What happened near this unassuming village that sent shockwaves through the British Empire? Right here, in the shadow of Maiwand, a battle of David and Goliath proportions unfolded. On a scorching July day in 1880, a small British force, led by Brigadier-General George Burrows, marched towards their destiny. They were on their way to intercept an Afghan force led by Ayub Khan. The British vastly underestimated their enemy. They believed they were facing a small advance party. In reality, Ayub Khan commanded a force of over 25,000 Afghan warriors, a mix of regular troops and fiercely independent Ghazis. The Battle of Maiwand became a desperate fight for survival. Outnumbered and outgunned, the British fought bravely, their courage epitomized by the ‘Last Eleven’ of the 66th Regiment who made a heroic last stand. Despite their valor, the British were routed, suffering heavy losses. The Battle of Maiwand serves as a stark reminder of the intensity and the human cost of the ‘Great Game,’ the 19th-century struggle for supremacy in Central Asia between the British and Russian Empires. The memory of Maiwand, a testament to both Afghan courage and the unpredictable nature of war, echoes through history.
Paghman Bridge
Slipping through time, let’s journey back to a Kabul brimming with life, where the Paghman Bridge stood as a silent