The battle of Maiwand was one of the most serious defeats of the British Army during the Great Game and one of the only times during the 19th century that an Asian force defeated a Western power. The battle commenced on 27 July 1880, as Afghan forces moved towards the Maiwand Pass in Afghanistan in attempt to cut British communications between Kabul and Kandahar. The British spies spotted the enemy forces under the Afghan leader, Ayub Khan. In a disaster reminiscent of Isandlwana the previous year, the British underestimated the Afghan forces and ignored key intelligence, thus being forced to attack the Afghan forces at the village of Maiwand, despite their superiority in number, with nearly 3,000 British troops to 8,500-15,000 Afghan warriors (actual numbers are unknown).
