 Rawlinson was appointed political agent at Kandahar in 1840.In that capacity he served for three years, his political labours being considered as meritorious as was his gallantry during various engagements in the course of the Afghan War; for these he was rewarded by the distinction of Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1844.Serendipitously, he became known personally to the governor-general, which resulted in his appointment as political agent in Ottoman Arabia.