Afgh.

But in 1863, on the death of the powerful Afgh�n ruler, Dost Muhammad, the de facto Government of Afgh�nist�n disappeared.

In March 1869, the Am�r Sher Al�, who had meanwhile consolidated his power in Afgh�nist�n, came in state to India to pay his respects to the new Governor-General.

The State of Bhop�l was founded in 1723 by an Afgh�n adventurer, who expelled the Hindu Chiefs, built a fortress, and assumed the title of Naw�b.

On the Punjab Frontier, Afgh�nist�n had just emerged from six years of anarchy; and Russia was casting hungry eyes on Afgh�nist�n as a line of approach to India.

During the seven years preceding Lord Mayo's arrival, the British policy towards Afgh�nist�n had been subjected to an increasing strain, and a few months before his arrival that policy had manifestly broken down.