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BATTLE // July 23, 1839

Battle of Ghazni

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Overview

The Battle of Ghazni took place in the city of Ghazni in central Afghanistan on Tuesday, 23 July 1839, during the First Anglo-Afghan War.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Ghazni was fought at the city of Ghazni in central Afghanistan on 23 July 1839, during the First Anglo-Afghan War. The engagement pitted a Durrani force of over 20,000 under Shuja Shah Durrani and John Keane against a Barakzai garrison of 3,500 commanded by Ghulam Haidar Khan. Barakzai casualties reached 1,600. Ghazni was a strategically positioned city in central Afghanistan, and its fall was a significant step in the British-backed effort to restore Shuja Shah Durrani to power against the Barakzai rulers.

Forces & casualties

Troop strength

  • Durranis20,500
    medium
  • Barakzais3,500
    medium

Durranis fielded a 5.9 : 1 numerical advantage

Casualties

  • Barakzais1,600
    medium46% loss rate

Commanders (3)

Durranis

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2 sibling battles · 2 factions

Last verified June 2026
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