influence on Afghanistan’s foreign policy. The research findings demonstrate that between 1747 and 1880 Afghanistan became a strategically significant region characterized by the clash of interests of the two major imperial powers.