Examine the reasons for resistance to British attempts to influence Afghanistan.

The question requires candidates to consider the interrelationship between the various reasons for resistance to British attempts to influence Afghanistan. Some reasons may predate the timeframe but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. Candidates may refer to Afghan resentment of British support of the Punjab in territorial disputes with Afghanistan; British invasions of Afghanistan which sought to control Afghan rulers; British social and cultural practices that alienated the Afghans; Russian support and encouragement of Afghan resistance to Britain; the Afghan desire for independence, which resulted in further conflicts with Britain up until 1919. While other relevant factors, for example, the impact of the First World War, may be referred to, the bulk of the response will be on the issue raised in the question.

The question required candidates to consider the interrelationship between the various reasons for resistance to British attempts to influence Afghanistan. Candidates could have identified a broad range of social, political and economic causes or focused more in-depth on a few factors and either of these approaches was valid.