Sher Ali Khan was a prominent Afghan leader who served as the Amir of Afghanistan from 1868 to 1879. He was the son of Dost Mohammad Khan, the founder of the Barakzai dynasty. During his reign, Sher Ali focused on modernizing the Afghan military and strengthening the central government, while also navigating complex relationships with neighboring countries, particularly British India. His rule was marked by conflicts, including the Second Anglo-Afghan War, which began in 1878. Sher Ali Khan's attempts to maintain Afghanistan's independence ultimately led to his exile in 1879, after which he died in Moscow in 1919.