Urtatagai conflict (1925–1926)

The Urtatagai conflict was a conflict between the Soviet Union and the Emirate of Afghanistan in the mid-1920s over the control of the island of Urtatagai, which is an island on the Amu Darya river that had been claimed by Afghanistan since 1900,[1] although it was under Russian control until 1920, when remnants of the Imperial Russian Army evacuated the island to aid the White Movement in the Russian Civil War. The Afghan Army had earlier unsuccessfully tried to enforce its claim on Urtatagai in a border conflict in 1913, and in 1920 Afghan forces were finally able to capture the island unopposed.[1] On 27 November 1925, due to repeated incursions into Soviet territory by Basmachi rebels using the island as a base,[2] as well as the Soviet claim to the Island,[1] 340 Soviet troops landed on the island of Urtatagai, and a clash with the island's garrison saw 12 people killed, and 5 Afghans were taken prisoner.[1] On 18 December, the Prime Minister of Afghanistan issued a letter of protest, making 4 key demands:[1]

  • That the soviets abandon the Island
  • That prisoners of war be returned
  • That Afghan losses be recovered
  • That official apologies be rendered.
Urtatagai conflict
Date27 November 1925 – 15 August 1926
Location
Urtatagai
Result

Peace treaty

  • The Soviet Union captures, then cedes back Urtatagai
  • The Soviet Union recognizes Urtatagai as Afghan territory
  • Afghanistan forced to restrain Basmachi border raids
Belligerents
 Soviet Union Afghanistan
Commanders and leaders
Joseph Stalin Amanullah Khan
Strength
340 Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown 5 captured
12 killed
For the 1913 border conflict, see Urtatagai conflict (1913).

On 19 December, after the Soviets failed to answer the letter, the Afghan Government began to deploy troops towards the North.[1] To the surprise of the Soviet leadership, Western press took interest in the conflict, and supported the Afghan government.[1] With potential war looming, the Soviet leadership decided to let a joint commission decide Urtatagai's fate, which ruled in favour of Afghanistan. On 28 February 1926, the Soviets transferred the island to Afghanistan in a ceremony. Negotiations regarding official Soviet recognition ensued for the following months, and after the Afghan government agreed to restrain Basmachi border raids,[2] the Soviet government officially recognized Urtatagai as part of the Afghan state on 15 August 1926.[1]

References
  1. Panin, Sergei Borisovich (1999-09-01). "The Soviet‐Afghan conflict of 1925–26 over the Island of Urta‐Tugai" (PDF). The Journal of Slavic Military Studies. 12 (3): 122–133. doi:10.1080/13518049908430405. ISSN 1351-8046.
  2. Ritter, William S. (1990). "Revolt in the Mountains: Fuzail Maksum and the Occupation of Garm, Spring 1929". Journal of Contemporary History. 25 (4): 547–580. doi:10.1177/002200949002500408. ISSN 0022-0094. JSTOR 260761.
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