The Indian Front

[Thucydides]

If Russia and Britain were on opposite sides during the First World War would we see fighting in Afghanistan/India? If the sides were like UK/Germany/Austria vs. France/Russia.

Is it even plausible to think that the Russians would divert troops from their Western Front to attack India? What would the warfare there be like?

 

[Alex Richards]

Well, Afghanistan was given land specifically to avoid Russia and Britain sharing a border, and Persia would be a much more likely area of contention.

Anyway, there might be expeditionary corps, but quite frankly the Afghan terrain is just so terrible for sending large armies through that the war would mainly consist of trying to win over Afghanistan.

 

[Thucydides]

Well, Afghanistan was given land specifically to avoid Russia and Britain sharing a border, and Persia would be a much more likely area of contention.

Anyway, there might be expeditionary corps, but quite frankly the Afghan terrain is just so terrible for sending large armies through that the war would mainly consist of trying to win over Afghanistan.

Well you can still get to India through Persia. But that would make more sense as an area of conflict, easier terrain, and they can also get at the Ottomans from there as well.

 

[Cook]

Persia would be a much more likely area of contention.

Definitely.

In 1914 the Russians had interests in northern Persia and Britain had interests in the south, both had troops protecting these interests. Early in 1914 there was a developing dispute between the two concerning a buffer zone between them that Russia wanted to occupy and the Britain wanted left as a buffer. The dispute had not been resolved when the Crisis in the Balkans overtook things and the Russians, keen to keep Britain firmly on the side on the Entente in the diplomatic dispute even hinted that if the Balkans were blocked to them they would look to Persia and The Gulf as a route for expansion.

Zones of control of Persia of course sounds familiar because they happened again in WW2.

 

[Jape]

Afghanistan would be interesting in a *WWI scenario.

Agree, Persia would be a more attractive routed for both sides but they won't ignore Afghanistan.

I feel that both sides will station large defensive forces on their respective Afghan borders, then they will mount pressure on the native rulers to ensure their friendhip. This will kick into high gear, with advisors, weapons etc. Soon whoever is failing to get the upper hand will back opposition in the country.

Finally if things get messy troops on both sides will end up fighting in Afghanistan.

Even if doesn't blow up quite like that, bloody fighting in east Persia could easily see some bright spark look to hilly Afghanistan as a possible avenue for flanking.