Déjà vu, Afghan Style

June 1880. Ayub Khan, the rival for the Afghan throne, pledges to drive the
infidel British from the land. He advances on Kandahar from the north. His
army of 8,000 includes infantry and artillery. The only military presence in
Kandahar is a small British garrison. In an attempt to halt the onslaught, a
force of 2,500 British soldiers sallies out from the garrison to intercept
Ayub Khan. By this time, though, Ayub Khan's forces have swelled to 20,000
men. A battle ensues 40 miles from the city, at the tiny village of Miawand.
Despite a magnificent display by the British soldiers, they are forced to
withdraw to Kandahar, with the loss of 1,000 dead; 5,000 Afghans fall. Ayub
Khan buries his men, leaving English corpses to the vultures, and advances on
Kandahar. A slaughter follows and the garrison is reduced to occupying the
small citadel in the center of the city.

This remnant is extricated from humiliation by one of history's most rapid
marches. Under the command of General Sir Frederick Roberts, an English force
engages Ayub Khan near Kandahar. With the loss of only 35 men, General
Roberts fells 600 Afghans and secures Kandahar for the British, all the while
sipping champagne in his saddle.

With Kandahar firmly in British hands, the English Cabinet decides to make a
grand gesture and withdraw. Ayub Khan ignores the gesture and reoccupies the
city. He soon loses Kandahar and the throne to his cousin, Abdur Rahman, but
that is another story.

Such is Afghan politics. Outside interference bleeds into the internal
strife, and the tribes war and the emirs contend against one another . . .
and strife is assured. This week U.S. troops are at the gates of Kandahar.
This city, no stranger to strife, beckons more soldiers to stain its streets
with blood. A surrender of the city promises a break with too much history
and an attempt to repeat past grand gestures. When the US troops leave
Kandahar, the gesture will be truly grand.

James Clark

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(c) 2001 Millennium Relief & Development Services, vol. 1 no. 9
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