Qandahar

This quote from the British Agent in Qandahar comes from the June 8, 1891, entry. back

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

The Company troops in Qandahar held mainly Qandahar rupees, and they demanded to exchange them at the Company treasury at nothing less than the prevailing 133 1/3 to 100 rate.

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

The revolt was averted, but its threat was predicated on the ready availability of currency conversion services in Qandahar's thriving public money market.

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

Jita carried a kind of text referred to as a dastur al-amal or regulation on the subject of brokerage that was signed by Abd al-Rahman. 21 Even the tribal maliks or chiefs in Qandahar province, the majority of whom were Durranis and therefore ethnic affiliates and political favorites of Abd al-Rahman, were subjected to the new forms of state-paper oppression.

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

The first or one of the first remittances to Dost Muhammad was for Rs. 3,00,000 and the British had difficulty securing reasonable hundi exchange rates from local bankers in Qandahar to finalize the transaction "due to the insecure and confused state of Afghanistan and Qandahar."

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

The cash-based interaction unfolded primarily in Qandahar where the British encountered unexpected difficulties from their own troops when trying to institute a currency exchange-rate change.

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

We have just seen how British occupation officers stationed in Qandahar tried in vain to evade the controlling influence exercised by Hindki bankers over the availability and interaction of different currency forms in the city.

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

Compounding that problem was his knowledge of local banking practices which required one-third of the total value of such a transaction in Qandahar rupees as up-front security, and he now lacked that form of money.

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

As just noted, the everyday terms of credit provided by local Hindki bankers to the occupation army in Qandahar was 4 percent per month.

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

These figures exclude Rs. 50,000 paid monthly to Abd al-Rahman's Governor in Qandahar from April to July 1881, or a total Rs. 2,00,000. back

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008