The British policy towards Afghanistan in the first half of the 19th century aimed at

The correct answer is Option 1. During the first half of the 19th century, British foreign policy was dominated by the "Great Game"—a geopolitical rivalry with Tsarist Russia over influence in Central Asia.

The primary objective of the British was to ensure that Afghanistan remained a stable buffer state to protect the "jewel in the crown," India, from a potential Russian invasion through the Northwest Frontier. This led to the "Forward Policy," where Britain sought to install pro-British rulers (like Shah Shuja during the First Anglo-Afghan War) to ensure Afghanistan's strength and loyalty against Russian advances.

• Option 2 is incorrect because the British initially preferred a strong, unified buffer rather than a fragmented, weak neighbor that could easily fall to Russian intrigue.
• Option 3 is incorrect as Russian influence was viewed as the primary existential threat.
• Option 4 is incorrect because the British realized that direct annexation of the difficult Afghan terrain was logistically and financially unsustainable.