By Abdullah Qazi / 2001
Shir Ali Khan was the Amir of Afghanistan from 1863 to 1869. After, his father’s death (Amir Dost Mohammad Khan), Amir Shir Ali fought hard before securing the crown. During Amir Shir Ali’s reign, the British invaded Afghanistan and the second Anglo-Afghan started. The British felt that Amir Shir Ali was coming under the influence of the Russians after he prevented a British envoy from entering the country. Amir Shir Ali tried to put up a defense, but was unsuccessful. He then placed his son, Ya’qub Khan in charge, and fled north to seek support from the Russians; the Russians refused. Amir Shir Ali Khan died in 1879.