Battle of Attock (1793)

Battle of Attock
Part of Afghan–Sikh Wars
Date December 1793 Location Attock, Indus River Result Afghan victory
Belligerents
Durrani Empire	Sikh Confederacy
Commanders and leaders
Payandah Khan	Unknown
Strength
5,000	Unknown

Battle of Attock (1793) was a minor military engagement between forces of the Durrani Empire and Dal Khalsa contingents near the Indus River during Zaman Shah Durrani's early invasions of India.

Background

In late 1793, Zaman Shah Durrani, ruler of the Durrani Empire, resolved to invade India following encouragement from Mirza Ahsan Bakht of the Delhi royal family and envoys connected to Tipu Sultan of Mysore, who reportedly offered financial incentives. Favorable intelligence reports from Afghan agents and appeals from several Indian princes further strengthened his decision. ^[1] Zaman Shah departed Kabul on 15 December 1793 and advanced toward Peshawar, where he halted to finalize plans for the invasion. Two main routes toward Delhi were considered. The shorter and more direct route passed through Lahore, but this area was dominated by Sikh misl forces, making it strategically risky. The alternative route via Multan, Bahawalpur, and Bikaner was longer and logistically demanding but offered greater security. To assess Sikh strength and positions, Zaman Shah ordered his general, Payandah Khan, to conduct reconnaissance operations around Attock, a strategically important crossing point on the Indus River. ^{[2] [3]}

Battle

In late December 1793, an Afghan advance guard numbering 5,000 men crossed the Indus River at Attock and advanced around 50 kilometers into territory influenced by Sikh forces. A Sikh contingent moved to intercept the Afghan vanguard in an effort to halt further progress. A brief skirmish followed between the two sides. Despite the resistance offered by the Sikh force, the engagement ended in a victory for the Afghans. After the encounter, the Afghan vanguard was recalled. ^{[4] [3]}

Aftermath

having fulfilled its reconnaissance objectives rather than pursuing a deeper advance. The clash demonstrated both the strategic importance of the Attock crossing and the continued military presence of Sikh forces in the Punjab region during Zaman Shah Durrani's Indian campaigns. ^[4]

References

1. www.DiscoverSikhism.com. History Of The Sikhs Vol. IV The Sikh Commonwealth Or Rise And Fall Of Sikh Misls. p. 458.
2. www.DiscoverSikhism.com. History Of The Sikhs Vol. IV The Sikh Commonwealth Or Rise And Fall Of Sikh Misls. pp. 458–459.
3. Gupta, Hari Ram (1944). History of the Sikhs vol.3. p. 54.
4. www.DiscoverSikhism.com. History Of The Sikhs Vol. IV The Sikh Commonwealth Or Rise And Fall Of Sikh Misls. p. 459.