In the summer of 1919, amidst the third Anglo-Afghan war, a fresh conflict emerged in the highest reaches of the Hindu Kush mountains, where Afghan troops engaged with British forces.
Chitralis Bangerd Afghans
As the Third Anglo-Afghan war commenced, the Afghan emir requested Chitral’s mehtar to oust the British and align with their cause. The resounding refusal led to a sequence of Afghan incursions and retaliatory Chitrali raids into the adjacent territories of each party. Facing off were Afghan troops commanded by a regional leader, while on the opposing side stood the Chitralis, led by the presumptive successor Nasir-ul-Mulk. They were supported by a minor contingent from the British Indian army and a handful of non-Muslim Nuristanis who had been ousted from Nuristan by the Afghans and granted sanctuary in Chitral.
The scene was arranged near the modest town of Birkot in Kunar, providing a fitting backdrop for a significant face-off.
As the morning of May 23, 1919 arrived, the resounding war cries of the Chitralis echoed through the Afghan mountains, heralding the onset of a fierce battle. A tumultuous clash ensued, marked by a deluge of gunfire, swords clashing, and cannonballs thundering.
At precisely 2 pm, the battle concluded with the Afghan forces in retreat. The Chitrali troops swiftly began the task of seizing all abandoned possessions of the opposing side. The Afghan cannons left behind now stand as proud exhibits in Chitral fort, accessible for visitors to admire.
