The Battles of Uruzgan were fought in 1892–1893 between Hazara rebel groups and the Afghan army of Emir Abdur Rahman Khan, which ended the 1888–1893 Hazara uprisings. The last battles occurred in Daikundi Province of Afghanistan, which was historically part of the larger Uruzgan Province until 2004.

Background The Sheikh Ali Hazaras were the first to rebel. After Sunni and Isma'ili fighting broke out in 1889–1890, governor of the area Abdullah Khan imposed a collective fine of 100,000 rupees, which only deepened resentment. In January 1890, the rebels drove offgovernment tax collectors, attacked Abdullah Khan's forces, besieged his fortress, destroyed an early relief column, and later defeated detachments sent by the governors of Khinjan and Ghorband. The rebels numbered roughly 3,000 to 4,000 armed men.

Amir Abdul Rahman Khan then sent 3,000 regular troops and 3,000 auxiliaries against them. The rebels used ambushes and seized supplies, but they were eventually overwhelmed by larger government numbers.

Their defeat was also caused by division among the Sheikh Ali clans, including the defection of the Karam Ali faction.

War In April 1892, a general Hazara uprising began in Uruzgan. The immediate cause was the alleged assault of a Hazara woman by 3 Afghan soldiers under Zabardast Khan. Members of her tribe killed the soldiers, triggering a wider revolt. The rebels attacked government fortifications, seized weapons previously confiscated from the Hazaras, and killed the garrisons. They then killed and beheaded all the Afghan soldiers and armed men stationed in the area. During the night, the rebels captured another fort in Uruzgan, reportedly killing around 100 defenders and seizing its stockpile of arms and ammunition.

The victory prompted the Fuladi, Zaoli, Sultan Ahmad, Daya, Mir Adina, and other Hazara tribes to join the uprising. Zabardast Khan's force was defeated, 300 were killed, he was wounded and lost two artillery pieces before fleeing from Uruzgan. The revolt spread rapidly across Hazarajat, and all the Afghan fawjs (regiments) of 1,000 men stationed throughout the region were destroyed one after another. The only force to survive intact was that of Muhammad Allah Khan, which retreated to Ajristan after its defeat by the Fuladi Hazaras and continued to defend itself from within a fortress. The Hazaras of Chora district also joined the uprising. Although some ordinary Hazaras had already taken part in the revolt, the Chora Hazaras formally joined the rebels after achieving several victories.

Mir Azim Khan, who opposed Amir Abdul Rahman Khan's repressive policies in Hazarajat, joined the rebellion with his forces and became one of its main leaders. He commanded Hazara forces from the Fuladi, Daya, Mir Adina, Chora, and possibly the Sultan Ahmad and Zaoli tribes, with Qazi Muhammad Askar, the chief of the Fuladi tribe. Mir Azim Beg also appealed to all Hazara Khans, Mirs throughout Hazarajat to join the rebellion, wanting to expand the uprising across the region. At the invitation of him, a general assembly (jirga) of Hazara Mirs was convened. The participants agreed to declare war against Amir Abdul Rahman and sealed their agreement by placing their signatures on the back of the Qur’an.

After the assembly ended, the Hazara Mirs and tribal leaders returned to their respective regions, and the rebellion gained renewed momentum. The Daikundi leaders Baqir Beg, Muhammad Reza Beg, and Muhammad Jan Beg joined the uprising, while the inhabitants of Kajran, Aska, Gizab, and Takhran also revolted. The leaders of Jaghori, Qalandar, Sheik, and Pashai likewise joined the rebellion. Government officials throughout Hazarajat, from governors to tax collectors, fled toward Kabul. The rebels also executed several Hazara Mirs and tribal leaders who had maintained ties or cooperated with Amir Abdul Rahman Khan.

In May 1892, the Daizangi tribe also rose in rebellion, further expanding the uprising across Hazarajat. The rebels expelled government officials from the region and captured frontier posts and fortifications along the Russian border. The Russian government instructed its officials not to intervene, stating that it was unnecessary “to interfere in the struggle of the Hazaras against the Afghan government.” As the revolt spread, many Hazara officials serving in the Amir's administration and even Hazara soldiers in the Afghan Army deserted and joined the rebellion. The Hazara revolt was very dangerous and even deadly for Amir Abdul Rahman Khan and his government.

The Amir of Kabul declared a “holy jihad” against the Hazaras, whom he branded as infidels and rebels. Those who participated in the war against the Hazaras were promised Hazara wealth and property as rewards, while Hazara women and children would be enslaved. To suppress the Hazara rebels, a very large force was assembled and prepared, consisting of approximately 40,000 infantry, 10,000 auxiliary cavalry with 100 artillery pieces, 100,000 iljari infantry, and 20,000 armed mounted men, with another 6,000 from Qataghan and Maimana.

Afghan forces stationed in Hazarajat were sent against the rebels, along with additional troops from Kabul. The Afghan forces under Abdul Quddus Khan, stationed at Kashkul, were completely annihilated by Mir Azim Khan. Seeking revenge, Abdul Quddus returned with a new force, but he was defeated again and retreated toward the Ghilji areas. The Hazaras later defeated the forces of General Sher Muhammad Khan, who had arrived from Kabul to capture the lands of the Fuladi, and Ajristan Hazaras, capturing 12 artillery pieces.

Colonel Farhad Khan entered the border of Ajristan, at Mir Adina, with artillery and regular troops under his command. The people of Malistan joined him, and 4,000 to 5,000 iljari (tribal auxiliaries) came to help him. A brief battle took place with the people of Ajristan. After six people of Ajristan, who belonged to the Daya tribe, were killed, and three others were killed on the Afghan side, the people of Ajristan surrendered at the advice of the people of Malistan.

At the same time, Commander Samad Khan arrived at Kunj-Talah with 5,000 mounted iljari, consisting of Hazara and Afghan auxiliaries, the regiment of Ghazni, 400 cavalrymen, and four cannons. The people of Uruzgan and Zaoli blocked their way, and fighting broke out. Despite the military forces sent from Kabul, the commander could not achieve any progress, as the rebellious Hazaras showed great resistance.

The Afghan commanders, Muhammad Yusuf Khan, ‘Azm al-Din Khan, and Amir Muhammad Khan, stationed in Tamazan with large numbers of cavalry and infantry, marched toward Gizab after receiving a letter from Sardar ‘Abdul Quddus Khan. At Kashkul Pass, where the Hazaras had fortified their position and prepared for battle, the two sides clashed. Unable to force the pass, the Afghan forces withdrew to Tamazan. At Ashtarlay, the Hazaras again blocked their advance, forcing them to camp there in a vulnerable position.

The first attacks against the Daizangi Hazaras were carried out by regular Afghan troops and auxiliary forces from Herat. Divisions among the Daizangi Mirs, caused by bribery and promises of rewards, weakened their resistance and allowed the Afghan forces to make early progress. However, in some areas the government troops faced strong resistance, suffered heavy losses, and were forced to slow their advance. The Daizangi territory was soon occupied, and to secure control of the area, the families of Daizangi chiefs and mirs were relocated to other parts of Herat as hostages. Some Daizangi and other Hazara leaders also turned against the rebels in exchange for official titles or wealth and workerd with the authorities suppress the uprising.

Following these victories, Afghan forces launched a general offensive in June 1892. A bloody and unprecedented war broke out between the Hazaras and government troops. Contemporary accounts consistently describe the strong resistance and determination shown by the Hazara rebels during the fighting. At the valley of Kashkul near Gizab, a major battle took place between the Afghan forces and Hazara rebels. Muhammad Azim Khan positioned his forces at the entrance of the pass, preventing Sardar Abdul Quddus Khan's army from advancing toward Chora. When Abdul Quddus Khan reached the pass from Gizab, he found it controlled by the Hazaras, leading to a bloody battle in which a large number of Afghan soldiers were killed. The Afghan losses were so great that it had caused terror among the remaining troops, but the Hazaras were eventually pushed back. Abdul Quddus Khan then captured Chora and encamped there.

Faiz Muhammad Katib, however, gives a markedly different account, portraying the battle as a clear Hazara victory. He states that Sardar Muhammad Azim Khan had fortified Kotal-e Kashkul with a great multitude of rebellious Hazaras and blocked the advance of Sardar Abdul Quddus Khan’s forces. A fierce battle ensued, during which some government troops were killed and wounded. According to Katib, Muhammad Azim Khan then routed Abdul Quddus Khan’s forces and threw them into disarray, capturing some government loyalists and numerous horses and weapons, he emerged victorious.

Whatever the case, Sardar Abdul Quddus managed to reach Chora, where he brought the local inhabitants under his authority without a fight and forcibly seized one of their fortresses.

Another engagement at the same location was recorded by Temirkhanov, who provides a different account of the fighting:

“A fierce battle broke out between the two sides in the Kashkul Valley (near Gizab). Several regiments and dozens of companies, numbering 20,000 armed government troops under the command of Sardar Abdul Quddus Khan, succeeded in crushing the fierce resistance of the Hazara rebels and capturing Gizab. The captured Emirs were beheaded, and all of the severed heads were taken to Kandahar. Some time later, minarets were constructed from those heads.”

San Antonio Daily Light

June 29, 1892.

The San Antonio Daily Light reported that 15,000 Afghan soldiers were killed in the fighting against the Hazaras and that the Amir was ready for an amicable arrangement.

During this period, the Uzbeks of Maimana under Muhammad Sharif Khan came to support the Hazara rebels. Around 3,000 armed Uzbeks defeated the forces of Kamran Khan Ishaqzai and later defeated the forces of Muhammad Amir Khan, the governor of Zab. But they were eventually besieged by the government forces, cutting the connection between Maimana and Herat. Several intense battles followed. Muhammad Sharif Khan won two of these engagements, but government forces eventually defeated his army. After defeating Muhammad Sharif Khan, Afghan troops moved against the Firozkohi forces and armed groups in the Zulitar area, later attacking Sar-e Pol, but the Firozkohi resistance was also suppressed.

With these threats removed, government forces again advanced into Hazarajat. However, they suffered several defeats, including at Bamiyan, where Muhammad Amir Beg Ilkhani defeated a government force under Firqa Mushir Muhammad Umar Khan in Yakawlang. Another defeat occurred at Lal wa Sarjangal, where Hazara forces fought government troops led by Mir Andaz Khan, Haji Muhammad Khan, and Muhammad Amir Khan. These victories were later reversed when forces under Ghulam Haidar Khan captured Deh-e Surkh fort and blocked Muhammad Amir Beg's advance toward Bamyan.