Muhammad Akhundzada, where Dost Mohammad read the Quran every day after morning prayer. This was furthered by lessons in history and poetry. Dost Mohammad Khan's long military experience allowed him to learn numerous languages, including Pashto, Persian, Punjabi, and even Turkish. Mohan Lal also claims Dost Mohammad had knowledge of Kashmiri. Alexander Burnes claims that Dost Mohammad Khan also knew French. This allowed him to attend important government meetings and giving less power to the Qizilbash factions, who controlled large parts of internal and foreign affairs. Dost Mohammad Khan also had a soft touch for the lower class, with open accessibility for common man and noble. He protested to his friends that he would not follow the Sadozai kings by indulging himself in the Harem and not caring for the governance of the Kingdom. Josiah Harlan reported that during Dost Mohammad Khan's reign, every Friday, the courts doors would be opened, which allowed people with any concern to raise their voice, with Dost Mohammad Khan listening himself to all complaints in person. Dost Mohammad Khan is described in his youth as a person who drank a lot and often brought prostitutes into his court. However, after Dost Mohammad Khan turned thirty, he gave up these in pursuit of becoming a much more pious Muslim. Gallery See also List of leaders of Afghanistan First Anglo-Afghan War Emirate of Afghanistan References Sources Vogelsang, Willem (2002) The Afghans, pp. 248–56. Blackwell Publishers. Oxford. . Shahamat Ali (1970) The Sikhs and Afghans. Patiala, Harlan, Josiah (1842) A Memoir of India and Afghanistan, London. Burnes, Alexander (1843) Cabool, London. Ganda Singh (1959) Ahmad Shah Durrani, Bombay. Sun, Sohan Lal (1885–89) `Umdat-ut-Twarikh Lahore, (Online copy) Braithwaite, Rodric (2012) Afgantsy, London. External links Afghan – Sikh Relations Anglo-Afghan Wars 1793 births 1863 deaths 19th-century Afghan monarchs Emirs of Afghanistan Barakzai dynasty Pashtun people People of the First Anglo-Afghan War 1820s in Afghanistan 1830s in Afghanistan 1840s in Afghanistan 19th-century Afghan politicians 19th-century monarchs in Asia