A short history of the great game and its players

Afghanistan and the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan are often called the graveyard of empires. This reflects a historical, and partly romantic, memory of when these areas became the centre of rivalry between global powers. This was dubbed the Great Game by the British and Russian in the 19th century.

Afghanistan and the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan are often called the graveyard of empires. This reflects a historical, and partly romantic, memory of when these areas became the centre of rivalry between global powers. This was dubbed the Great Game by the British and Russian in the 19th century.

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The Anglo-Russian Great Game 1813-1907
The so-called classical Great Game, a phrase popularised by Rudyard Kipling, was about British and Russian machinations against each other in Central Asia. Russia was expanding into Central Asia at the time. This led to British concerns that the Czar's forces would reach Afghanistan and threaten India, the "jewel in the crown" of the British Empire. Britain invaded Afghanistan twice in an attempt to put more friendly regimes in Kabul, the first famously ending in the complete destruction of the invading British army. The Great Game ended when the two imperial powers became World War I allies.

The Anglo-Soviet Great Game 1917-1941
The creation of the Soviet Union triggered another round of geopolitical manoeuvring between London and Moscow. Britain fought a third Afghan war to settle the border between Afghanistan and British India — the present-day Durand Line. Kabul's rulers played Britain and the Soviet Union against each other to maintain its own independence and build up its military resources. The advent of World War II ended this rivalry.