Plausibility Check: No Third Anglo-Afghan War

Say, instead of deciding to go to war with the British in India in 1919, Habibullah decides that his bid to throw of British influence in Afghanistan can wait, and instead decides to go for a land-grab in Russian Central Asia either in that year or 1920. Would he make such a decision? If so, why? Also if so, would the Afghans be able to make gains?
 

Germaniac

Donor
If Afganistan avoids a conflict with Britain and invades Russia, currently embroiled in a Civil War, Your will see a soviet client state in afganistan.
 
If that happened, your most certainly get a fresh round of the Great Game going again, as London, or rather Delhi wouldn't just stand by and see 'the reds' get a foothold right near India.
 
If Afganistan avoids a conflict with Britain and invades Russia, currently embroiled in a Civil War, Your will see a soviet client state in afganistan.

This seems.. suspect. The Soviets will crush any regime in Central Asia once they get their act together, but the logistics for a sustained jaunt into Afganistan don't exist. Or well, thats perhaps too simplistic. They might perhaps establish a Soviet client, but it will almost certainly collapse very quickly, not least due to British support of all and sundry who will oppose it.

At the same note however the British have almost no capacity to operate in Afganistan, never mind beyond, so there is little they will accomplish beyond sending some people to their deaths.
 
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