Afghan–Sikh capture of Kashmir (1812–1813) explained

Conflict:Afghan-Sikh Capture of Kashmir
Place:Kashmir
Partof:Sikh Expansion
Date:December 1812 - February 1813
Result:Afghan-Sikh Victory[1]
Combatant1:Durrani Empire
Supported by
Sikh Empire
Combatant2:Ata Khan's Kashmir state
Commander1:Fateh Khan Barakzai
Azim Khan
Dewan Mokham Chand
Dal Singh Naherna
Jodh Singh Kalsia
Nihal Singh Attariwala
Commander2:Ata Muhammad Khan
Strength1:Unknown number of Afghans
12,000 Sikhs
Strength2:Unknown

The Afghan-Sikh Capture of Kashmir was an expedition in 1812-1813 led by Wazir Fateh Khan against the rebellious governor of Kashmir, Ata Muhammad Khan.

Event

In 1809, Ata Muhammad Khan declared independence of Kashmir and became its governor.[2] Wazir Fateh Khan desired to expel Ata Muhammad Khan from Kashmir for many reasons, mainly being that he had captured Shah Shujah Durrani. He was afraid that Maharaja Ranjit Singh would capture Attock and Peshawar while the Wazir was busy with Kashmir. Therefore, he struck a deal with the Maharaja and was given a chosen force of 12,000 Sikhs led by Dewan Mokham Chand.[3] Both the armies joined at the Jhelum and marched alongside each other until they reached the Pir Panjal Range, where Fateh Khan left the Sikh soldiers during heavy snowfall.[4] Learning about this, Mokham Chand promised the raja of Rajouri a jagir of 25,000 rupees if he tells the Sikhs a faster path towards Kashmir.[3] With the help of the Sikhs, the Afghans successfully captured Kashmir but broke their promise with the Sikhs and gave them none of the plunder.[5] However, the Sikhs managed to get Shah Shujah Durrani as he feared of being a prisoner when he goes to Kabul.[6] When he reached Lahore, he was forced to give up the Koh-i-Noor to the Maharaja.[7] As for Kashmir, the new governor was Fateh Khan's brother Azim Khan.[8]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Singh . Khazan . History and Philosophy of the Sikh Religion . 1914 . Printed at the "Newal Kishore" Press, ld. . 308 .
  2. Book: Noelle . Christine . State and Tribe in Nineteenth-Century Afghanistan . 25 June 2012 . Taylor & Francis . 9781136603174. 6 .
  3. Book: History Of The Sikhs Vol. V The Sikh Lion of Lahore (Maharaja Ranjit Singh, 1799-1839). Hari Ram Gupta. 1991. 122–123. 9788121505154.
  4. Book: Griffin, Lepel Henry . Lepel Henry Griffin . Ranjit Singh . . 1892 . Oxford .
  5. Book: Chhabra . G.S . Advanced study in History of the Punjab . 1960 . 61 .
  6. Book: Cunningham . Joseph Davey . A History Of The Sikhs From The Origin Of The Nation To The Battles Of The Sutlej . 1918 . 152 .
  7. Book: Husain, Farrukh. Afghanistan in the Age of Empires. Silk Road Books. 2018. 978-1527216334.
  8. Book: Lee . Jonathan L. . Afghanistan A History from 1260 to the Present . 8 March 2022 . Reaktion Books . 9781789140194 . 176 .