ABSTRACT
During the First World War, only Small Wars occurred along the two frontiers of the subcontinent. However, during the Second World War, while British India had to conduct conventional operations against the Japanese invaders in North-East India, the Small War did not escalate into Total War in the North-West Frontier. Relation between British India and Afghanistan remained tense during the First World War due to mistrust on both sides. Due to the demands of the First World War, the experienced British and Indian units were withdrawn from the North-West Frontier and replaced with raw Indian and British Territorial Army regiments. The demands of First World War resulted in huge expansion of the Indian Army. In December 1917, the Mombis started raiding the Southern Imphal Valley. The forces for defending the North-West Frontier comprised of the North-West Frontier Force, Baluchistan Force and the Central Reserve.
