Throughout the nineteenth century, political developments in Afghanistan remained linked up with the Anglo-Russian rivalry. And the Amirs of Afghanistan tried to use this rivalry to their own benefit. Amir Sher Ali too followed this policy and in 1877 sent an envoy to ask for British aid against the encroachments by Russia. But the real object of this mission was to discover with which power the best bargain could be made. Unfortunately, the envoy could not ...
