Continuing his world history, Jawaharlal Nehru told his daughter how in 1839, the British had launched an unprovoked attack on Afghanistan, after becoming anxious that the Russian Empire might beat them to it. The Afghans resisted fiercely and inflicted a bruising defeat on the mighty British army, which the British nevertheless avenged soon after.

The wrathful British destroyed Kabul’s famous bazaar with explosives and torched other parts of the city. But in 1879 the Afghans rebelled again, and once more sorely tested Britain’s military power. Control was eventually restored, but the Emir’s exclusive loyalty came at the cost of substantial yearly payments. Independence came at last in 1919, following the Great War.

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