The work is devoted to one of the complex issues of international relations of the late XIX century. - contradictions between Russia and England in Central Asia. The large material, drawn mainly from the English and Russian archives, exposes the falsity of the statements of British historians about the defensive nature of English politics in the area. The so-called "Indian defense" policy from the Russian threat only covered the aggressive plans of the British imperialists who were trying to oust Russia from Central Asia. The author shows that the Anglo-Russian contradictions in Central Asia in essence reflected the imperialist relations developing throughout the capitalist world during the period of the development of capitalism into imperialism. The book is designed for historians specializing in the history of international relations, as well as a wide range of readers interested in the history of Central Asia.