Seistan Force
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Indian English
Template:Infobox military conflict The Seistan Force, originally called East Persia Cordon, was a force of British Indian Army troops set up to prevent infiltration by German and Ottoman agents from Persia (Iran) and Balochistan<ref name="Iranica">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> into Afghanistan during World War I. The force was established to protect British interests in Persia from subversion by German agents, most notably Wilhelm Wassmuss. The force was also tasked to intercept and destroy the Turco-German expedition to Kabul that sought Afghan alliance in the Central war effort and Afghan assistance to wartime revolutionary conspiracies in British India.<ref name=Collett144>Template:Harvnb</ref><ref name=Hopkirk117>Template:Harvnb</ref>
Unit history
In August 1914 (at the start of World War I) a small force, under the orders of the 2nd Quetta Brigade, was maintained in Western Balochistan to suppress arms traffic. In July 1915 this force was expanded and became the East Persia Cordon to prevent enemy infiltration from Persia into Afghanistan. A similar Russian Cordon was established to prevent infiltration into north-west Afghanistan. From March 1916 the force became the Seistan Force under the commander-in-chief in India. Following the Revolution in Russia, the Malleson mission was sent to Trans-Caspia and the Seistan Force became the Lines of Communication for the Mission from September 1918 under the orders of the 4th (Quetta) Division. With the withdrawal of the force from Trans-Caspia, the troops in Persia were withdrawn and the last elements left in November 1920.
The Germans established contact with the Baloch and provided them military strategy. The Baloch war with the British army resulted in several clashes and casualties to the British forces in Makran in 1916.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Despatches
The following is part of the text of a despatch by General Sir Charles Monro, Commander-in-Chief, India, on military operations in the Indian Empire from March 1916 to March 1917, published in the London Gazette on 31 October 1917:<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
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Commanding officers
- Lt Colonel J. M. Wikely, August 1915
- Brig-General Reginald Dyer, March 1916
- Brig-General C. O. O. Tanner, October 1916
- Lt Colonel (later Brig-General) G. A. Dale, May 1917