He resisted pressures from Mahmud Beg Tarzi, Amānullāh (Habibullah's third son, who had married Soraya, a daughter of Tarzi), and others to enter World War I on the side of the Central Powers.
Despite the persuasion from Mahmud Beg Tarzi, Amānullāh (Habibullah's third son, who was married to Soraya, the daughter of Tarzi), and other parties, he chose not to participate in World War I as an ally of the Central Powers.