Battle of Ali Masjid (1672)

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Battle of Ali Masjid
Part of the Mughal–Afghan Wars
Date1672
Location
Ali Masjid, Khyber (Present day Pakistan)
Result Afghan Tribes victory
Belligerents

Pashtun Tribes

  • Afridi
  • Momand
  • Other Afghan Tribes
Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Aimal Khan Mohmand
Darya Khan Afridi
Muhammad Amin
Strength
10,000-20,000

40 thousands horses
2 lakh regular infantry

  • Total 240k [1]
Casualties and losses
Minor 40,000+ killed
20,000+ captured

In 1672, the Afghan monarch, Aimal Khan Mohmand, with the help of Darya Khan Afridi, proclaimed war against the Mughal Empire. [2] [3] The Mughal Governor of Kabul, Muhammad Amin, was attacked by tribal Afghans (Pashtuns). [4] Although Amin was followed by a large Mughal army, he was completely defeated by Pashtun Tribesmen. [5] [6] The battle resulted in the deaths of more than 40,000 Mughals, with 20,000 men captured. [7] [8]

Aftermath

Hundreds of Mughal officers were killed while the Mughal Governor of Kabul retreated to Peshawar with a few members. [9]

References

  1. "Storia do Mogor; or, Mogul India 1653-1708". 1907.
  2. Edwardes, Stephen Meredyth; Garrett, Herbert Leonard Offley (1995). Mughal Rule in India. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 111. ISBN   978-81-7156-551-1.
  3. Khan, Mohammad Nawaz (2004). Khyber: The Treasure Land of History, Gandhara Markaz Shahbaz Garhi, District Mardan & Peshawar. p. 28.
  4. Sandhu, Gurcharn Singh (2003). A Military History of Medieval India. Vision Books. p. 627. ISBN   978-81-7094-525-3.
  5. Sinha, Narendra Krishna; Banerjee, Anil Chandra (1958). History of India. A. Mukherjee. p. 412.
  6. Rashid, Haroon (2002). History of the Pathans: The Sarabani Pathans. Haroon Rashid. p. 437.
  7. The Indian Historical Quarterly. Ramanand Vidya Bhawan. 1985. p. 496.
  8. Agrawal, Ashvini (1983). Studies in Mughal History. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 188. ISBN   978-81-208-2326-6.
  9. Ahmad, Laiq (1976). The Prime Ministers of Aurangzeb. Chugh Publications. p. 105.