Hunza–Nagar Campaign facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hunza–Nagar Campaign |
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 The Fighting near Gilgit |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Hunza, Nagar |  British Empire |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Algernon George Arnold Durand | |||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 1,000 riflemen | |||||||
The Hunza–Nagar Campaign was a short war fought in 1891. It involved soldiers from the British Raj (which was how the British ruled India) and two small kingdoms. These kingdoms were called Hunza and Nagar. The fighting happened in an area now part of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan. In Pakistan, this war is also known as the "Anglo-Brusho War".
The Hunza–Nagar Campaign
Why the War Started
British Plans
A British officer named Colonel Algernon George Arnold Durand was put in charge of the Gilgit Agency. This was a region important to the British. He wanted to make the area more connected. He planned to build new roads, telegraph lines, and mail systems. He also talked with the local leader, the Mir of Gilgit.
Colonel Durand's main goal was to improve a road. This road went from Kashmir through Hunza and Nagar. It then continued up to the border with Russia. The leaders, or Mirs, of Nagar and Hunza saw this as a big problem. They liked being far away and hard to reach. They felt the new road would take away their natural protection.
Growing Tensions
In 1890, Colonel Durand heard rumors. He heard that fighters from Nagar and Hunza might attack Chalt Fort. This fort was close to the border. So, he made the fort stronger. He also kept working on the road leading to it.
In May 1891, Nagar and Hunza sent a message to Durand. They told him to stop building the road and leave the fort. They said the fort was on their side of the border. If he did not leave, they would see it as an act of war.
Escalation and Conflict
The Ultimatum
Colonel Durand did not stop. Instead, he made the fort even stronger. He also built the road faster. Hunza and Nagar saw this as making things worse. They then stopped mail from the British passing through their land. This mail was for the British in Chinese Turkmenistan.
The British in India saw this as breaking an agreement from 1889. They sent a final warning to Hunza and Nagar. When this warning was ignored, the British started the Anglo-Brusho Campaign of 1891.
The Campaign Itself
During the war, Colonel Durand led about one thousand riflemen and two cannons. The British fought a battle at Nilt Nagar. This battle is also known as Jangir-e-Laye. The British took control of Nagar during this fight in 1891.
The British soldiers then attacked the fort at Nilt. They captured it. After waiting for two weeks, they also attacked and took control of the cliffs beyond the fort. Hunza and Nagar were then taken over by the British. The leader of Nagar was allowed to return after he agreed to British rule. In Hunza, the half-brother of the old leader was made the new chief.
Heroes of the War
The British gave out three Victoria Crosses during this campaign. The Victoria Cross is the highest award for bravery in the British military.
See also
