Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/717

 AFGHANISTAN 595

AFGHANISTAN.

Afghanistan is a couutry of Asia lying between parallels 29" and 38" 20' of north latitude, and 61° and 72° of east longitude, Avith a long narrow strip extending to 75° east longitude (Wakhan). On the north-east, the boundary follows a line running generally westward from a fixed point near one of the peaks of the Sarikol Range to Lake Victoria, thence alonc' the line of that branch of the Oxus which issues from the lake, and so, following the course of the Oxus, to Khamiab, From Khamiab, the line runs in a south-westerly direction to Zulfikar, on the river Hari-Rud, and thence by Kal-i-Kalla to Hashiadan. Between Hasthadan and Siah Koh, north of Bandan, the boundary is undefined. The Helmund river forms the boundary between Siah Koh and Band-i-Seistan and thence the boundary runs in a straight Hue to Koh-i-Malik Siah where the frontiers of Persia, Afghanistan and Baluchistan meet. Here the boundary turns round and runs generally eastwardly to the Khwaja Amran range. The eastern and southern boundaries of Afghanistan long remained uncertain, but the basis of a delimi- tation was settled; in 1893, at a conference betAveen the late Amir, Abdur Rahman, and Sir Mortimer Durand, and the boundary agreed upon, with the exception of the Khaibar-Asmar section, has since been demarcated. The Amir agreed that Chitral, Bajaur and Swat should be included within the British sphere of political influence, uhilehe himself was to retain Asmar and the Kunar valley above it, as far as Arnawai, and the tract of Birmal, west of Waziristan. In the subsequent demarcation, Kafiristan was included within the countries under Afghan control, and has since been partially garrisoned by the Amir's troops. The Amir has withdrawn his pretensions over Waziristan. Between March, 1903, and May, 1905, the boundary to- wards Persia vas demarcated from Koh-i-Malik Siah to the Helmund, and thence to Siah Koh. In July, 1905, Sir Henry McMahon announced his award concerning disputed water rights over the Helmund river, but the award has not yet been ratified by the Persian Government.

Habibullah Khan, the reigning Amir, son of Abdur Rahman ^ Khan, grandson of Afzul Khan, and great-grandson of Dost Muhammad Khan, was born on July 3, 1872, and succeeded on the death of his father, October 3, 1901. The Amir has five sons :— Inayatulla Khan (born Oct. 20, 1888), Hayatulla Khan (born Dec. 29, 1888), Amanulla Khan (born June 1, 1892), Kabirulla Khan (born Oct. 4, 1895), and Asadulla Jan (born May 23, 1910). Brothers of the Amir are :— NasruUa Khan (born April 7, 1875), Aminulla Khan (born Oct. 12, 1885), Muhammad Umar Khan (born Sept. 16, 1889), Ghulam All Khan (born Sept. 3, 1890).

In 1896, the Amir Abdur Rahman formally assumed the title of Zia-ul- Mil-at-waddin, ' Light of the Nation and Religion.' The present ruler has formally adopted the title of Siraj-ul-Mil-at-waddin, ' Lamp of the Nation and Religion.'

The origin of the Afghans is involved in obscurity. The Pathan dynasties of Delhi form part of Indian history. The whole of Afghanistan was conquered by Tinmr, Kabul remaining in the hands of his descendants, and Kandahar being added to it by Sultan Babar in 1522. For the next two centuries Kabul was held by the Mughal Emperors of Delhi, and Herat by Persia, while Kandaliar repeatedly changed hands between the two. Nadir Shah, the Persian, held the-Afghan provinces till his assassina- tion in 1747, after which the difi"erent provinces were formed into a single empire under Ahmad Shah, Durrani, including the Punjab and Kashmir on the east, and extending to the Oxus on the north. After various insur-

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