Editing Abdur Rahman Khan (section)

==Exile and return to power==
Upon the death of Sher Ali Khan, Abdur Rahman Khan, serving exile in Turkestan, requested from the Russians to enter Afghanistan as a claimant of the throne. This request was denied. However, following [[Mohammad Yaqub Khan|Yaqub Khan]]'s abdication, as well as the British occupation of Kabul, the Russians allowed Abdur Rahman Khan to re-enter Afghanistan. Abdur Rahman made way for [[Badakhshan]], whose ruler he had marriage ties with. While on route, he did a pilgrimage to the shrine of [[Khwaja Ahrar]], taking his banner after claiming he had a vision that ensured victory. The ruler of Badakhshan did not permit Abdur Rahman to ford the Amu Darya, to which Abdur Rahman did so further downstream. He then crossed a mountain pass while it snowed, arriving at [[Rostaq, Afghanistan (village)|Rostaq]], where its garrison defected. With the fall of Rostaq, Abdur Rahman met the Mir of Badakhshan in battle, forcing him to flee to [[Chitral]] while Abdur Rahman annexed Badakhshan.{{sfn|Lee|2019|p=376}}

Abdur Rahman requested from Sultan Murad of [[Kunduz]] for military access so he could advance on [[Kabul]]. This request was denied. However, Ghulam Haidar Khan, Yaqub's governor of [[Balkh]], attacked Kunduz, occupying it, and forcing Sultan Murad to flee to [[Fayzabad, Badakhshan|Fayzabad]]. Sultan Murad then aligned with Abdur Rahman, and encouraged rebellion against Ghulam Haidar, with the commander of [[Takhteh Pol, Afghanistan|Takhtapul]] declaring for Abdur Rahman. Ghulam Haidar fled across the Amu Darya, leaving the entirety of [[Afghan Turkestan]] under Abdur Rahman's control.{{sfn|Lee|2019|p=377}}

The British, eyeing for a suitable candidate to be the ruler of [[Emirate of Afghanistan|Afghanistan]], scouted Abdur Rahman Khan, and began negotiating with him. Abdur Rahman was reluctant to accept such a proposal, as he considered himself an opponent of the British, with his own men wishing for Jihad against them. While negotiations continued, the British considered numerous political solutions, including dividing Afghanistan into numerous kingdoms.{{sfn|Wilkinson-Latham |1977|pp=16–17}}{{sfn|Barthorp|2002|pp=81–85}} The British were seeking to a quick conclusion to the war due to the resignation of [[Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton|Lytton]], with his successor, the [[Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava|Marquis of Ripon]], wishing to withdraw all British troops from Afghanistan as quickly as possible. With this, the British no longer wished to uphold a British envoy in Afghanistan. However, both sides continued to differ, with the British wishing to keep [[Kandahar]] under their control with Sardar Sher Ali as governor, while Abdur Rahman saw it imperative as a part of Afghanistan.{{sfn|Lee|2019|p=378-379}}

Believing that the British might withdraw, Abdur Rahman Khan arrived in [[Charikar]] sometime in July 1880, where religious leaders from regions such as [[Panjshir Province|Panjshir]], [[Kohistan District, Kapisa|Kohistan]], and [[Tagab District, Kapisa|Tagab]] welcomed his arrival. On 19 July, the British informed Abdur Rahman that they were prepared to recognize him as the ruler of Afghanistan, inviting him to Kabul for a ceremony. Abdur Rahman called a [[Jirga]], with many tribal leaders declaring for him, while Abdur Rahman was declared the Amir of [[Kabul]].{{sfn|Lee|2019|p=378-379}}

Griffin described Abdur Rahman as a man of middle height, with an exceedingly intelligent face and frank and courteous manners, shrewd and able in conversation on the business in hand.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=37}}