Afghanistan: 'The fortress and citadel of Ghuznee and the two minars', a lithograph by Louis Haghe (1806 - 1885) from an original sketch by James Atkinson (1780 - 1852). From Sketches in Afghaunistan, originally published in 1842. The First Anglo-Afghan War was fought between British India and Afghanistan from 1839 to 1842. It was one of the first major conflicts during the Great Game, the 19th century competition for power and influence in Central Asia between the United Kingdom and Russia, and also marked one of the worst setbacks inflicted on British power in the region after the consolidation of British Raj by the East India Company.