Historical background suggests that the occupation of Sindh in 1843, followed by that of Punjab by the British, was part of a grand scheme. The plan was to gain access to and eventually acquire control over Afghanistan. For Afghanistan was the grand prize that both the British and the Russians wanted.
Planning for the capture of Sindh had started, as early as 1758. As part of their continuing expansionist policies, the British established a factory at Shahbandar. However, some time later, following disagreement with the then rulers of Sindh, the factory and the trade office in Sindh had to be closed.
It was again, during the rule of the Talpurs, that the British gained influence in the affairs of Sindh. After the death of Mir Fateh Ali Khan in 1802, Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur became the ruler of Sindh. In 1803, an emissary of the British, Captain David Sten, came to Sindh. Following his visit and other subsequent meetings, on July 24, 1804 an agreement was signed by the two parties. According to it, the Talpurs had to allow the establishment of a trade centre in Thatta. In exchange, the Talpurs would be able to procure British armaments and accept a guarantee that they would help Sindh against any foreign aggression. This was the first nail in the coffin.
Besides trade and commerce, the British also started to involve themselves in the domestic affairs of Sindh. But more dangerously, they also started conducting surveys of Sindh, its resources, people and land routes to Afghanistan.
In 1827, Dr James Burns travelled through Sindh and prepared a detailed report which made clear that if the British wanted to reach Central Asia, they will have to capture Indus. By then various British officials had travelled to Sindh and Balochistan to make in-depth studies. They included Henry Pottinger, Alexander Burns, Henry Cousens, James Mason and others who were assigned various missions. By this time, more than anyone else, the intentions of the British had become clear to Punjab’s ruler, Ranjeet Singh.
At the time, Ranjeet Singh was busy implementing his very own expansion programme, which also included Sindh. The British were aware of his plans and thus asked him not to go beyond Sutlej. On his part, Ranjeet offered to capture Sindh and share it with the British.
When word of these intentions reached the Talpurs, they became worried. But the British assured the divided Talpurs of all assistance.
More than Sindh, Afghanistan was the real objective for the British. And to that end, Shikarpur was a major target. Still, before any tangible objective could be achieved the British continued to corner the Talpurs through a number of agreements. By an agreement on April 20, 1832, the British and other Indian traders were given all rights to trade, use of all land and water routes of Sindh, in exchange of no taxes or tariffs.
Sindh was slowly slipping into the hands of the British. But the ruling Talpurs were too dived to take any concrete action. The Hyderabad seat was ruled by Chauyari (cabinet of four), while Mirpurkhas and Khairpur were being ruled by other Talpurs. The British exploited this situation very well. They made a separate agreement with the Talpurs of Khairpur, allowing them to stay in Bakhar and build a bridge from Bakhar to the river bank. In exchange, the British camped their army in Bakhar Fort from where they had easy access to Shikarpur and onwards to Afghanistan. This move coincided with the arrival of extra British forces at Karachi, from Bombay.
On December 24, 1838 an agreement was signed that allowed British vessels to operate without any restriction. In the following year another agreement was signed that allowed troops brought by these vessels, exemption from any customs or taxes. In Khairpur, coins of East India Company were introduced.
The Talpurs finally heard the war drums. But the momentum was already in the favour of the British.
On June 18, 1841, an accord was signed between the British and Mirpurkhas Talpurs. The Talpurs were to bear an expense of Rs 50,000/- for the British forces. Any complaint against Talpurs will be heard by British officials; in case of a dispute they will take the decision. No agreement with any other government or party will be executed without the permission of the British and only their coins, with British monarch’s head on one side and the Talpurs on the other, will be used as legal tender.
The accord of November 24, 1842 was the turning point. It stated that the Talpurs will not be allowed to mint coins and the territory between Karachi and Thatta will be exclusively used by the British, under the supervision of Charles Napier. Karachi will be exclusively under the control of the British for which the Talpurs will be paid Rs 5,000.
This was too much, even for the sleeping Talpurs. They refused to sign the agreement, a decision that made confrontation inevitable. A disorganized Talpur army, formed mainly of tribal irregulars, took on the British on February 17, 1843 at Miani, near Hyderabad and then again on March 24, under the command of Mir Sher Mohammad Khan, at Dubbo. This battle finally sealed the fate of Sindh.
After the fall, all Talpur rulers were arrested and imprisoned at Calcutta, Surat and Poone. Some were eventually released while others died in captivity.
The fall of Sindh was followed by the fall of Punjab and finally the rest of the subcontinent. The reforms the British introduced here such as communications, new education system, administrative infrastructure and economic system all aimed at gaining political support of the local population which was needed by them to get an access to Afghanistan and onward to the Central Asian states. This is why the British thought it better to develop Karachi seaport first than the railway line up to Afghan borders. It suited them. The development, of course, came in all sectors but their first requirement was the access from Arabia Sea to the Central Asia. Perhaps it was the World War II which changed the whole political scenario in the subcontinent and the birth of Pakistan made all the difference. But then who knows what lies beyond.
