Khost rebellion (1912)

The Khost rebellion was a rebellion in Khost that took place in 1912 in the Emirate of Afghanistan, and was the only serious crisis during the reign of Habibullah Khan.^[8]

Its causes laid in the "rapacity and exactions"^[8] of Muhammad Akbar Khan, the local governor of the Khost district.^[2] The rebellion, which was led by Jehandad Khan,^[2] began on 2 May 1912,^{[note 1]} when Mangal and Jadran tribesmen in Khost, Afghanistan rose up,^[1] quickly overwhelmed various isolated garrisons,^[2] and besieged Muhammad Akbar at Matun.^[1] Later that month, they were joined by the Ghilzai.^[8] Understanding the danger posed by the revolt, Habibullah sent Muhammad Nadir Khan to quell the rebellion.^[2] Alongside regular infantry, Nadir was also aided by Tajik levies who were unlikely to show any sympathy to the rebels.^[2] In the British Raj, tribesmen of the Kurram District were restricted from entering Afghanistan to aid the revolt.^[3]

Muhammad Akbar eventually managed to break out of his besieged fort.^[2] By the end of May, Nadir had forced the rebels to sue for peace, and Jehandad Khan had fled to the British Raj, where he unsuccessfully lobbied for a British intervention.^[2] On 13 June, the rebellion was reported to be subsiding,^[1] and peace negotiations were going on in that same month.^[2] However, peace negotiations broke down, and in June 1912 fighting resumed.^[2] It ended on 14 August 1912,^{[note 2]} when the rebels surrendered after concessions were unexpectedly given by Afghan authorities,^[8] which included the replacement of Muhammad Akbar Khan by a new governor,^[2] Dost Muhammad.^[9] Habibullah's decision to show clemency to the rebels laid in a desire to conciliate enemies inherited from his predecessors, and the understanding that his acceptance of western ideas and encouragement of modern technical improvements had undermined his own popularity.^[8]