'Ali Masjid and surroundings, from left of enemy's position on Rotass, looking down on fort, showing ascent with river below', 1878

Photograph by John Burke, 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880), 1878.

Ali Masjid fortress is visible at the top of the hill in the centre. On 21 November 1878 it was captured by Lieutenant-General Sir Sam Browne's Peshawar Valley Field Force. The fort was situated at the narrowest point in the Khyber Pass, about ten miles (16 km) from Landi Kotal. Burke accompanied the field force into Afghanistan as an unofficial photographer and took several stunning views of the Khyber and its inhabitants.