Siege of Khelat | |||||||
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Part of the First Anglo-Afghan War | |||||||
Outer wall of Kalat city | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Khanate of Kalat | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Thomas Willshire James Outram | Mehrab Khan † | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
1,166 | 2,000 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
31 killed 107 wounded | Unknown |
Khelat 1839 is a battle honour of the British Army and the British Indian Army awarded for a campaign on the North West Frontier during the nineteenth century.
The fortress of Khelat, held by a Baluchi tribal chief, threatened communications with India through the Bolan Pass. The unfriendly Baluchi tribes had harassed and attacked British convoys and killed officers and camp followers alike during the First Anglo-Afghan War. As retaliation, the Bombay Column stormed the fortress on 13 November 1839 on its way back to India.