Editing Abdur Rahman Khan (section)

===Economic views and economic policies===
Under him a great deal of commerce was controlled by the government. During the reign of Amir ’Abd al-Rahman Khan, the transit trade, as well as Afghanistan's own internal and external trade, suffered greatly. Meanwhile, the government monopolized trade, advanced loans to merchants, and made trade safe from brigandage. Abdur Rahman Khan also was eager to develop the stature of government and the country's military capability, and so attempted to raise money by the imposition of state monopolies on the sale of commodities and high taxes. Various schemes were worked out for the collection of revenue. Ultimately, a system was developed that required taxpayers to pay their revenue themselves by a fixed date. The arrears were then collected by mounted troops. To meet the increasing expenses of the state, Amir ’Abd al-Rahman directed full attention to the system of taxation. He modified the old system by raising the existing rates of land revenue, introducing new taxes, and bringing rent-free lands under revenue. In addition, various kinds of existing taxes on cattle, households, and the like were increased, and new ones introduced. This slowed the long-term development of Afghanistan during that period. Western technologies and manufacturing methods were introduced at the command of the Afghan ruler, but in general only according to the logistical requirements of the growing army. To equip it he established factories where modern weapons were made. At the same time, he made use of the traditional feudal and tribal levies and attempted to arm the whole nation. An emphasis was placed on the manufacture of weapons and other military material. This process was in the hands of a small number of foreign experts invited to Kabul by the Afghan kings. Otherwise, it was not possible for non-Afghans, particularly westerners, to set up large-scale enterprises in Afghanistan during that period. He brought in foreign experts, imported machinery for making munitions, introduced manufacture of consumer goods and new agricultural tools, and established Afghanistan’s first modern hospital.<ref>https://books.google.de/books/about/Government_and_Society_in_Afghanistan.html?id=ItaBBAAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y</ref>