The Afghan Martyrs — Page 17
Afghanistan The contemporary state of Afghanistan is situated between central Asia and the Indo-Pak sub continent. In the past it was also known as Aryana and Bakhtar and the Greeks referred to it as Arkosia. Over the ages its borders have undergone rnany changes. However, from the eighteenth century onwards the present Afghanistan has been a well known entity. The Afghanistan of today has been ruled by many Kings. Nadir Shah who invaded India ruled over it in 1739. In June 1747 Nadir Shah was killed by the Kazalbashis and then a courtier, Sardar Ahmad Khan, assuming the title of Ahmad Shah Abdali, established his rule. He was a well known conqueror. In 1793 he was succeeded by his son Taimoor Shah. They were members of the Saddoo Zai tribe. When this tribe became vulnerable Ameer Dost Muhammad Khan of the Barak Zai tribe assumed control over the Afghan government. Ameer Abdur Rahman Khan In 1880 Ameer Abdur Rahman assumed sovereignty over Afghanistan. He was indeed a tyrant and a despot and without hesitation he ruthlessly suppressed agitation and put an end to his opponents. Frank A. Martin, a British Chief Engineer who worked in Afghanistan at the time, says in his book, "The Amir once told me that since the beginning of his reign he had ordered over a hundred thousand to be executed. II (Under the Absolute Amir Page 15) He awarded atrocious punishments such as; being beaten to death 17