Abdur Rahman Khan

Abdur Rahman Khan (1830–1901) was the Amir of Afghanistan from 1880 to 1901, known as the 'Iron Amir' for his strong and authoritarian rule. He unified Afghanistan through military conquest and centralized the government, establishing the modern Afghan state. During his reign, he signed the Durand Line agreement with British India, which established the border between Afghanistan and what would become Pakistan. He modernized the Afghan army, built roads, and established a postal system. Despite his authoritarian methods, he is credited with preserving Afghan independence during the era of the 'Great Game' between Britain and Russia.