afghanistanAmir Sher ‘Ali Khan’s spies intercepted correspondence between the two
brothers that implicated them in a conspiracy to depose him, and several
individuals were arrested. When further compromising correspondence
was discovered during searches of their homes, the Amir sent an army into
Khost and ‘Azam Khan fled across the frontier into India. In retaliation,
Afzal Khan had himself declared Amir in Mazar-i Sharif and assembled
his forces at Khanabad, preparatory to marching on Kabul.
In the spring of 1864 Sher ‘Ali Khan and Muhammad ‘Ali Khan marched
north to confront Afzal Khan. Before he left Kabul, the Amir released Ishan
Sudur and Ishan Uruq, the former Bukharan governors of Balkh and Aqcha,
respectively, and sent them to Maimana after they agreed to raise support
for the Amir in the Chahar Wilayat in return for a pledge to restore them
to the governorship of Aqcha. In mid-May 1864 the armies of Muhammad
‘Ali Khan and Afzal Khan came face-to-face at Bajgah in the Kahmard
valley. Under cover of night Muhammad ‘Ali’s men surmounted the heights
of the steep-sided valley and literally caught Afzal Khan’s guards napping.
When dawn broke, they fired into the enemy camp below, causing panic,
and as they turned and fled Muhammad ‘Ali opened fire with grapeshot.
Those who escaped the slaughter fled to Duab, but when Sher ‘Ali Khan
ordered his troops to pursue the enemy, other sardars urged the Amir to
seek reconciliation rather than tear the kingdom apart with civil war. Sher
The Kahmard valley north of Bamiyan straddled an important military and trade route
linking Kabul with Balkh. The Ajar valley at the head of the valley was once the hunting
grounds of King Zahir Shah.