# Battle of Ali Masjid (21 November 1878)

URL: https://allhistories.com/afghanistan/timeline/1878-battle-of-ali-masjid
Location: Ali Masjid, Khyber Pass
Themes: Great Game, Diplomacy

On 21 November 1878 a British column under Lieutenant-General Samuel Browne attacked Ali Masjid, a fortress at the western end of the Khyber Pass, in the opening battle of the Second Anglo-Afghan War. The Afghan garrison, under Ghulam Haider Khan, abandoned the position overnight, leaving behind at least 24 cannon and supplies. About 300 Afghans were captured. Britain used the Afghan commander's refusal to admit a British envoy as justification for the attack. The invasion went in with about 40,000 to 50,000 mostly Indian troops in three columns, entering by the Khyber, Kurram and Kandahar routes. British losses at Ali Masjid were 16 killed and 34 wounded. The quick fall of this fort opened the Khyber to the British and showed that the Afghan army could not hold fixed positions against modern artillery. It was followed by victory at Peiwar Kotal in the Kurram and, two months later, by the occupation of Jalalabad and Kandahar. The amir fled north to seek Russian help and died in February 1879. At this point in the timeline (1878), the Emirate of Afghanistan was ruled by Sher Ali Khan, emir of Afghanistan (9 September 1868 – 21 February 1879). The main location of this event lies outside present-day Afghanistan.

## Why it matters
The assault on Ali Masjid began the second invasion and showed that Afghan fixed defences were no match for modern British artillery.

Ruler at the Time: [Sher Ali Khan (second reign)](https://allhistories.com/afghanistan/rulers/sher-ali-khan-second-reign)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Battle of Ali Masjid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ali_Masjid)
- [Library of Congress Country Study — The Second Anglo-Afghan War](https://countrystudies.us/afghanistan/14.htm)