The First Afghan War - And Its Causes #267747

When he arrived in India the country was in a condition of profound tranquillity. The stormy Administration of Lord Amherst had come to an end; and Lord William Bentinck, secure from foreign aggression, and harbouring no dreams of conquest, had entered upon a policy of unsparing retrenchment. The army was being rapidly reduced, and everything seemed to presage a long peace. But then, as ever, the most promising field for a man of soldierly aspirations was the line of our N orth-western Frontier for though our statesmen troubled themselves but little about the countries west of the Indus, the old Lion of Lahore lay within four marches of the Sutlej, with a large and eager army and other elements of danger were not wanting.