Casemate 85

The Bala Hissar of Kabul, with its Upper and Lower parts, more like a very large motte and bailey castle than a fortress in both form and function, was the defended portion of Kabul, an important Imperial trading centre for centuries.

Fortified from the C6th and fought over by Turks, Arabs, Mongols, and Mughals, it has been knocked down, rebuilt, used and abused many times. It was not 'destroyed by Gen Roberts' in 1880, a common saying and fallacy, but was left largely intact to the Afghans when the British handed it over. While all the houses in the lower part were flattened to provide fields of fire, the walls had been repaired and strengthened in numerous places.
It suffered again in 1979 and 1994 under attack from modern tanks, heavy artillery, bombs and mortars. While some very impressive portions remain of the Upper Bala Hissar, or citadel, the walls and numerous towers and gates of the Lower part have vanished, the mud bricks returning to their natural state.

There are 54 figures adorning this article, adding enormously to its impact, particularly contemporary prints and sketches from the early 1800s before the First Afghan War of 1839-42 and a wonderful set of photos taken in1880 after the Second war, of 1879. The disastrous retreat from the Bala Hissar in the First, and the taking and holding of it in the Second played a significant part in both conflicts.

The article covers its history, its place in the early C19th, construction methods, the fortifications, the Residency and the strengthening of the defences in 1880. The author makes a plea for consideration of the Bala Hissar as a site of world importance, historically, architecturally and archaeologically.