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| See also: | Other events of 1896 List of years in Afghanistan | ||||
Related to1896 in Afghanistan:Negotiations are going on between theIndiangovernment and theamir tending to the appointment of a joint commission for determining the last 100 miles (160 km) of Indo-Afghan frontier yet unsettled, fromLandi Kotal in theKhyber toNawar Kotal on theKunar River.
Nasrullah Khan is received in a most cordial manner on his return from his visit toEngland. There are great rejoicings for two or three weeks, but then he gradually drops out of notice. His brother,Habibullah Khan, on the other hand, is immensely popular with everybody, and is in high favour with theamir.
Conclusion of theKafiristan campaign.[1] TheAfghans have captured twenty-fiveforts at an admitted loss of 1,500 killed and wounded. In some of the valleys, however, the Kafirs still hold out, although many of the chiefs submit to theamir at the beginning of February. Soon after hostilities are resumed on the southern and eastern sides of Kafiristan, and nearly all the fertile portions are taken by the Afghan forces. In May the troops are ordered into the more inaccessible northwestern part, so as to complete the subjugation of the country. Theamir treats the conquered people with leniency. Orders are issued forbiddingslave traffic in Kafirs, for it was alleged that after the victories in theBashgal Valley at the beginning of the year certain captives were reduced to an atrocious form ofslavery. Theamir also gives orders to the Afghan officers to treat the Kafirs kindly, and not seek to convert them by force toIslam.
Theamir sends a force ofmilitia to occupy theMittai Valley inBajaur, where theclans previously received a demand fortaxes. TheKhan ofNawagai, who rendered excellent service in theChitral expedition, is alarmed and complains to the government of India. Theamir, after some hesitation, acknowledges his obligations under theDurand Line Agreement, but at the end of the year the Afghan outpost still remains at Mittai.
On thePamir Mountains frontier the transfer of theDarwaz district ofBukhara to the Afghans up to theAmu Darya, as agreed upon betweenRussia andBritain, is completed. It is stated that Russia is making movements in the direction ofHerat, and intends not only to extend therailway fromMerv into theKushk Valley, but also to build a line fromCharjui along theOxus toKarki, close to the Afghan frontier.
A slight collision takes place between the forces of the Khan of Nawagai, whose territory was threatened by the Afghans at Mittai, and the Khan ofPashat, and the Afghan force moves down theKunar River about fifteen miles (24 km) fromAsmar to protect their communications withJalalabad, but nothing more serious happens, and the final solution of the frontier question is in a fair way of settlement. The arrangements for the demarcation of the boundary between BritishBaluchistan andPersia fromKoh-i-Malik Siah on the north, to a point nearJalk, are concluded, and pillars are to be set up in thedesert marking the frontier.
