should be broken up

The sudden appearance on the scene of this contender for the throne was to lead to some rapid thinking in London and Calcutta. For there, at that very moment [1879], British plans for the future of Afghanistan were under urgent discussion. ... The consensus was that the country should be broken up, thereby making it more difficult for the Russians, or any other potential enemy, to gain control of it. - The Great Game, pg. 396

выделено мной - вс

see also