Battle of Ali Masjid

Battle of Ali Masjid
Part of the Second Anglo-Afghan War
The interior of Ali Masjid, following the battle.
Date 21 November 1878 Location Western end of the Khyber Pass, Afghanistan Result British victory; Afghan retreat Jalalabad and Kabul captured by the British
Belligerents
Britain British India	Afghanistan
Commanders and leaders
Sir Samuel J. Browne[1]	Ghulam Haider Khan Mir Akhor
Strength
3,000 infantry,[2] 600 militia,[2] 200 cavalry[2]	3,000 Infantry,[3] 600 Khasadurs,[3] 320 Gunners,[3] 200 Cavalry[3]
Casualties and losses
16 killed,[2][4] 34 wounded[2]	300 captured[4]

The Battle of Ali Masjid, which took place on 21 November 1878, was the opening battle in the Second Anglo-Afghan War between the British forces, under Lieutenant-General Sir Samuel James Browne, and the Afghan forces, under Ghulam Haider Khan. The perceived offence of an Afghan general's refusal to allow a British envoy entrance to the country was used as an excuse to attack the fortress of Ali Masjid, as the opening battle in the war.^[1] Despite numerous setbacks, including half the troops getting lost or delayed and missing the battle entirely, the British were lucky that the Afghans abandoned their position overnight.^[4]