IOR/L/PS/5/130, ff 407-545

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, Number 11 of 1838, dated 22 May 1838. The enclosures are dated 18 January-22 May 1838.

The item comprises despatches between: William Hay Macnaghten, Secretary to the Government of India; Captain Claude Martine Wade, Political Agent at Loodhiana [Ludhiana]; and Captain Alexander Burnes, on a mission to Cabool [Kabul, also spelled this way and Kabool in this item] and later ‘in Political employ on the North West frontier’.

The despatches concern: British policy towards and relations with the ruling parties in Cabool and Candahar [Kandahar, also spelled this way in this volume] and with the Sikh Ruler Maharaja Runjeet Singh [Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Ruler of the Sikh Empire, also spelled Maharajah and Maha Raja in this item], notably with regard to Peshawur [Peshawar, also spelled this way in the item]; the decision of the rulers of Cabool and Candahar to ally with Persia [Iran] and Russia; and the Government of India’s consequent development of its future policy in Afghanistan.

The papers cover the following matters in detail:

• The unsuccessful conclusion of Burnes’s negotiations with the Ameer of Cabool, Dost Mahomed Khan [Dūst Muḥammad Khān Bārakzāy] and the events leading up to his decision to leave Cabool (ff 416-417, ff 419-423, ff 441-456, ff 525-531, and ff 540-542), including: the arrival of Sirdar [sardar, leader or ruler] Mehar Dil Khan [Sirdār Mīr Dil Khān, also spelled Mirh and Merh in this item] in Cabool during the presence of the Russian Agent Vitkievitsch [Jan Prosper Witkiewicz]; Dost Mahomed’s refusal of British mediation over his dispute with Runjeet Singh; the intention of the Cabool and Candahar Rulers to join with Persia and Russia, send a deputation to the Shah of Persia at his camp outside Herat, and encourage the ‘downfall’ of that city; copies of Burnes’s correspondence with Dost Mahomed before his departure (ff 451-455) and copies of solicitous letters purportedly written by Mehar Dil Khan and Dost Mahomed to the Shah (ff 540-541); the apparent opposition of Nawab Jubber Khan [Nawwāb Jabbār Khān, also spelled Jabar and Jabbar in this item] to (his brother) Dost Mahomed’s actions and his regret at Burnes’s departure; Burnes’s departure from Cabool and instructions to Captain Robert Leech to leave Candahar and advance to Shikarpoor [Shikarpur] and to Charles Masson to leave Cabool for Peshawur; Wade’s speculation on possible courses of action to take if Herat falls and the Afghan rulers renew hostilities against Runjeet Singh; and the reaction of Runjeet Singh to the news of Burnes leaving Cabool and the prospective Cabool-Candahar deputation to Herat
• Reports from Lieutenant Eldred Pottinger describing his communications with the Vizier [prime minister] of Herat, Yar Mahomed Khan [Yār Muḥammad Khān ‘Alī Kūzāy], and forwarding to Burnes letters from Prince Kamran [Shāhzādah Kāmrān Durrānī, Ruler of Herat] and Yar Mahomed containing urgent requests for British assistance (notably money) to repel the Persian Army (ff 426-433)
• The deputation of Macnaghten on a mission to Lahore to meet with Maharaja Runjeet Singh, including: a Minute by the Governor-General of India, regarding past policy in Afghanistan, the failure of negotiations with Dost Mahomed, the policy to be adopted in future in Afghanistan, the course to pursue if Persia is successful against Herat, and instructions to Macnaghten to enter openly and unreservedly into discussions with Runjeet Singh; and additional instructions to Macnaghten by Torrens. In these documents (ff 464-482) Macnaghten is directed to reassure Runjeet Singh of Britain’s desire to secure peace and to promote ‘commerce and the blessings of civilization’ (f 474), and to propose an expedition headed by former Afghan Ruler Shah Shooja ool Moolk [Shujā‘ al-Mulk Durrānī], with both British and Sikh support, ‘to recover his throne’ (f 467) but to leave Shah Kamran ‘unmolested’ in the possession of Herat and its dependencies (f 484)
• Burnes’s report of the successful termination of the visit to Koondooz [Kunduz] by Dr Percival Lord and Lieutenant John Wood, noting the improvement of Britain’s relations with Meer Moorad Beg [Mīr Murād Beg, also referred to as Mahomed Moorad Beg], Ruler of Koondooz, increased trade prospects, and the presence of a Russian emissary at Bulkh (ff 435-439)
• Two reports by Burnes relating to trade and commerce west of the frontiers of British possessions in India and the prospects of introducing and extending British involvement in that sphere, entitled ‘Establishment of an Entrepot [entrepôt] or Fair for the Indus Trade’ and ‘Prospects of trade in Toorkistan in reference to the contemplated establishment of an annual fair on the banks of the Indus drawn up at Koondooz by Mr Lord’ (ff 485-524).