Zamindawar
Encyclopedia
Zamindawar is a historical district of Afghanistan
, situated on the right bank of the Helmand River
to the northwest of Kandahar
bordering the road which leads from Kandahar to Herat
via Farah
.
Zamindawar was a district of hills, and of wide, well populated, and fertile valleys watered by important tributaries of the Helmand. The principal town was Musa Kala, which stands on the banks of a river of the same name, about 60 m, north of Girishk
.
The whole of this region was a well-known hotbed of fanaticism, the headquarters of the Achakzais, the most aggressive of all Durani tribes. It was from Zamindawar that much of the strength of the force which besieged Kandahar under Ayub Khan in 1880 was derived; and it was the Zamindawar contingent of tribesmen who so nearly defeated Sir Donald Stewart
's force at the Battle of Ahmed Khel
previously. The control of Zamindawar was regarded by the British forces as the key to the position for safeguarding the route between Herat and Kandahar during the Second Anglo-Afghan War
.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, situated on the right bank of the Helmand River
Helmand River
The Helmand River is the longest river in Afghanistan and the primarily watershed for the endorheic Sistan Basin....
to the northwest of Kandahar
Kandahar
Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
bordering the road which leads from Kandahar to Herat
Herat
Herāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
via Farah
Farah, Afghanistan
Farah is a city in western Afghanistan, situated at 650 m altitude, and located on the Farah River. It is the capital of Farah Province, and has a population of approximately 109,409....
.
Zamindawar was a district of hills, and of wide, well populated, and fertile valleys watered by important tributaries of the Helmand. The principal town was Musa Kala, which stands on the banks of a river of the same name, about 60 m, north of Girishk
Girishk
Girishk is a village and fort of Afghanistan. It stands on the right bank of the Helmand River 78 miles west of Kandahar on the road to Herat; 3641 ft. above the sea. Girishk was occupied by the British during the First Afghan War, and a small garrison of sepoys under a native officer successfully...
.
The whole of this region was a well-known hotbed of fanaticism, the headquarters of the Achakzais, the most aggressive of all Durani tribes. It was from Zamindawar that much of the strength of the force which besieged Kandahar under Ayub Khan in 1880 was derived; and it was the Zamindawar contingent of tribesmen who so nearly defeated Sir Donald Stewart
Donald Martin Stewart
Field Marshal Sir Donald Martin Stewart, 1st Baronet, GCB GCSI CIE was a British field marshal. He was for five years Commander-in-Chief, India, and afterwards a member of the Council of the Secretary of State for India....
's force at the Battle of Ahmed Khel
Battle of Ahmed Khel
The Battle of Ahmed Khel was fought in April 1880 and ended in a British victory. This battle occurred during General Donald Stewart's march from Kandahar to Ghazni, then on to Kabul.-Order of battle:*Royal Horse Artillery*Royal Artillery...
previously. The control of Zamindawar was regarded by the British forces as the key to the position for safeguarding the route between Herat and Kandahar during the Second Anglo-Afghan War
Second Anglo-Afghan War
The Second Anglo-Afghan War was fought between the United Kingdom and Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880, when the nation was ruled by Sher Ali Khan of the Barakzai dynasty, the son of former Emir Dost Mohammad Khan. This was the second time British India invaded Afghanistan. The war ended in a manner...
.