Pendjeh Crisis
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The Pendjeh Crisis refers to a British diplomatic crisis that occurred in 1885 when Russian and Afghan troops engaged in combat at Pendjeh.
[edit] Overview
In 1880, William Gladstone, leader of the Liberal Party in England, came to power once again.
One of the aims of his foreign and imperial policy was to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, which had been placed there by Disraeli in the Afghan wars of 1878 and 1879. However, members of Gladstone's cabinet, namely Lord Ripon (the new Indian Viceroy), believed withdrawal could lead to a breakdown in law and order and possible intervention from Russia.
A compromise was therefore reached. Britain accepted responsibility for Afghanistan's defence.
In 1884 the Russians annexed Merv in northern Afghanistan. In March 1885 Russian and Afghan troops collided at Penjdeh. At that point, the Gladstonian Government was called upon to convey its responsibility for Afghanistan's defence, in other words, protect Afghanistan as it had promised earlier. Gladstone diffused the situation however, by submitting the matter to international arbitration.
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