ABSTRACT
The Position of Abdur Rahman as Amir of KabuLThanks to his invaluable autobiography, we can learn much as to how the Amir viewed the position of affairs after the departure of the British. He writes: “ On my succeeding to the throne, and after the departure of the English from Kabul, I placed my foot in the stirrup of progress and administration. . . . The country exhibit ing a rebellious spirit, I appointed private detectives and spies to report to me all that went on among the people, thus finding out with abundant proofs those who were loyal and friendly. . . . The ringleaders and worst offenders were the fanatical mullas and headstrong chiefs, who had been partisans of the late Shir A li’s family. . . . These were treated according to their actions, some of them being banished from the country, while others suffered the worst fate of all for their misdeeds.’ ’ H e then pointed out two things: “ There was firstly, no money to pay the army or for any other Government expenditure; and secondly, there were no arms, ammuni tion or military stores ” . To quote again: “ I have said before that when I first succeeded to the throne o f Kabul, my life was not a bed of roses. On the contrary, I was surrounded by difficulties of all kinds. Here began my first severe fight, against my own relatives, my own subjects, and my own people. I had hardly settled down in Kabul, and had had no time for military preparations, when I found myself obliged to go to war.”
