In which year did the First Anglo-Afghan War, fought between British India and Afghan forces, begin?

Introduction / Context:
This question is from the foreign policy and frontier history of British India. The Anglo-Afghan Wars were a series of conflicts between the British Empire and Afghanistan, largely driven by strategic rivalries in Central Asia. The First Anglo-Afghan War is particularly remembered for its disastrous outcome for the British retreating from Kabul. Knowing the starting year of this war helps situate it among other 19th-century events and is a frequently asked factual point in exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks in which year the First Afghan War took place (i.e., began).
• Options provided are 1849, 1839, 1858 and 1869.
• We assume the common historical convention that dates the First Anglo-Afghan War from 1839 to 1842.
• We only need to identify the starting year.

Concept / Approach:
The First Anglo-Afghan War began in 1839 when British-Indian forces, fearing Russian influence in Afghanistan, intervened to replace the ruler Dost Mohammad Khan with the former ruler Shah Shuja. The campaign initially seemed successful but later led to a catastrophic retreat from Kabul in 1842. Thus, 1839 is the key year associated with the outset of this war in textbooks and exam syllabi. The other dates in the options correspond to different events in Indian or British history and are not linked to the start of this war.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the First Anglo-Afghan War is usually dated from 1839 to 1842.Step 2: Focus on the question's wording: it asks for the year in which the First Afghan War took place, which exam setters interpret as the starting year.Step 3: Match this memory with the option 1839.Step 4: Check the other options: 1849 is closer to the Second Sikh War; 1858 is the year after the Revolt of 1857, and 1869 is later in the 19th century.Step 5: Since none of the other dates align with the recognised start of the First Anglo-Afghan War, select 1839.

Verification / Alternative check:
Most standard modern Indian history and world history textbooks mention that the First Anglo-Afghan War began in 1839 and ended in 1842. Competitive exam guides summarising Anglo-Afghan Wars list 1839–1842, 1878–1880 and 1919 for the first, second and third wars respectively. MCQs that ask 'The First Afghan War took place in which year?' consistently use 1839 as the correct answer, confirming our choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1849: Associated more with the end of the Second Anglo-Sikh War, not the Afghan conflict.1858: Known as the year when the Crown took over direct rule from the East India Company after the Revolt of 1857.1869: Not linked to the Anglo-Afghan Wars in standard timelines.

Common Pitfalls:
Because there were three Anglo-Afghan Wars, students sometimes confuse their dates or mix them with other 19th-century conflicts such as the Sikh Wars or the 1857 Revolt. Another pitfall is answering with a mid-war year instead of the starting year. To avoid confusion, memorise the simple sequence: First Anglo-Afghan War – 1839–1842; Second – 1878–1880; Third – 1919.

Final Answer:
The First Anglo-Afghan War began in the year 1839.