Akbar Khan was the son of the deposed leader of Afghanistan.
In 1842, during the First Afghan War, Khan arranged for the British in Afghanistan to surrender, and promised safe passage to British soldiers and civilians to Jalalabad. However, most of the British died, some in attacks by Khan's men, and the rest only survived by being taken hostage by Khan. Among these hostages were the First Doctor, Susan and Barbara Wright.
Ian Chesterton, taken prisoner by Gul Zaheer, told Zaheer that a new army would come and take the country from Khan and his father. (PROSE: Mire and Clay)