IN AFGHANISTAN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 13 July 1925, Page 10

IN AFGHANISTAN.

BRITISH TROOPS MOVE. FORCES FOR INDIAN FRONTIER. British forces in India are moving to the vicinity of the Afghanistan-lncuan frontier as* the result of reports reaching official circles in London of an imminent general uprising in Afghanistan against the Emir. ... The reported proposed uprising is rumoured to be the result ol activities of Soviet emissaries who have been working in Afghanistan during the last two years. . . . The reports to official cricles in London say tribal rebellions against, the Emil* have been frequent during the last three months, culminating in the recent executions near Kabul. According to these advices, the forces opposing the Emir have, been mining ground. The rebellion is said to be due to the natives’ dislike of the Emir’s attempt to modernise the Government of Afghanistan. They refused to allow the Emir to interfere ivitli their local religious tv.bal Governments. Foreign agitators, it is said, utilised the situation to stir up civil warfare. Tt is said in the despatches to official quarters here that the recent executions caused. the rebellion to rather than check it. The disaffection spread through the hill tribes of Afghanistan and these, in turn, exerted an influence upon tribes on the Indian side of the frontier. For this reason gravity was attached to the situation by British authorities. As a result of alieged Soviet attempts in 1918 and 1919 to penetrate India through the vulnerable north-western frontier, the British Government has been especially watchful of Afghanistan affairs. It also has maintained a stromr defence at the frontier forts since German attempts t" enter India from Afghanistan and the north-west during the World War.