afghanistanMurghab and Badghis. Even Dilawar Khan, wali of Maimana, wrote to
Roberts tendering his submission to Britain. As marginalized and disen-
franchised ethnic and religious minorities, all of these tribes hoped that
Roberts would finally sweep away the Durranis and place Afghanistan
under direct British rule.
The first signs of unrest came in early December 1979 when the
telegraph line between Gandamak and Kabul was cut. A few days later
the Logaris refused to provide the army with any more supplies. On
11 December, the 48th anniversary of Macnaghten’s treaty with Wazir
Akbar Khan, Muhammad Jan Khan and Mushk-i ‘Alam attacked and
defeated a British column at Chahardeh. A second force sent into the Koh
Daman had a sharp encounter with the Safis and Mir Bacha Kohistani, but
managed to return to Kabul in good order. A few days later, some 60,000
mujahidin poured into Kabul from all directions and occupied most of the
southern, western and northern parts of the capital.
Roberts now faced a very serious situation. He had only 6,000 troops at
his disposal and there was insufficient fuel or fodder to withstand a prolonged
winter siege. Roberts decided to concentrate all his forces behind the Sherpur
defences and evicted thousands of Hazaras who had been employed repairing
the cantonment’s accommodation and defences. They were quickly hunted
down by Mushk-i ‘Alam’s ghazis and beaten or killed. Major General Bright,
who commanded the outpost at Gandamak, was ordered to march to Kabul,
but he refused for he had been attacked by Asmat Allah Khan of Laghman
and was preparing for a second assault. Instead, Roberts ordered General
Gough in Jalalabad to march to the relief of both garrisons.
Roberts’s force managed to hold out for ten days, despite having to
defend more than 4 kilometres (2½ mi.) of poorly built perimeter walls.
He was helped by the fact that the Afghans failed to storm the canton-
ment immediately and instead looted the houses and shops of Hindu
and Armenian merchants, and sacked the Qizilbash quarters of Murad
Khana and Chindawal. The rebel leaders then argued over who should
be declared Amir and whether Mushk-i ‘Alam ought to be governor of
Kabul. When Muhammad Jan Khan opened negotiations, Roberts strung
him along without any intention of conceding anything and bought a few
more days’ grace.
Mushk-i ‘Alam eventually lost patience and on 23 December 1879, the
anniversary of the assassination of Macnaghten, 20,000 of his ghazis flung
themselves against Sherpur’s ramparts. Roberts, pre-warned of the assault,
opened up with grapeshot and disciplined rifle fire. After repeated attempts
to storm the breaches failed, Mushk-i ‘Alam’s ghazis abandoned the attack,