In particular Auckland continued to show a complete lack of interest in the idea of an alliance with Kabul, as he made very clear in the letter he addressed to Dost Mohammad. Auckland told the Amir he must forget Peshawar and “relinquish the idea of governing that territory.” He must also “desist from all intercourse with Persia, Russia and Turkistan.” All the British would do in return, “which is all I think that can in justice be granted,” would be to persuade the Sikhs not to invade Kabul and so save the Amir “from a ruinous war.”
