"It's Just Not Cricket" - The Anglo-Afghan Wars and Their Relevance to Current Operations

The British experience in Afghanistan in the 19h and 20th Centuries provides useful lessons which can be applied to current ISAF operations. Discussion Between 1839 and 1919 there were three Anglo-Afghan Wars. Czarist Russia was expanding south at the time and a struggle for control of the Afghan region ensued, known as The Great Game. By 1919 the British had lost national prestige, caused deep rooted resentment and bolstered Afghan unity as the tribes fought to evict the Invaders. The British strategic objective was to neuter the perceived threat from Russia. ISAFs strategic objective is to establish Afghanistan as a stable state which does not pose a threat to the security of the international community. Conclusion Parallels can be drawn between the British desire for forward defense in the nineteenth century and the desire to establish a stable Afghanistan today. The enduring influence of pashtunwali makes study of the British experience relevant to current operations. The unique social dynamics of the Afghan tribes must be understood and expectations adjusted accordingly. Tribal engagement is critical if a representative governmental system with local popular support is to be established. In counterinsurgency. taking risk early is the safest option in the long run.