St Petersburg International Conference of Afghan Studies

St Petersburg International Conference of Afghan Studies 29 Panel One. Historiography and Sources on Afghanistan... Trans-Caspian region, informed the Imperial War Ministry in St Petersburg of a “complete victory”. According to his report the Afghans lost 500 out of 4,000 men. Their artillery and camp fell into the hands of the Russians. British officers of the Boundary Commission, who were on the spot, advised the Afghans. But they did not participate in the fighting and withdrew after the battle. Diplomatic efforts Russia’s ForeignMinister Giers followed the situation with a growing concern. He and his Ambassador to London, Baron de Stael, worked toward a peaceful solution along the lines of the Gorchakov-Granville agreement. As a result Russian troops were not allowed to move beyond Panjdeh. Thus the Russian attack against this isolated oasis remained the only international military encounter with the Russian involvement during the whole reign of Tsar Alexander III. A protocol signed in London on September 10, 1885, finally opened the way for the “Afghan Boundary Commission” to start its work. In the meantime Major General Lumsden was recalled to London. His handwriting during the Panjdeh crisis deteriorated sharply and suggests that he Fig. 1. The situation at Panjdeh on March 30, 1885, showing the positions of Afghan and Russian units