[2] On the evening of 5 October 1879, Roberts reached Charasiab, a small town 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of Kabul, where he camped overnight, awaiting the arrival of his force's baggage.

The next morning, 6 October, saw a large force of regular Afghan soldiers, equipped with artillery and reinforced by local tribesmen, on the ridge of the hills ahead.

The fighting lasted several hours, but eventually the Afghan army was pushed back, and by 3:45 pm the British-led force had opened the route to Kabul.

[1] Twenty Afghan field guns were captured, including an eight-inch brass howitzer previously presented to the Afghan government by the British; as was a large proportion of the small arms and ammunition used during the battle.

The formal dispatch published in the London Gazette stated 'Charasiab',[3] the regiments present received the battle honour 'Charasiah',[4] while General Roberts' memoirs[5] and the clasp authorised for the Afghanistan Medal referred to 'Charasia'.