Looking through the Tanai Gorge towards Landi Khana, 1919

Photograph by Randolph Bezzant Holmes (1888-1973), 3rd Afghan War, 1919.

Landi Khana, situated in Afghan territory at the western end of the Khyber Pass, was a bone of contention between the British and the Afghans prior to the 3rd Afghan War (1919). The latter believed that the Durand Line ran through it, but the British maintained it was five miles farther west of Landi Khana. After they repelled the initial Afghan foray into the Khyber, the British occupied Landi Khana prior to advancing to the Dakka Plain. Despite this, the piquets established there to protect the route to Dakka came under sniper attack from the local Shinwari tribesmen.

From an album of 43 photographs, 1920 (c)-1925 compiled by Major G A Clarke, 12th Pioneers (The Kelat-i-Ghilzie Regiment).