Afghanistan Affairs

IOR/L/PS/5/130, ff 20-51

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The record is made up of 1 item (32 folios). It was created in 7 Mar 1838. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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Content

This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of India Secret Department (Camp at Kurnaul [Karnal]) to the East India Company Secret Committee Pre-1784, the Committee responsible for protecting East India Company shipping. Post-1784, its main role was to transmit communications between the Board of Control and the Company's Indian governments on matters requiring secrecy. , Number 4 of 1838, dated 7 March 1838. The enclosures are dated 26 January-7 March 1838.

The papers relate to the views of Captain Alexander Burnes, on a Mission to Cabool [Kabul; this spelling also used in this item], Captain Claude Martine Wade, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Lodiana [Ludhiana, also spelled Lodianah and Loodeeana in this item], and William Hay Macnaghten, Secretary to the Government of India, regarding the overtures made by Dost Mahomed Khan [Dūst Muḥammad Khān Bārakzāy], Ruler of Cabool, for the ‘adjustment of his difference’ with the Sikhs [the Sikh Empire] over Peshawur [Peshawar].

The papers notably cover:

Dost Mahomed’s wish to prevent the restoration of his brother, Sultan Mohamed Khan [Sulṭān Muḥammad Khān Bārakzāy], to the governorship of the territory, and his proposals that either Peshawur be ceded to him and in return he becomes a tributary of Maharaja Ranjit [also spelled Runjeet in this item] Singh, or that the territory is divided between himself and Ranjit Singh and they receive equally a fixed tribute, with Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Jabbar Khan [ Nawwāb An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Jabbār Khān] placed at Peshawur
Burnes’s support for Dost Mahomed (ff 39-46) and forwarding of a letter to the Governor-General of India from the Ruler of Cabool who professes confidence in the ‘favourable disposition which your Lordship entertains towards supporting and strengthening my Government’ (f 37)
Wade’s disagreements with parts of Burnes’s analysis, including his: belief that Dost Mahomed has exaggerated the threat from Ranjit Singh; scepticism regarding allegations that Sultan Mohamed conspired with Shah Shuja ul Mulk [Shujā‘ al-Mulk Durrānī] against Dost Mahomed; emphasis on the superiority of British relations with the Sikhs; belief that Ranjit Singh will neither cede Peshawur to Dost Mahomed nor restore it to Sultan Mahomed; and insistence that Burnes adhere to his instructions to preserve the present distribution of power on the Indus and discourage any ‘extravagant pretensions’ of Dost Mahomed (ff 23-35)
The Governor-General’s claim to favour any arrangement as long as it is agreeable to Ranjit Singh whose rights in Peshawur ‘cannot be questioned’, and preference that Dost Mahomed open direct negotiations with Lahore rather than through British officers (ff 48-50).

The correspondents are Wade, Macnaghten and Burnes.

Extent and format

1 item (32 folios)

It is part of

'ENCLOSURES TO SECRET LETTERS FROM INDIA', Vol 49

1488 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/5/130

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival item

Archive information for this record

Original held at: British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.
Access conditions: Unrestricted
Archive reference: IOR/L/PS/5/130, ff 20-51
Former external reference(s): No. 4 of 1838
Date(s): 7 Mar 1838 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects: Territorial disputesBilateral relationsPolitical conflicts
Places: Peshawur
People & organisations: Political AgentGovernment of IndiaSulṭān Muḥammad Khān BārakzāyAlexander BurnesDūst Muḥammad Khān Bārakzāy

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Afghanistan Affairs, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/5/130, ff 20-51, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100145096900.0x000002> [accessed 4 October 2024]

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Reference: IOR/L/PS/5/130, ff 20-51
Title: Afghanistan Affairs
Pages: 37r:37v
Author: Bārakzāy, Dūst Muḥammad Khān
Usage terms: Public Domain

Reference: IOR/L/PS/5/130, ff 20-51
Title: Afghanistan Affairs
Pages: 20r:36v, 38r:51v
Author: East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
Usage terms: Open Government Licence