As the British increase their territory in India, so does Russia expand in Central Asia.

The East India Company had signed treaties with a number of Afghan rulers and with Ranjit Singh.

Russia backs Persian ambitions in western Afghanistan.

In 1838 the company's actions had brought about the First Anglo-Afghan War (1838-42).

Assisted by Sikh allies, the company has taken Kandahar and Kabul and made its own candidate amir.

The amir proves unpopular with the Afghans, however, and the British garrison's position becomes untenable.

The retreat of the British from Kabul in January 1842 is one of the worst disasters in British military history, as a column of more than sixteen thousand (about one-third soldiers, the rest camp followers) is annihilated by Afghan tribesmen as they struggle through the snow-bound passes on their way back to India.

The British later send a punitive expedition to Kabul, which it burns in retribution, but makes no attempt to reoccupy Afghanistan.

The British place Dost Mohammad Khan back into power and withdraw their military forces from Afghanistan