British and Qajar Iranian Interventions and Their Impact on the Fate of Shah Zaman Durrani’s Reign (1793–1801)

Abstract

After ascending to the throne in 1793, Shah Zaman Durrani sought to establish a powerful central government in domestic policy and in foreign policy sought to expand Afghanistan's influence in India and counter the British presence. His efforts to achieve these goals faced internal problems and external interference. The aim of this research is to examine how the British and Qajar Iran intervened in Afghanistan and explain the impact of these interventions on the fate of Shah Zaman Durrani. The British, who were seriously monitoring the situation in Afghanistan at the time, were well aware of Shah Zaman's plans and considered various solutions to counter this threat. The British pursued various political and diplomatic measures to prevent Shah Zaman from advancing towards India, and in this regard, they relied on the cooperation of Qajar Iran and some regional forces to curb his policies.

This research has examined the political and diplomatic events of this period using historical-analytical methods and based on library sources. The findings of this research indicate that the British, by taking advantage of the cooperation of Qajar Iran and supporting the internal opponents of Shah Zaman, provided the grounds for political and military pressure on his government. Shah Zaman's political standing was undermined by these actions and other internal issues, which ultimately determined the outcome of his rule.