All times in UTC ·
Dashed edge = started before, or continues beyond, this day
Events on Thursday 21 November 1878 1
1878Second Anglo-Afghan War beginsBritain invades Afghanistan to counter Russian influenceBritish forces invaded Afghanistan after Emir Sher Ali Khan received a Russian diplomatic mission while refusing a British one. The war aimed to secure British India's northwest frontier against Russian expansion. Fighting continued into 1880 and led to major changes in Afghan governance.