afghanistan
Instead, Macnaghten fell headlong into the trap. Finally, it seemed,
Akbar Khan was prepared to abandon his hard line and agree to terms
acceptable to all parties – except, of course, ’Amin Allah Khan Logari and
his allies in Qal‘a-yi Mahmud Khan. Macnaghten then compounded his
error by agreeing to sign a document presented to him by Sardar Saddiq
Khan, which confirmed his assent to Akbar Khan’s proposal. Akbar Khan
now had documentary proof that Macnaghten was prepared to betray
each and every member of the resistance and to pay one party to elimin-
ate the other. When Akbar Khan showed them Macnaghten’s signature
on the document their anger knew no bounds. It was a particularly bitter
blow for Nawab Zaman Khan as he had done everything in his power to
negotiate an honourable compromise and restrain Akbar Khan. He had
even risked his life to protect Lal and other officers from the wrath of ‘Abd
Allah Khan Achakzai. All this goodwill, it seemed, counted for nothing,
since Macnaghten appeared to be prepared to betray him and cut a deal
with his rival.
’Amin Allah Khan Logari was equally incensed for he had already
agreed to join forces with the British and attack Akbar Khan. Now it seems
this agreement was a trap to lure him into the open field so that the British
and Akbar Khan could annihilate him. As for the Ghilzai, who were due
to make a fortune by supplying fodder and food to the cantonment, for
the third time in less than a month they were to be disappointed, for
Macnaghten ordered Lal to inform them not to deliver the supplies and
to call off the attack on the Shah Bagh. By the morning, all factions were
united by anger and hatred at Macnaghten’s betrayal. Akbar Khan’s plan
had worked to perfection and as a result he was now in control of the
rebel agenda. Finally, the time had come to avenge the humiliations that
Burnes, Macnaghten and Britain had heaped on his father and family over
the past three years.
The assassination of Macnaghten and TrevorIt was not until early the next day that Macnaghten finally briefed his polit-
ical officers and the military high command about the secret deal he had
made with Akbar Khan and informed them he planned to have another
meeting with Akbar Khan prior to attacking Qal‘a-yi Mahmud Khan.
Almost to a man, everyone condemned the envoy’s actions. Lieutenant
Colin Mackenzie, one of Macnaghten’s aides, was astute enough to realize
that the plan was a trap and bluntly warned the envoy that he had been
tricked. ‘A plot,’ Macnaghten blithely replied, ‘let me alone for that, trust me