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-9- THE MISTAKE OF ZAMAN SHAH. THIRD ARTICLE The mistake which Zamman Shah made in installing one Rahmat Ullah Khan-Wafadar Khan-as his adviser and minister; and the methods which Wafada Khan adopted towards the administation of the realm, and the advice which he gave to his king in regards thereto, contributed to the weekness of the kingdom and the Afghans. The result wos that the imperialist designs of the westerners were projected afresh towards Asia: so that one of them, quite soon, cast its net through trade for the acquiring of territory in our neighbouring lands of the East. In consequence much blood was shed, and thereby the intriguers continued to profit by the ugly situations thus created; and the contention should be believed which it is stated that they continued to profit by that to the end. There is little doubt that amongst the sons of Timour Shah, the one who was the most competent to rule the country of his fathers, was Zaman Shah. This matter was fully known to the wise men who had experience, like Sirdar Payunda Khan, Qazi Faizullah Khan and Mullah Abul Ghafar Khah. Prior, therefore, to the death of Timour in order to serve the king's family and the benefit of the nation and for the peace and prosperity of the country, they had prepared the people for Zaman Shah's ascending to the throne of his father: further more, these gentlemen, had secured the adhesion of Zaman Shah's brothers to Zaman Shah's occupying the throne after Timour Shah. Despite the fact that opposition did manifest itself in this regard from such as Abbas and Mahmud in Kabul and Kandahar and Herat; yet Sirdar Payunda Khan, due to his wise manipulation and sagacity managed to overcome the difficulties, and solved the problem in favour of Zaman Shah; till Zaman Shah's rivals, partly on account of lack of support which did not come to them, and partly due to the circumstances of the time, reluctantly agreed to Zaman Shah's ascending the throne. They, however, wait edfo their opportunity.