An Inquiry on Fath Ali Shah Qajar Relations with Dorranian Herat and Kabul

During the reign of Fath Ali Shah, the cities of Herat, Kandahar and Kabul due to their adjacency with India were simultaneously considered as important cities by Shah of Qaiar and British, French and Russian governments. There were also attempts made by the Qajar kings to regain dominance over the regions. The problem of Khorasan Khan’s riot and misuse of the rulers of Dorrani from the present disturbed conditions were the main causes of their rebellion against the central government of Iran and their aggression to other areas of Khorasan. Such problems compelled Fath Ali Shah and the rulers of Khorasan to make constant military expeditions to Heart. At the same time, England and East India Company’s fear of the attacks of Zamanshah and his successors to India made England send ambassadors to Iran for establishing diplomatic relations with Qajar estate and also for provoking Fath Ali Shah to follow an aggressive policy towards Dorrani rulers.
The present research, through using a descriptive-analytical approach, attempts to investigate the reasons for which Fath Ali Shah, contrary to the Safavid and Naderi Shahs, did not succeed at imposing power over these regions and the rulers of these areas were not submitted to him either. The findings of this research reveal that important internal and external factors like unstable, disturbed conditions of Khorasan, independent policies of those rulers, not taking advantage of Khorasan rulers from available conditions in confronting Dorranians, India’s vital importance for England and East India Company contemporary with kingdom of Fath Ali Shah and finally, England’s dual policy in provoking Qajar estate and rulers of Dorrani against each other were among important obstacles in realization of this affair.