Pakistan is a paradigm example of a failed state that has undergone an extremely dangerous form of radical Islamisation.
Anglo-Gurkha War
In 1768, the Gurkhas - a tribe of the Western Himalayas, conquered the Nepal
valley. Slowly they built up a powerful State with considerable military
strength and desire to expand. On the northern side they were checked by the
Chinese Empire and on the southern side the Gurkhas extended their dominion as
far as River Tista on the east and Sutlej on the west. The Gurkhas got in
possessions the whole of strong country which skirts the northern frontier of
Hindustan.
Gurkha-English Conflicts
In 1801, the East India Company occupied the Gorakpur district with which the
Gurkhas in Tarai became conterminous with the uncertain and ill-defined northern
frontier of the British dominions. At the times of Lord Minto, the Gurkhas
conquered Bhutwal lying north. However the Company again regained Bhutwal. Thus
the conflicting interest between the Gurkhas and the English continued sowing
the seeds of the war.
In May 1814, the Gurkhas attacked the three police stations in Bhutwal. Then
in October, Governor-General Lord Hastings declared a war against the Gurkhas.
Lord Hastings himself took the charge of the war and decided to attack the
Gurkhas at the four points along the entire line of Sutlej to the Kosi. The
British even tried to bribe the Nepalese Government. But to vanquish the
Nepalese was not an easy task for Lord Hastings. Again it was very difficult for
the British soldiers to go through the mountainous region.
Treaty of Sagauli - 1815
In 1814-1815, the British had to accept defeats. Major-Generals Marley and
John Wood, who were to advance towards Nepal capital, retreated after some
unsuccessful attempts. General Gillespie lost his life in Kalanga. Major-General
Martindell was defeated at Jaitak. However all these defeats were again
retrieved when in April 1815, Colonel Nicolls and Gardener captured Almora in
Kumaon and on May 15, 1815, General Ochterlony compelled the Gurkha leader Amar
Singh Thapa, to surrender the fort of Malaon. And finally on November 28 1815,
the Gurkhas signed a treaty of Sagauli. The Nepal Government hesitated to ratify
the treaty and the hostilities began again. General Ochterlony advanced towards
the Nepal capital and defeated the Nepalese at Makwanpur on February 28, 1816.
This compelled the Nepal Government to ratify the treaty. As per the treaty the
Nepalese gave up their claims to places in the lowlands along the southern
frontier, gave away Garhwal and Kumaon on the west of Nepal to the British and
also withdrew from Sikkim. They also agreed to receive a British Resident at
Katmandu. The Nepal Government ever since remained true to its alliance with the
English.
