[8][9][10] Colonel Algernon George Arnold Durand, the Political Administrator of the Gilgit Agency, undertook measures to strengthen British influence in the region.

[11] These efforts, aimed at furthering British strategic interests, involved infrastructure development initiatives such as road, telegraph, and mail system improvements.

[note 1] Notably, Durand initiated the improvement of the road connecting Kashmir to the Russian frontier, which passed through Hunza and Nagar.

In 1890, tensions arose when the British reinforced Chalt Fort near the border, citing reports of potential attacks from forces associated with Nagar and Hunza.

Nagar and Hunza viewed Durand's actions as an escalation and blocked mail from the British Resident in Chinese Turkmenistan from passing through their territory.

British India interpreted this as a violation of the 1889 agreement with Hunza, specifically the clause guaranteeing free passage of mail.

[19] After being interrogated by Durand's advisors, the individual reportedly revealed an alternative strategy: a surprise attack on the Chalt garrison involving Hunza fighters disguised as Gilgiti porters carrying supplies.

These disguised individuals would gain entry to the fort and initiate an attack, allowing other Hunza forces to exploit the opportunity and breach the defenses.

[20][21] In response to the situation in Hunza and Nagar, Algernon Durand assembled a combined force of approximately 1,000 Gurkhas and Kashmiris, along with several hundred Pathan road builders, a mountain artillery battery, 16 British officers, and 7 engineers.

[19] The challenging terrain significantly slowed the British force's progress, taking them a week to reach Chalt, their designated operations base situated only 32 kilometers (20 miles) north of Gilgit.

These ultimatums cited British concerns about Russian activities in the Pamirs region and the need to secure passage through Hunza and Nagar to address the situation.

[26] In the spring of 1891, while stationed in Gilgit, Algernon Durand received reports that Safdar Ali, the Khan of Hunza, was planning an attack on a Kashmiri fort.

These reports came shortly after news of Yanov's[note 2] arrival in northern Hunza, leading to speculation about a possible link between the events.

[28] Algernon Durand responded to this attempt by dispatching soldiers to dismantle Hunza-controlled rope bridges and bolstering the Kashmiri garrison.

Safdar Ali subsequently succeeded in convincing the ruler of the relatively small state of Nagar to join him in resisting the British and their Kashmiri allies.

[31] Following orders from Algernon Durand, engineers constructed a temporary bridge across the Hunza River, enabling the force to advance.

They navigated nearly vertical climbs and descents through a series of steep canyons, facing sustained gunfire from Hunza-Nagar sharpshooters positioned in fortified structures called "sangars"[note 3] located atop caves or rock formations.

Gurkha marksmen faced difficulty targeting defenders positioned within the narrow openings, a defensive feature strategically designed by the Hunza and Nagar forces.

Supported by covering fire, Captain Aylmer, his orderly Pathan, and two subalterns approached the fortress wall and successfully dislodged defenders from their positions.

[9][43] On December 2nd, Captain Bradshaw led an attempt to rebuild the road across the Nilt Nala, aiming to attack the Nagari fortress of Thol on the opposite side.

[44] The British forces found themselves in a tense stalemate against the well-armed Hunza-Nagar troops stationed within the mountainous Hunza valley.

Within its fort, British forces discovered a vast arsenal of weapons and ammunition manufactured in Britain, Russia, France, and Belgium, along with stockpiles of locally produced gunpowder.

[54] In the early 1900s, the British constructed an all-weather pony track connecting Gilgit to Skardu in Baltistan, which was under separate Dogra rule.

The area's complex history, including pre-existing territorial claims and local dynamics, plays a significant role in the current situation.