Treaty of Rawalpindi

The Treaty of Rawalpindi, signed on August 8, 1919, marked the end of the Third Anglo-Afghan War. This conflict, which began in May 1919, was largely a series of skirmishes between the British Indian army and an Afghan army. The war concluded with the Afghans gaining control over their own foreign affairs, signifying their independence from British influence.1

The Anglo-Afghan Wars were a series of three conflicts between Great Britain and Afghanistan from 1839 to 1919. Britain's primary objective was to extend its influence over Afghanistan and counter Russian expansion in the region. The First Anglo-Afghan War (1839-1842) saw British attempts to install a favored ruler, which ultimately failed due to Afghan resistance. The Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-1880) resulted in British occupation of Kabul and the establishment of a treaty that gave Britain control over Afghan foreign relations, though this was short-lived after the assassination of a British envoy. The Third Anglo-Afghan War, culminating in the Treaty of Rawalpindi, finally secured Afghanistan's full independence.12