Akbar Khan

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Mohammed Akbar Khan (1839-1842) was an Afghan general. He was active in the First Anglo-Afghan War, which lasted from 1839-1842. He is prominent for his siege of Kabul from 1841-1842, and of Gandomak near Jalalabad in 1842.

Akbar was the son of Dost Mohammed Khan, and he led a revolt in Kabul against the British mission of William McNaughten, Alexander 'Sekundar' Burnes and their garrison of 4,500 men. In November of 1841, he murdered the two British agents and besieged Major-General William Elphinstone's force in Kabul. Elphinstone accepted a safe-conduct for his force and about 12,000 associated refugees to flee to India; they were ambushed and massacred.

Historians think it unlikely that Akhbar Khan wished for the total annihilation of the British force. An astute man politically, he would have been aware that allowing the British to extricate themselves from Afghanistan would give him the time to consolidate his control of the diverse hill tribes; whereas, a massacre of 14000 people of which only about a quarter were a fighting force, would not be tolerated back in London and would result in another, larger army sent to exact retribution. This was in fact what happened the following year.^{[citation needed]}

Many believe that Akhbar Khan was poisoned by his father, who feared his ambitions^[1].