nadir shah and the afghans, 1732–47protocols and reinstated the tradition of public audiences, personally arbi-
trating in even petty disputes. Justice, though, was swift and often arbitrary,
but the fact that some sort of justice, if not actually being done, was seen to
be done was welcomed by Kabulis, who had suffered from decades of anar-
chy and ‘warlordism’. ‘Is Dost Muhammad dead, that there is no justice?’
soon became a popular proverb among the shopkeepers of the old city.
Another pressing issue was the chronic condition of the state revenues.
Dost Muhammad Khan did not dare to risk alienating the Durranis by
removing their tax exemption privileges, so instead he undertook a series
of military campaigns to extend his authority over the rich agricultural
areas around Kabul and in Nangahar, and to take control of the lucrative
trade route between Kabul and Balkh. As each district fell, the local amirs
and khans were deposed and more often than not one of his sons was
appointed as governor with a mandate to increase the amount of revenue
the province paid into the state treasury.
Dost Muhammad Khan’s first major campaign was aimed at extend-
ing his authority in the highly productive agricultural regions of the Koh
Daman, Ghurband, Kohistan and Tagab, the amirs of which frequently
raided trade caravans on their way to Bamiyan and looted settlements on
the outskirts of Kabul. Dost Muhammad Khan adopted his now well-tried
ploy of offering the rebels free pardon and monetary incentives if they came
in person to Kabul and submitted, then when they were in his power he
The Koh Daman valley north of Kabul. This wide, well-watered and fertile valley was
traditionally one of the main sources of food for the Afghan capital.