Sher Ali Khan

Sher Ali Khan (Pashto: شېر علي خان‎)(c. 1825 – February 21, 1879) was Amir of Afghanistan from 1863 to 1866 and from 1868 until his death in 1879. He was one of the sons of Dost Mohammed Khan,[2] founder of the Barakzai Dynasty in Afghanistan.

Sher Ali Khan
Emir of Afghanistan
Amir Sher Ali Khan in 1869
Emir of Afghanistan
Reign	9 June 1863 – 21 February 1879
Predecessor	Dost Mohammad Khan
Successor	Mohammad Yaqub Khan
Born	1825 Kabul, Afghanistan
Died	21 February 1879 (age 53 or 54) Kabul, Afghanistan
Burial	Blue Mosque, Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan
Full name Sher Ali Khan Barakzai
Dynasty	Barakzai dynasty
Father	Dost Mohammed Khan
Mother	Bibi Khadija Begum[1]
Religion	Sunni Islam

Sher Ali Khan initially seized power when his father died, but was quickly ousted by his older brother, Mohammad Afzal Khan. Internecine warfare followed until Sher Ali Khan defeated his brother and regained the title of Emir. Sher Ali Khan's reign as Amir is often remembered for his attempts at reforming Barakzai rule in Afghanistan. Changes brought during the period of Sher Ali Khan's rule include the creation of official governmental posts, military reform, the introduction of the first postal service in Afghanistan and the first attempts of an Afghan leader at promoting the Pashto language. Sher Ali Khan's rule was hindered by pressure from both Britain and Russia, though Sher Ali Khan attempted to keep Afghanistan neutral during their conflict. In 1878, the fragile neutrality fell apart with Sher Ali Khan's resisting of British demands for Afghanistan to accept a permanent envoy in Kabul. The British viewing this as confirmation of Sher Ali Khan's inclination towards Russia, gathered it's forces and marched on Kabul. Sher Ali Khan opted to leave Kabul in order to seek political and military aid from Czarist Russia. He died in Mazar-e Sharif, leaving the throne to his son Mohammad Yaqub Khan.

Sher Ali Khan