The Governor General who followed a spirited "Forward" policy towards Afghanistan was

1. The question asks to identify the Governor General (or Viceroy, as the title changed) who pursued a spirited "Forward" policy towards Afghanistan. 2. The "Forward" policy generally refers to an aggressive, interventionist approach aimed at extending British influence and control towards Central Asia, primarily to counter perceived Russian threats towards India. This was particularly relevant concerning Afghanistan. 3. Lord Lytton (Viceroy from 1876 to 1880) is most famously associated with the aggressive "Forward" policy towards Afghanistan. His actions, driven by fears of Russian influence, led directly to the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-1880). 4. Lord Minto (Governor General 1807-1813; later Viceroy Minto II 1905-1910) - Minto I dealt with Napoleonic threats but not a major Afghan forward policy. Minto II dealt with political reforms. 5. Lord Dufferin (Viceroy 1884-1888) handled the Panjdeh incident with Russia but generally followed a more cautious policy after Lytton's failures, leading to the Third Anglo-Burmese War instead. 6. Lord Elgin (Viceroy Elgin I 1862-1863; Viceroy Elgin II 1894-1899) - Elgin II's tenure saw frontier tribal uprisings but not a major shift back to Lytton's aggressive forward policy.