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-154- tional cause during the First Afghan War. This great warrior, who was not friendly to Amir Dost Mohamed Khan, took refuge at the Qajjar court, and accepted the government of Herat for the sole pur- pose of opposing Amir Dost Mohamed Khan, both as a rival and an enemy of the Amir. No doubt in his temper and action, there is more a mere suggestion of separatism, but in effect this is no more than tendency of separateness which existed amongst all the leaders during the 18th and the 19th century, so that in order to appreciate this feeling, one ought to keep in view the time and the circumstances that obtained at the time. One of the young Sirdars, with a determination and warmth of an Afghan spirit, who attract our attention during the difficult times of the First Afghan War (1839. A.D.) and whose career lasted upto the end of Amir Dost Mohamed Khan's reign (Tuesday 21st. Ziqada 1279.A.H.) was the son of Sirdar Mohamed Azeem Khan, one named Sirdar Sultan Ahmed Khan. The life and work of Sirdar Sultan Ahmed Khan according to historical analysis come under two heads, in these two phases of his activities, a few years of his life as a refugee must also be counted. Although these two sections of his life's activities appear as rather contrary to one another, yet if one were to consider the real facts, this apparent contradiction does not really exist in the mental make- up of the Sirdar. The role which this Sirdar has played in the period of the first quarter of the 19th century belongs to that character which shows him battling against the aggressive forces of the English, in de- fence of his people from aggression, and his endeavours for the expulsion of the foreigners from Afghanistan. The next phase relates to that which concerns his adhesion to the Persian view point. Circumstances had so contrived that this Sirdar should rule over Herat, and from this small principality he should play a role in the moving affairs of the east.