Afghan wars

Three wars fought by Britain to secure Afghanistan against Russian penetration. In the first war (1832) the British captured Kandahar and Kabul and exiled the ruler Dost Muhammed. His son, Akbar, recaptured Kabul, and most of the retreating British troops were massacred en route to Jalalabad. The second war (1870) saw the defeat of pro-Russian rulers and a British evacuation in 1881. Afghanistan's declaration of independence led to the third war (1919) before British recognition came in 1921.