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Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 5, p. 63.

ADMINISTRA TION 63 comprised i6 infantry regiments of nominally 800 men each, 3 regi- ments of cavalry, and about 80 field-pieces. Sher Ali Khan improved on this in I869, by introducing an organization based on the British model; but on his flight and death this fell to pieces, and it was left to Abdur Rahman Khan again to introduce a regular system. This he did with marked success, and the army is now composed of divisions, brigades, regiments, batteries, troops, and companies. In the infantry and artillery a very large proportion of the troops are Ghilzais and Durranis; in the cavalry many Parsiwans are employed. The Turkistan army is, as far as possible, recruited locally, deficiencies being made up by voluntary enlistment in the Kabul province; no leave is granted to men in this force, unless very heavy security is found. Elsewhere there appears to be no fixed period of service, the men being discharged, if they wish to go and can be spared, at any time after enlistment. As a rule, they serve until incapacitated by age or ill-health. The officers, who are often men of inferior birth, have little control over their men, and insubordination, in spite of the extreme severity with which it is punished, is rampant. Promotion up to the rank of dafaddr (sergeant) is given by general officers; promotions in, or appointments to, the commissioned ranks are now conferred by the Amir. Though breech- loading weapons have been served out only to a minority of regiments, there are supplies of such arms at Kabul ready for issue in time of need to a much larger force. The strength of the regular army is considerably augmented by local mounted and foot levies, known respectively as mulki sowars and khisaddrs. The mounted levies are the retainers of great chiefs, or of their wealthier vassals; a fixed annual sum of about 200 Kabuli rupees is allowed for each horseman, who is required to turn out for service whenever called upon. The payment is generally made by remission of revenue, and the privilege of supplying the men is one much prized by the chiefs. The foot levies are permanently embodied, and, while they are usually employed in military police duties at the disposal of the civil authorities, they are regarded as an auxiliary to the regular infantry. An attempt to introduce a system of military conscription, of one man in seven, towards the end of the reign of Abdur Rahman Khan, and in the first year of his successor, led to a serious rising in Khost, which had to be put down by a military expedition. Similar disturbances threatened on the attempt being made elsewhere, and practically no progress has been made, if the scheme has not been altogether abandoned. The strength of Afghanistan as a military power cannot, however, be judged by the number of the regular troops or auxiliaries. Every adult Afghan is a fighting man; and if provided with a rifle and allowed to fight in his own way, and on his own ground, he is as redoubtable an enemy as his fellow countryman who has undergone a military training. The late