Anglo-Afghan relations, 1798-1878, with particular reference to British policy in Central Asia and on the North-West frontier of India

Abstract

One ofI-the difficulties in the'way of historical study is the practice of attaching "labels" to men" and policies. We read öf the "forward" policy on the North- West frontier of India and, by contrast, of the-policy which is variously"described as the "non-intervention" or the "backward"-policy or, in' Wyllie's phrase, the policy*of "masterly inactivity". 'We read of the Punjab School and the Sind School. Sometimes it is almost made to appear, for journalistic convenience, ` as though there could be only two possible policies for the British and Indian governments to pursue in respect of the North-West frontier and Central Asia; that these policies retained their identity in all circumstances; and that a man who had elected to follow one - who had, so to speaks picked his side - was certain to follow it for the rest of his life.