Afghan–Sikh wars: Difference between revisions

Afghan-Sikh Wars
	; Top: Sikh Empire after the Afghan-Sikh Wars. Includes Multan, Kashmir, Khyber Pass, and Peshawar Bottom: Afghan Durrani Empire in 1747 before the Afghan-Sikh Wars.
Date	First Phase: November 1751 – May 1765; Second Phase: December 1766 – 1799; Third Phase: 1800 – 1839
Location	Punjab, Kashmir, Haryana, Pakistan and Afghanistan
Result	First Phase: Afghans driven from country; Lahore taken by Sikhs; Second Phase: Afghan campaign cut short, return home; Third Phase: Kashmir annexed by the Sikh Empire in 1819 after the Battle of Shopian;
Belligerents
Durrani Empire (1751–1823); Emirate of Afghanistan (1823–1837); Afghan tribesmen (1751–1837)	Khalsa (1751–1837); Dal Khalsa (1748–1765); Misldar Army (1765–1800); Sikh Empire (1800–1839); Sikh Khalsa Army (1799–1837)
Commanders and leaders
Ahmad Shah Durrani; Timur Shah Durrani; Mir Mannu; Shah Zaman; Fateh Khan; Dost Muhammad Khan; Nawab Muzaffar Khan †; Azim Khan; Syed Akbar Shah †; Sultan Mohammad Shah; Akbar Khan	Akali Baba Deep Singh †; Nawab Kapur Singh; Sardar Tara Singh Ghaiba & Badesha Sardars; Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia; Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgharia; Sardar Hari Singh Bhangi; Sardar Charat Singh; Sardar Maha Singh; Baba Ala Singh; Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab; Misr Diwan Chand; Jarnail Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa †; Sher Singh Sandhanwalia; Kanwar Nau Nihal Singh; Sardar Sham Singh; Sardar Chattar Singh; Sardar Sher Singh; Kharak Singh; Mahan Singh Mirpuri; Akali Phula Singh †; Akali Sadhu Singh †; Akali Naina Singh; Sardar Lehna Singh; Sardar Ranjodh Singh; Jean-Francois Allard; Jean-Baptiste Ventura; Claude Auguste Court

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The Afghan–Sikh wars were a series of wars between the Islamic Durrani Empire (centred in present-day Afghanistan), and the Sikh Empire (located in the Punjab region). The conflict had its origins stemming from the days of the Dal Khalsa.

Background

The Sikh Confederacy had effectively achieved independence from the Mughal Empire in 1716, and expanded at its expense in the following decades, despite the Chhota Ghallughara. The Afsharid Persian emperor Nader Shah's invasion of the Mughal Empire (1738–40) dealt a heavy blow to the Mughals, but after Nader Shah's death in 1747, the Durrani Empire (roughly covering modern Afghanistan and Pakistan) declared its independence from Persia. Four years later, this new Afghan state came into conflict with the Sikh alliance.

First Phase

In 1748, Ahmad Shad Durrani invades, sacks and occupies Lahore.^[4] Establishing a governor over Lahore, Ahmad marched his army east taking more territory.^[4] The Sikhs would retake Lahore only to lose it to the Afghans by 12 April 1752.^[4]

Ahmad raids India in 1757, and at Battle of Amritsar, his son Timur Durrani, is defeated by the Sikhs.^[4] By February 1758, the Durrani governor of Lahore, General Jahan Khan, is defeated by the Sikhs.^[4]

Second Phase

In 1766, Ahmad Shah Durrani, again invaded India, taking Lahore without a fight.^[2] The Sikhs withdraw, resorting to guerrilla warfare against the Afghans.^[2] Ahmad marched on to Amritsar, massacring the population and destroying the city,^[2] however his campaign was short-lived.^[2] Faced with unpaid troops and internal strife back home in Kandahar, Ahmad was forced to march back to Afghanistan.^[2] Ahmad Shah died in 1772, and by 1799, Sikhs were back in possession of Lahore.^[5]

Third Phase

Battle of Attock

In 1813, after demanding the return of the fort at Attock, the Durrani prime minister Wazir Fateh Khan besieged Attock.^[6] A Punjabi relief force arrived and for three months the two armies faced each other, neither side moving.^[6] As the heat from summer started to affect the armies, Dewan Mokham Chand marched his army to block the Afghans from getting water from the river.^[6] Without water the Afghan troops began to suffer dehydration, so they launched attack after attack towards the river, but were unable to break through.^[6] Chand, realizing the Afghans were weakened, charged his cavalry at the Afghans who broke and ran, losing two thousand men.^[6]

Accusing Ranjit Singh of treachery, Fateh Khan set off from Kashmir at the head of 15,000 cavalry^[7] in April 1813 and invested Attock Fort.^[8] At the same time Ranjit Singh rushed Dewan Mokham Chand and Karam Chand Chahal from Burhan with a force of cavalry, artillery, and a battalion of infantry to meet the Afghans.^[9]

Dewan Mokham Chand Nayyar encamped 8 miles (13 km) from the Afghan camp,^[10] unwilling to risk a decisive engagement, although both sides engaged in numerous skirmishes and took losses. On 12 July 1813, the Afghans' supplies were exhausted and Dewan Mokham Chand Nayyar marched 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Attock to Haidaru, on the banks of the Indus River, to offer battle. On 13 July 1813, Dewan Mokham Chand Nayyar split the cavalry into four divisions, giving command of one division to Hari Singh Nalwa and taking command of one division himself. The lone battalion of infantry formed an infantry square protecting the artillery, with Gouse Khan commanding the artillery.^[9] The Afghans took up positions opposite the Sikhs, with a portion of their cavalry under the command of Dost Mohammad Khan.

Fateh Khan opened the battle by sending his Pathans on a cavalry charge which was repulsed by heavy fire from the Sikh artillery.^[9] The Afghans rallied under Dost Mohammad Khan, who led the Ghazis on another cavalry charge which threw one wing of the Sikh army into disarray and captured some artillery.^[8] When it appeared the Sikhs had lost the battle, Dewan Mokham Chand led a cavalry charge atop a war elephant that repulsed the Afghans "at all points",^[10] and routed the remaining Afghan troops.^[11] Fateh Khan, fearing his brother, Dost Mohammad Khan, had died, escaped to Kabul and the Sikhs captured the Afghan camp, including the lost artillery pieces.^[12]

Two months after the victory at Attock, Ranjit Singh launched a campaign to take Kashmir from the Durrani Empire.^[13] A late Autumn start postponed the campaign until the next spring.^[13] By June, an army of 30,000 men under the command of Ram Dyal, grandson of Dewan Mokham Chand, marched toward Baramulla, with a pincer attack of 20,000 men led by Ranjit Singh marching to Poonch.^[13]

Ranjit's force was delayed by torrential rains, while Ram Dyal's army took the fortress of Baramulla on 20 July 1814.^[13] When Dyal's army reached Shupaiyan, the governor of Kashmir, Azim Khan blocked his advance.^[14] Fighting a delaying action, Dyal waited on a reinforcement of 5,000 men from Ranjit.^[15] These reinforcements were forced to a standstill by Afghan snipers.^[15]

Ranjit Singh's force made little progress.^[15] Faced with a scorched earth from the fleeing populace, food supplies became a major issue for his army, followed by a cholera outbreak.^[15] Meanwhile, Ram Dyal, who was entrenched near Srinagar, received a proposal from Azim Khan for a negotiated peace and was able to extricate himself from a difficult situation.^[15] Ranjit Singh's campaign ended in failure.^[15]

Amritsar, Lahore, and other large cities across the Sikh Empire were illuminated for two months afterwards in rejoicing over the victory.^[16] After his defeat at Attock, Fateh Khan fought off an attempt by Ali Shah, the ruler of Persia, and his son Ali Mirza to capture the Durrani province of Herat, which left their newly captured province of Kashmir open to attack.^[17]

Siege of Multan

In early January the Sikh force began their campaign with the capture of Nawab Muzaffar Khan's forts at Muzaffargarh and Khangarh. In February, the Sikh force under Kharak Singh reached Multan and ordered Muzaffar to pay the large tribute he owed and to surrender the fort, but Muzaffar refused. The Sikh forces won an engagement near the city but were unable to capture Muzaffar before he retreated into the fort. The Sikh army asked for more artillery and Ranjit Singh sent them the Zamzama and other large artillery pieces, which commenced fire on the walls of the fort. In early June, Sadhu Singh and a small band of other Akalis attacked the fort walls and discovered a breach in the wall. As they ran in to battle the unaware garrison the larger Sikh army was alerted and entered the fort through the breach. Muzaffar and his sons attempted a sortie to defend the fort but were killed in the battle.

The siege of Multan ended significant Afghan influence in the Peshawar region and led to multiple Sikh attempts at capturing and the final capture of Peshawar.^[18]

Battle of Shopian

The battle took place in the Shopian region in the Kashmir region. This battle included the 1819 Kashmir expedition, which led to Kashmir being annexed to the Sikh Empire.^[19]

When the Sikh army entered the city of Srinagar after the battle, Prince Kharak Singh guaranteed the personal safety of every citizen and ensured the city was not plundered. The peaceful capture of Srinagar was important as Srinagar, besides having a large Shawl-making industry, was also the center of trade between Panjab, Tibet, Iskardo, and Ladakh.^[20]

After taking Srinagar, the Sikh army faced no major opposition in conquering Kashmir. However, when Ranjit Singh installed Moti Ram, the son of Dewan Mokham Chand, as the new governor of Kashmir, he also sent a "large body of troops" with him to ensure tribute from strongholds within Kashmir that might attempt to resist Sikh rule.^[21] The capture of Kashmir set the boundaries and borders of the Sikh Empire with Tibet. The conquest of Kashmir marked an "extensive addition" to the Sikh Empire and "significantly" increased the empire's revenue and landmass.^[20]

Battle of Nowshera

The Battle of Nowshera wasn't fought by the Durranis, but by a Pashtun force with support of the Durranis. This was the 4th battle in the third Afghan–Sikh war.^[22] This battle led to the Peshawar Valley annexed by the Sikh Empire.

Swiftly securing Nowshera, Ranjit Singh's forces captured Peshawar and reached Jamrud itself. Destroying the remains of Durrani power, they reduced Peshawar to ruins and secured the Khyber Pass so no Durrani reinforcements could threaten them again.^[23]

The tribesman of Khattaks and Yousafzais suffered enormous casualties due to the Sikh artillery and the seeming betrayal by the Muhammadzai Sardars led to a lack of trust in the Durranis' word from then onwards.

Azim Khan's retreat has never been explained fully, some say he believed his brother had returned to recapture Peshawar at the behest of the Sikhs, others attribute his retreat to cowardice or fear of being cut off by the ferocious Sikh attack. He did not recover from the shock of the defeat and died shortly after the battle.^[23]

Ranjit Singh's victory was to mark the highpoint of his campaigns, his empire now stretched from the Khyber Pass to the west, to the north Kashmir and to the south Multan.^[24]^[23]^[25] ^[26]

Battle of Jamrud

The Battle of Jamrud was the fifth and foremost battle within the third Afghan–Sikh war. The result of the battle is disputed amongst historians. Some contend the failure of the Afghans to take the fort and the city of Peshawar or town of Jamrud as a victory for the Sikhs. On the other hand, some state that the killing of Hari Singh Nalwa resulted in an Afghan victory. James Norris, Professor of Political Science at Texas A&M International University, states that the battle's outcome was inconclusive.

Notes

References

^ Mehta 2005, p. 303.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Dupree 1980, p. 339.
^ Zaidi, S. H. "The Intractable Kashmir Issue: Search for a Rational Solution." Pakistan Horizon 56, no. 2 (2003): 53–85. Accessed January 15, 2021. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41394023. pp. 82
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Lansford 2017, p. 20.
^ Glover 2008, p. 12.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Singh 1999, p. 235.
^ Prakash 2002, p. 329
^ ^a ^b Griffin 1892, p. 192
^ ^a ^b ^c Prakash 2002, p. 330
^ ^a ^b M'Gregor 1846, p. 170
^ Jaques 2006, p. 81
^ Prakash 2002, pp. 330–331
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Singh 1999, p. 238.
^ Singh 1999, p. 238-239.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Singh 1999, p. 239.
^ M'Gregor 1846, p. 171
^ "The English in Afghanistan". The North American Review. 277–230 (2). Cedar Falls, Iowa: University of Northern Iowa: 54. 1929.
^ Sandhu, Autar Singh (1935). General Hari Singh Nalwa 1791–1837. p. 10.
^ Chopra, Gulshan Lall. The Panjab as a Sovereign State, Lahore: Uttar Chand Kapur and Sons. p. 26.
^ ^a ^b Chopra (1928), p. 26
^ Prinsep & Prinsep (1846), p. 53
^ Singh, Ganda; Singh, Teja (1986). Maharaja Ranjit Singh : first death centenary memorial. Nirmal Publishers. OCLC 221247277.
^ ^a ^b ^c Gardner, Alexander (1898) Soldier and Traveller; memoirs of Alexander Gardner, Colonel of Artillery in the service of Maharaja Ranjit Singh; ed. Hugh Pearse. Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1898. (Reissued by BiblioBazaar, LLC ISBN 978-1-113-21691-5)
^ M' Gregor, W.L. (1846). History of the Sikhs. London. p. 193.
^ Lafont, Jean Marie (2002). Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Atlantic Publishers & Distri.
^ Singh, Patwant (2008). Empire of the Sikhs. Peter Owen Publishers. ISBN 9780720613711.

Sources

Chopra, Gulshan Lall (1928), The Panjab as a Sovereign State, Lahore: Uttar Chand Kapur and Sons
Dupree, Louis (1980). Afghanistan. Princeton University Press.
Glover, William J. (2008). Making Lahore Modern: Constructing and Imagining a Colonial City. University of Minnesota Press.
Grewal, J.S. (1990). The Sikhs of the Punjab. Cambridge University Press. p. 91. ISBN 0-521-63764-3. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
Griffin, Lepel Henry (1892). Ranjit Singh. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Jaques, Tony (2006). Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: A-E. Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-33537-2.
Lansford, Tom (2017). Afghanistan at War: From the 18th-Century Durrani Dynasty to the 21st Century. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781598847604.
M'Gregor, William Lewis (1846). The history of the Sikhs; containing the lives of the Gooroos; the history of the independent Sirdars, or Missuls, and the life of the great founder of the Sikh monarchy, Maharajah Runjeet Singh. London: J. Madden.
Mehta, Jaswant Lal (2005). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. New Dawn Press, Inc.
Prakash, Om (2002). Encyclopaedic History of Indian Freedom Movement. Anmol Publications. ISBN 978-81-261-0938-8.
Singh, Khushwant (1999). A History of the Sikhs. Vol. 1, 1469–1839. Oxford University Press.
Prinsep, Henry Thoby; Prinsep, James (1846), History of the Punjab: And of the Rise, Progress, and Present Condition of the Sect and Nation of the Sikhs (Volume II), Wm. H. Allen and Co., ISBN 978-1-142-34278-4

[FOOTNOTEMehta2005303-1] Mehta 2005, p. 303.

[FOOTNOTEDupree1980339-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Dupree 1980, p. 339.

[3] Zaidi, S. H. "The Intractable Kashmir Issue: Search for a Rational Solution." Pakistan Horizon 56, no. 2 (2003): 53–85. Accessed January 15, 2021. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41394023. pp. 82

[FOOTNOTELansford201720-4] Lansford 2017, p. 20.

[FOOTNOTEGlover200812-5] Glover 2008, p. 12.

[FOOTNOTESingh1999235-6] Singh 1999, p. 235.

[7] Prakash 2002, p. 329

[Griffin192-8] Griffin 1892, p. 192

[Prakash330-9] Prakash 2002, p. 330

[MGregor170-10] M'Gregor 1846, p. 170

[Jaques81-11] Jaques 2006, p. 81

[12] Prakash 2002, pp. 330–331

[FOOTNOTESingh1999238-13] Singh 1999, p. 238.

[FOOTNOTESingh1999238-239-14] Singh 1999, p. 238-239.

[FOOTNOTESingh1999239-15] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Singh 1999, p. 239.

[16] M'Gregor 1846, p. 171

[17] "The English in Afghanistan". The North American Review. 277–230 (2). Cedar Falls, Iowa: University of Northern Iowa: 54. 1929.

[18] Sandhu, Autar Singh (1935). General Hari Singh Nalwa 1791–1837. p. 10.

[19] Chopra, Gulshan Lall. The Panjab as a Sovereign State, Lahore: Uttar Chand Kapur and Sons. p. 26.

[Chopra26-20] Chopra (1928), p. 26

[Prinsep53-21] Prinsep & Prinsep (1846), p. 53

[22] Singh, Ganda; Singh, Teja (1986). Maharaja Ranjit Singh : first death centenary memorial. Nirmal Publishers. OCLC 221247277.

[Campbell-23] Gardner, Alexander (1898) Soldier and Traveller; memoirs of Alexander Gardner, Colonel of Artillery in the service of Maharaja Ranjit Singh; ed. Hugh Pearse. Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1898. (Reissued by BiblioBazaar, LLC ISBN 978-1-113-21691-5)

[24] M' Gregor, W.L. (1846). History of the Sikhs. London. p. 193.

[lafont-25] Lafont, Jean Marie (2002). Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Atlantic Publishers & Distri.

[singh-26] Singh, Patwant (2008). Empire of the Sikhs. Peter Owen Publishers. ISBN 9780720613711.

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@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 '''Bottom''': [[Afghan]] [[Durrani Empire]] in 1747 before the Afghan-Sikh Wars.
-| date              = '''First Phase''': November 1748 – May 1758<br> '''Second Phase''': December 1758 – 1773<br> '''Third Phase''': 1773-1793<br>'''Fourth Phase''': 1793-1801<br>'''Fifth Phase''': 1801-1819<br>'''Sixth Phase''': 1819-1837<br>
+| date              = '''First Phase''': November 1751 – May 1765<br> '''Second Phase''': December 1766 – 1799<br> '''Third Phase''': 1800 – 1839
 | place             = [[Punjab region|Punjab]], [[Kashmir]], [[Haryana]], [[Pakistan]] and [[Afghanistan]]
-| result            = '''First Phase''': Capture of [[Lahore]]{{sfn|Mehta|2005|p=303}}<br>'''Second Phase''':Sikh Victory, recapture of Lahore.<ref>http://prr.hec.gov.pk/jspui/bitstream/123456789/5209/1/188.pdf</ref><br> '''Third Phase''': Afghan Victory, Sikh offensive into Punjab Halted and recapture of [[Multan]].<ref>https://archive.org/details/Book_1094/mode/2up</ref><br>'''Fourth Phase''':Inconclusive<ref>https://www.google.ca/books/edition/History_of_Afghanistan/0ec2AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover</ref><br>'''Fifth Phase''':Sikh Victory<ref>https://archive.org/details/Book_1094/mode/2up</ref><br> '''Sixth Phase''':Both sides claim Victory<ref>https://archive.org/details/Book_1094/mode/2up</ref>
+| result            = '''First Phase''': Afghans driven from country; [[Lahore]] taken by Sikhs{{sfn|Mehta|2005|p=303}}<br>'''Second Phase''': Afghan campaign cut short, return home{{sfn|Dupree|1980|p=339}}<br> '''Third Phase''': [[Kashmir]] annexed by the [[Sikh Empire]] in 1819 after the [[Battle of Shopian]]<ref>Zaidi, S. H. "The Intractable Kashmir Issue: Search for a Rational Solution." Pakistan Horizon 56, no. 2 (2003): 53–85. Accessed January 15, 2021. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41394023. pp. 82 </ref><br>
 | combatant1        = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Emirate of Herat.svg}} [[Durrani Empire]] (1751–1823)<br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Afghanistan (1919–1921).svg}} [[Emirate of Afghanistan]] (1823–1837)<br> {{flagicon image|}} [[Afghan]] tribesmen (1751–1837)
 | combatant2        = {{flagicon image|Sikh Akali flag.jpg}} [[Khalsa]] (1751–1837)<br> {{flagicon image|Sikh flag.jpg}} [[Dal Khalsa (Sikh Empire)|Dal Khalsa]] (1748–1765)<br> {{flagicon image|Kattar Dhal Talwar.jpg}}   [[Misl|Misldar Army]] (1765–1800)<br> {{flagicon image|Sikh Empire flag.jpg}} [[Sikh Empire]] (1800–1839)<br> {{flagicon image|Sikh Regular Infantry standard.png}} [[Sikh Khalsa Army]] (1799–1837)
-| commander1        = [[File:Flag of the Emirate of Herat.svg|25px]] [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]]<br> [[File:Flag of the Emirate of Herat.svg|25px]] [[Timur Shah Durrani]]<br> [[File:Flag of the Emirate of Herat.svg|25px]] [[Mir Mannu]]<br> [[File:Flag of the Emirate of Herat.svg|25px]] [[Zaman Shah Durrani|Shah Zaman]]<br> [[File:Flag of Afghanistan (1919–1921).svg|25px]] [[Fateh Khan Barakzai|Fateh Khan]]<br> [[File:Flag of Afghanistan (1919–1921).svg|25px]] [[Dost Muhammad Khan]]<br> [[File:Flag of Afghanistan (1919–1921).svg|25px]] [[Nawab Muzaffar Khan]] {{KIA}}<br>[[File:Flag of Afghanistan (1919–1921).svg|25px]] [[Azim Khan]]<br>Syed Akbar Shah {{KIA}}<br>[[Wazir Akbar Khan|Akbar Khan]]|
+| commander1        = [[File:Flag of the Emirate of Herat.svg|25px]] [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]]<br> [[File:Flag of the Emirate of Herat.svg|25px]] [[Timur Shah Durrani]]<br> [[File:Flag of the Emirate of Herat.svg|25px]] [[Mir Mannu]]<br> [[File:Flag of the Emirate of Herat.svg|25px]] [[Zaman Shah Durrani|Shah Zaman]]<br> [[File:Flag of Afghanistan (1919–1921).svg|25px]] [[Fateh Khan]]<br> [[File:Flag of Afghanistan (1919–1921).svg|25px]] [[Dost Muhammad Khan]]<br> [[File:Flag of Afghanistan (1919–1921).svg|25px]] [[Nawab Muzaffar Khan]] {{KIA}}<br>[[File:Flag of Afghanistan (1919–1921).svg|25px]] [[Azim Khan]]<br>Syed Akbar Shah {{KIA}}<br>[[Sultan Mohammad Shah]]<br>[[Wazir Akbar Khan|Akbar Khan]]|
 | commander2        = [[File:Sikh Akali flag.jpg|25px]] [[Deep Singh|Akali Baba Deep Singh]] {{KIA}}<br> [[File:Sikh flag.jpg|25px]] [[Nawab Kapur Singh]]<br> [[File:Sikh flag.jpg|25px]] [[Sardar Tara Singh Ghaiba & Badesha Sardars]]<br> [[File:Sikh flag.jpg|25px]] [[Jassa Singh Ahluwalia|Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia]]<br> [[File:Kattar Dhal Talwar.jpg|25px]] [[Jassa Singh Ramgarhia|Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgharia]]<br>[[File:Kattar Dhal Talwar.jpg|25px]] [[Hari Singh Dhillon|Sardar Hari Singh Bhangi]]<br> [[File:Kattar Dhal Talwar.jpg|25px]] [[Charat Singh|Sardar Charat Singh]]<br> [[File:Kattar Dhal Talwar.jpg|25px]] [[Maha Singh|Sardar Maha Singh]]<br> [[File:Kattar Dhal Talwar.jpg|25px]] Baba Ala Singh<br> [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[File:Sikh Regular Infantry standard.png|25px]] [[File:Khalsa flag.png|25px]] [[Ranjit Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab]]<br> [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[File:Sikh Regular Infantry standard.png|25px]] [[File:Khalsa flag.png|25px]] [[Misr Diwan Chand]]<br> [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[File:Sikh Regular Infantry standard.png|25px]] [[File:Khalsa flag.png|25px]] [[Hari Singh Nalwa|Jarnail Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa]] {{KIA}}<br> [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[File:Sikh Regular Infantry standard.png|25px]] [[File:Khalsa flag.png|25px]] [[Sher Singh| Sher Singh Sandhanwalia]]<br> [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[File:Sikh Regular Infantry standard.png|25px]] [[File:Khalsa flag.png|25px]] [[Nau Nihal Singh|Kanwar Nau Nihal Singh]]<br> [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[File:Sikh Regular Infantry standard.png|25px]] [[File:Khalsa flag.png|25px]] [[Sham Singh Atariwala|Sardar Sham Singh]]<br> [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[File:Sikh Regular Infantry standard.png|25px]] [[File:Khalsa flag.png|25px]] [[Chattar Singh Attariwalla|Sardar Chattar Singh]]<br> [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[File:Sikh Regular Infantry standard.png|25px]] [[File:Khalsa flag.png|25px]] [[Sher Singh Attariwalla|Sardar Sher Singh]]<br> [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[File:Sikh Regular Infantry standard.png|25px]] [[File:Khalsa flag.png|25px]] [[Kharak Singh]]<br> [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[File:Sikh Regular Infantry standard.png|25px]] [[File:Khalsa flag.png|25px]] [[Mahan Singh Mirpuri]]<br> [[File:Sikh Akali flag.jpg|25px]] [[Akali Phula Singh]] {{KIA}}<br> [[File:Sikh Akali flag.jpg|25px]] Akali Sadhu Singh {{KIA}}<br> [[File:Sikh Akali flag.jpg|25px]] [[Akali Naina Singh]]<br> [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[File:Sikh Regular Infantry standard.png|25px]] [[File:Khalsa flag.png|25px]] [[Lehna Singh Majithia|Sardar Lehna Singh]]<br> [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[File:Sikh Regular Infantry standard.png|25px]] [[File:Khalsa flag.png|25px]] [[Ranjodh Singh Majithia|Sardar Ranjodh Singh]]<br> [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[File:Sikh Regular Infantry standard.png|25px]] [[File:Khalsa flag.png|25px]] [[Jean-Francois Allard]]<br> [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[File:Sikh Regular Infantry standard.png|25px]] [[File:Khalsa flag.png|25px]] [[Jean-Baptiste Ventura]]<br> [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[File:Sikh Regular Infantry standard.png|25px]] [[File:Khalsa flag.png|25px]] [[Claude Auguste Court]]
 | campaignbox       = {{Campaignbox Afghan-Sikh Wars}}
 }}
 The '''Afghan–Sikh wars''' were a series of wars between the [[Islam]]ic [[Durrani Empire]] (centred in present-day [[Afghanistan]]), and the [[Sikh Empire]] (located in the [[Punjab]] region). The conflict had its origins stemming from the days of the [[Dal Khalsa (Sikh Empire)|Dal Khalsa]].
@@ Line 29: / Line 28: @@
 ==First Phase==
-In 1748, [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]] invades and occupies [[Lahore]].{{sfn|Lansford|2017|p=20}} Establishing a governor over Lahore, Ahmad marched his army east taking more territory.{{sfn|Lansford|2017|p=20}} The Sikhs would retake Lahore only to lose it to the Afghans by 12 April 1752.{{sfn|Lansford|2017|p=20}}
+In 1748, Ahmad Shad Durrani invades, sacks and occupies [[Lahore]].{{sfn|Lansford|2017|p=20}} Establishing a governor over Lahore, Ahmad marched his army east taking more territory.{{sfn|Lansford|2017|p=20}} The Sikhs would retake Lahore only to lose it to the Afghans by 12 April 1752.{{sfn|Lansford|2017|p=20}}
+Ahmad raids India in 1757, and at [[Battle of Amritsar (1757)|Battle of Amritsar]], his son Timur Durrani, is defeated by the Sikhs.{{sfn|Lansford|2017|p=20}} By February 1758, the Durrani governor of Lahore, General Jahan Khan, is defeated by the Sikhs.{{sfn|Lansford|2017|p=20}}
-[[Ahmad Shah Durrani]] would keep [[Lahore]] with Sikh raids occasional into the lands, as the Sikhs would commence in guerilla warfare to try and kick the Afghans out of Punjab.<ref>https://archive.org/details/Book_1094/mode/2up</ref>
 ==Second Phase==
+In 1766, Ahmad Shah Durrani, again invaded India, taking [[Lahore]] without a fight.{{sfn|Dupree|1980|p=339}} The Sikhs withdraw, resorting to [[guerrilla warfare]] against the Afghans.{{sfn|Dupree|1980|p=339}} Ahmad marched on to [[Amritsar]], massacring the population and destroying the city,{{sfn|Dupree|1980|p=339}} however his campaign was short-lived.{{sfn|Dupree|1980|p=339}} Faced with unpaid troops and internal strife back home in Kandahar, Ahmad was forced to march back to Afghanistan.{{sfn|Dupree|1980|p=339}} Ahmad Shah died in 1772, and by 1799, Sikhs were back in possession of Lahore.{{sfn|Glover|2008|p=12}}
-In late 1758, the Sikhs recapture [[Lahore]], however the Afghans would return in the 1760's, recapturing [[Lahore]] back to Durrani rule, this victory was short lived however, as Sikh forces had forced Durrani armies to advance upon them, this would lead to the [[Battle of Sialkot (1763)|Battle of Sialkot]], where the Afghans would be defeated, and would be forced to leave their Punjab campaign in the wake of this defeat.<ref>https://archive.org/details/Book_1094/mode/2up</ref><ref>http://prr.hec.gov.pk/jspui/bitstream/123456789/5209/1/188.pdf</ref>
-The Sikhs would also capture capture [[Multan]] in 1772, garrisoned by [[Timur Shah Durrani]], however being forced to retreat to back to [[Herat]] in the prelude of this defeat.<ref>http://prr.hec.gov.pk/jspui/bitstream/123456789/5209/1/188.pdf</ref>
-The period after this, until [[Timur Shah Durrani|Timur Shah]] would rise to the [[Durrani Empire|Durrani]] throne would be known as the "Sikh Interlude Period", from 1772-1780.<ref>http://prr.hec.gov.pk/jspui/bitstream/123456789/5209/1/188.pdf</ref>
-==Third Phase (Campaigns of Timur Shah)==
-After the death of [[Ahmad Shah Durrani|Ahmad Shah]], his son, [[Timur Shah Durrani]] would ascend to the throne. Sensing stability, the Sikh misls had led a combined effort against the [[Durrani Empire]] in this, advancing and capturing [[Multan]], however [[Timur Shah Durrani|Timur Shah]] would return, repulsing and halting the Sikh invasion of Punjab, allowing Timur Shah to reconsolidate his gains and recapture [[Multan]] and [[Bahawalpur]].<ref>https://archive.org/details/Book_1094/mode/2up</ref><ref>https://www.google.ca/books/edition/History_of_Afghanistan/0ec2AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover</ref>
-This phase ended with the death of [[Timur Shah Durrani|Timur Shah]] on 20 May 1793, leading his successor, [[Zaman Shah Durrani]] to ascend to the [[Durrani Empire|Durrani]] throne.<ref>https://archive.org/details/Book_1094/mode/2up</ref>
-==Fourth Phase (Campaigns of Zaman Shah)==
-[[Zaman Shah Durrani]] ascended to the [[Durrani Empire|Durrani]] throne after his father, [[Timur Shah Durrani|Timur Shah]] had died on 20 May 1793. Zaman Shah would lead multiple invasions of Punjab against the Sikhs, his first invasion would be in 1796.<ref>https://www.google.ca/books/edition/History_of_Afghanistan/0ec2AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover</ref>
-Zaman Shah had invaded Punjab in 1796 against the Sikhs, and had captured [[Lahore]], however this victory was short-lived, as intelligence from Kabul had warned of a possible Persian invasion of the [[Afsharid Dynasty]], and main [[Afghanistan]]. As a result, Zaman Shah was forced to abandon his first Punjab campaign and return home to mobilize an army to combat this threat, the Sikhs had recaptured [[Lahore]] as he left.<ref>https://www.google.ca/books/edition/History_of_Afghanistan/0ec2AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover</ref><ref>https://archive.org/details/Book_1094/mode/2up</ref>
-===Second Invasion of Punjab===
-Having dealt with the Persian situation diplomatically, Zaman Shah would remobilize his armies for an invasion of Punjab once Again. His armies had mobilized at [[Peshawar]], and had marched to [[Lahore]], defeating the Sikh armies there and celebrating in this victory, however once again, Zaman Shah was recalled after warning of his brother, [[Mahmud Shah Durrani|Mahmud Shah]] was planning to march on [[Kandahar]]. As a result, Zaman Shah had to abandon his Punjab campaign once again, leaving [[Lahore]] for the sikhs to recapture.<ref>https://archive.org/details/Book_1094/mode/2up</ref><ref>https://www.google.ca/books/edition/History_of_Afghanistan/0ec2AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover</ref>
-===Third Invasion of Punjab===
+==Third Phase==
+===Battle of Attock===
-Having dealt with his brother, [[Mahmud Shah Durrani]]. Zaman Shah had once again, resumed his plans for an invasion of Punjab. Zaman Shah had mobilized his forces at [[Peshawar]], and advanced as far to [[Lahore]] once again, recapturing it under Durrani rule. Zaman Shah had furthered plans to invade into deeper India. However, these attempts were thwarted by the Persians again, as Zaman Shah had heard of the Persians yet again threatening their possessions in [[Herat]] and the Afsharids. The Persians were supported by the [[British East India Company]], who feared of Zaman Shah's campaigns to go into deeper class India, and force an engagement with the British. As a result of this mess, Zaman Shah was once again, forced to withdraw from [[Lahore]] to deal with the Persian situation, and he was not able to continue his campaign after it was dealt with, forcing him to sit in [[Kandahar]] for the winter.<ref>https://www.google.ca/books/edition/History_of_Afghanistan/0ec2AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover</ref><ref>https://archive.org/details/Book_1094/mode/2up</ref>
-==Fifth Phase==
 {{main|Battle of Attock}}
 In 1813, after demanding the return of the fort at Attock, the Durrani prime minister Wazir Fateh Khan besieged Attock.{{sfn|Singh|1999|p=235}} A Punjabi relief force arrived and for three months the two armies faced each other, neither side moving.{{sfn|Singh|1999|p=235}} As the heat from summer started to affect the armies, [[Dewan Mokham Chand]] marched his army to block the Afghans from getting water from the river.{{sfn|Singh|1999|p=235}} Without water the Afghan troops began to suffer dehydration, so they launched attack after attack towards the river, but were unable to break through.{{sfn|Singh|1999|p=235}} Chand, realizing the Afghans were weakened, charged his cavalry at the Afghans who broke and ran, losing two thousand men.{{sfn|Singh|1999|p=235}}
@@ Line 86: / Line 68: @@
 After taking Srinagar, the Sikh army faced no major opposition in conquering [[Kashmir]]. However, when Ranjit Singh installed [[Moti Ram]], the son of Dewan Mokham Chand, as the new governor of Kashmir, he also sent a "large body of troops" with him to ensure tribute from strongholds within Kashmir that might attempt to resist Sikh rule.<ref name=Prinsep53>{{harvp|Prinsep|Prinsep|1846|p=53}}</ref> The capture of Kashmir set the boundaries and borders of the Sikh Empire with Tibet. The conquest of Kashmir marked an "extensive addition" to the Sikh Empire and "significantly" increased the empire's revenue and landmass.<ref name=Chopra26/>
-==Sixth Phase==
+===Battle of Nowshera===
+{{main|Battle of Nowshera}}The [[Battle of Nowshera]] wasn't fought by the Durranis, but by a Pashtun force with support of the Durranis. This was the 4th battle in the third Afghan–Sikh war.<ref>{{Cite book|first1=Ganda|last1=Singh|first2=Teja|last2=Singh|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/221247277|title=Maharaja Ranjit Singh : first death centenary memorial|date=1986|publisher=Nirmal Publishers|oclc=221247277}}</ref> This battle led to the [[Peshawar Valley]] annexed by the [[Sikh Empire]].
+Swiftly securing Nowshera, Ranjit Singh's forces captured Peshawar and reached [[Jamrud]] itself. Destroying the remains of Durrani power, they reduced Peshawar to ruins and secured the [[Khyber Pass]] so no Durrani reinforcements could threaten them again.<ref name="Campbell">[[Alexander Gardner (soldier)|Gardner, Alexander]] (1898) ''Soldier and Traveller; memoirs of Alexander Gardner, Colonel of Artillery in the service of Maharaja Ranjit Singh''; ed. Hugh Pearse. Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1898. (Reissued by BiblioBazaar, LLC {{ISBN|978-1-113-21691-5}})</ref>
+The tribesman of [[Khattaks]] and [[Yousafzai]]s suffered enormous casualties due to the Sikh artillery and the seeming betrayal by the Muhammadzai Sardars led to a lack of trust in the Durranis' word from then onwards.
+Azim Khan's retreat has never been explained fully, some say he believed his brother had returned to recapture Peshawar at the behest of the [[Sikhs]], others attribute his retreat to cowardice or fear of being cut off by the ferocious Sikh attack. He did not recover from the shock of the defeat and died shortly after the battle.<ref name="Campbell"/>
+Ranjit Singh's victory was to mark the highpoint of his campaigns, his empire now stretched from the Khyber Pass to the west, to the north Kashmir and to the south [[Multan]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=M' Gregor|first=W.L.|title=History of the Sikhs|year=1846|location=London|pages=193}}</ref><ref name="Campbell"/><ref name="lafont">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YrG_aJTgnw0C|title=Maharaja Ranjit Singh|author=Lafont, Jean Marie|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distri|year=2002}}</ref>
+<ref name="singh">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fg4CBAAAQBAJ|title=Empire of the Sikhs|author=Singh, Patwant|publisher=Peter Owen Publishers|isbn=9780720613711|year=2008}}</ref>
+===Battle of Jamrud===
 {{main|Battle of Jamrud}}The [[Battle of Jamrud]] was the fifth and foremost battle within the third Afghan–Sikh war. The result of the battle is disputed amongst historians. Some contend the failure of the Afghans to take the fort and the city of [[Peshawar]] or town of [[Jamrud]] as a victory for the Sikhs. On the other hand, some state that the killing of [[Hari Singh Nalwa]] resulted in an Afghan victory. James Norris, Professor of Political Science at Texas A&M International University, states that the battle's outcome was inconclusive.