It began as a result of Dost Mohammad Khan's death on 9 June 1863[1][2][3] and the subsequent power struggles among his sons.
In September 1867 Fayz Mohammad Khan was defeated near Jabal Siraj, dying from a cannonball in the midst of the battle.
He developed a plan: The local rulers of Turkestan would resist Abdur Rahman Khan for as long as possible, while he would recapture Qandahar and march on Kabul.
Sher Ali Khan spent three days in mourning the passing of his father, before being enthroned on June 12, 1863, in the Friday Mosque of Herat.
[15] However, he had been the governor of Afghan Turkestan for quite some time and in fact was the primary instigator in the destruction of the Uzbek khanates of the region.
[15] He was encouraged by the Emir of Bukhara, Muzaffar Khan, who promised a Bukharan army would cross the Amu Darya and liberate the area from the Afghans.
[15][3][7] Shortly after, Ghazanfar Khan of Andkhui declared his independence and expelled the Afghan garrison from the city.
The Mir Ataliq of Qunduz, who had been in exile for some time, saw the civil war as an opportunity to take back Qataghan from Afghan domination.
[15][3][7] While Sher 'Ali Khan was still in Herat, the Mir Ataliq sent his son, Sultan Murad, into the area to stir up discontent.
[3] They attempted to seize Mohammad 'Alam Khan's head but suffered 300 casualties due to the main Afghan army arriving.
Sultan Murad fled with 6,000 men (3,000 of which had been sent by the mirs of Badakhshan to aid him), and 3,000 Qataghani troops were taken captive by the Afghans.
[15] Some Badakhshani remnants of the rebellion disguised themselves as merchants and had inflicted a number of casualties on the Afghan camp.
[15][7] Jahandad Khan was forced into submission and was to pay tribute to the Afghans, aiming to avoid the fate of the Mir Ataliq.
[14][9] Mohammad A'zam Khan, dissatisfied with the Amir, left his camp and proceeded in the direction of Kabul; eventually he reached Baraki Rajan in the Logar district.
As Logar's population began to switch allegiance, A'zam Khan retreated to his jagir (comprising the districts of Khost, Zurmat, and Kurram).
This mission was unsuccessful, and 'Amin Khan gave secret orders that anyone along the Qandahar-Kabul road who was caught giving the Amir's entourage provisions should be punished.
He soon found out that one of his regiments, consisting of 800 men, had plundered the Bamian district under the command of Najm al-Din and had left for Kabul, deserting him.
Rumors continued to circle that Afzal Khan would march on Kabul once the Fitr and Nowruz festivals ended.
[15] In late February 1864, when Bukharan forces conquered the principality of Kulab, Afzal Khan aided the Bukharan army due to previous Kulabi raids on Qataghan and in return received the submission of the Mir Ataliq, who had fled there when the Qataghan rebellion was crushed a year previously.
[15][2] Sher Ali Khan had the conspirators arrested, and on March 20 he held a conference with his closest advisors on what to do with the rebellious Afghan princes.
[15] Sher 'Ali Khan also promised the native rulers of Afghan Turkestan autonomy in order for them to support his cause, sending Ishan Uraq to spread anti-Afzalid propaganda in the province.
[15] He also tried to counter Ishan Uraq's propaganda with his own promises of autonomy, however due to his role in the Afghan conquest of the region, his claims were not regarded as genuine.
This and the fact that opposition to Sher 'Ali Khan was scattered throughout the country allowed the Amir to divide and conquer his enemies.
As he marched members of the royal family switched their allegiance to him, such as Sardar Wali Mohammad (who commanded the garrison of Takhtapul).
[15] When he reached Saighan, he took a defensive position south of the Bajgah pass in order to wait for reinforcements.
[15] Mohammad 'Ali Khan reported to his father on the victory at Bajgah and a 51-gun salute was fired in Kabul in recognition of his services.