nadir shah and the afghans, 1732–47‘Ali agreed and sent Afzal Khan a Qur’an sealed with the royal seal, with a
letter inscribed on the flyleaf offering to resolve their differences.
On the basis of the reassurance of safe conduct, and despite the warn-
ings of his son ‘Abd al-Rahman Khan, Afzal Khan went to Sher ‘Ali Khan’s
camp and was received with the honour due to his rank. Reassured by
this reception, Afzal Khan ordered ‘Abd al-Rahman Khan to return to
Takhtapul while he and Sher ‘Ali travelled to Tashqurghan to discuss terms
of peace. The talks did not progress well, for Afzal Khan insisted that
Sher ‘Ali Khan honour their father’s dying wish and allow him to remain
governor of Balkh and that ‘Azam Khan be reinstated as governor of Khost
and Khurram. Sher ‘Ali Khan was not prepared to let his rivals have this
degree of power but eventually they agreed a compromise. Afzal Khan
would remain governor of Balkh, but Maimana would be placed under the
jurisdiction of Herat, while Qataghan and Badakhshan would be governed
by an appointee of the Amir. Afzal Khan reluctantly agreed to the deal
and in August 1863 the two siblings made a pilgrimage to Mazar-i Sharif,
where they swore on the tomb of Hazrat ‘Ali to uphold their agreement.
Matters may well have been resolved had not ‘Abd al-Rahman Khan
refused to pay his respects to Muhammad ‘Ali Khan, the heir apparent,
claiming that since he was superior in both age and rank, Muhammad ‘Ali
ought to attend on him. The sardar then refused to go in person to swear
allegiance to the Amir. When Afzal Khan failed to condemn his son’s
actions, Sher ‘Ali Khan suspected he was using ‘Abd al-Rahman Khan as a
proxy to maintain his claim to the throne. After the Amir’s spies intercepted
letters from Afzal Khan to ‘Abd al-Rahman Khan that implicated them
in a plot to rebel, Afzal Khan was clapped in irons and ‘Abd al-Rahman
Khan was dismissed as commander of Takhtapul. Fearing imprisonment
and even death, he fled across the Amu Darya to Bukhara.
Despite Afzal Khan plotting to overthrow the Amir, it was Sher ‘Ali
Khan who was blamed for violating his oath and many of his supporters
deserted him. When the Amir returned to Kabul, yet another plot was
uncovered and several conspirators were exiled to India while others fled
to Kandahar where they joined forces with Muhammad ’Amin Khan, the
Amir’s uterine brother, who had also rebelled. In early June 1865 Sher ‘Ali
Khan and Muhammad ’Amin Khan fought a bloody battle at Kaj Baz,
between Kandahar and Qalat-i Ghilzai, but although the Amir was vic -
torious it came at a terrible cost, for both Muhammad ’Amin Khan and
the Amir’s son and heir, Muhammad ‘Ali Khan, were slain.
Sher ‘Ali Khan regarded these deaths as divine retribution for breach-
ing his oath to Afzal Khan and when he reached Kandahar he abdicated.