The Ottoman – German Missions to Afghanistan 1914-1916

Abstract

Representing the Central Asian dimension of the Ottoman – German Jihad Plot and the Hindu – German Conspiracy, the Ottoman – German Missions to Afghanistan (1914-1915) provides a unique case where the Turkish and German Empires attempt to threaten the British presence in India via Afghanistan during the First World War. Dispatched to alter the power balances in the Great War, these Afghan expeditions were distinct from the other secret subversive secret expeditions; given that they were assigned with greater strategic objectives such as to persuade the Afghan Amir to join the Central Powers, spread subversive Jihad propaganda in South Asia, assist the Indian Revolutionary activities, and organize an armed assault towards northern India. This paper by revolving around the question of why the missions fell short of achieving these objectives analyzes the background, personnel, and the activities of these expeditions and argues that there were intricate political, economic, military, and religious reasons which have negatively affected the outcome of the missions and that the several external factors, together with the British counter-intelligence activities had rendered both expeditions to be disappointments. It concludes that the Ottoman – German missions to Afghanistan were a fine example of an attempt to influence a fragile region and create sedition through an elite but ill-equipped task force.