Ahmad Shah Abdali, Early Life, Durrani Empire, Indian Invasion

Ahmad Shah Abdali has the other name Ahmad Shah Durrani who was the founder of Durrani Empire and elected as the successor of Nadir Shah after his death in 1747. Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India 8 times during the tenure of 1748 and 1767. His campaigns were primarily driven by the aim of having quick wealth, rather than long-term control, he focused on raids and looting key cities.

Ahmad Shah Abdali Early Life

• Ahmad Shah Abdali was born in 1722 in Multan, then part of the Mughal Empire (now in Pakistan). His father, Mohammad Zaman Khan, was the governor of Herat and head of the Abdali clan.
• Abdali’s paternal line came from the Sadozai tribe, while his mother belonged to the Alakozai tribe.
• In 1729, Abdali soldiers led by Zulfiqar surrendered to Nader Shah Afshar, Persia’s rising power.
• Soon after, they rebelled and briefly took control of Herat and Mashhad.
• In 1730, Ahmad Shah defeated Ibrahim Khan, Nader Shah’s brother and a military commander.
• Nader Shah began integrating Abdali fighters into his forces around 1729.
• After the capture of Kandahar in 1738, Ahmad Shah and Zulfiqar were freed and given high positions.
• Ahmad Shah served closely as a personal attendant (yaswal) to Nader Shah, later commanding the 4,000-strong Abdali Regiment.
• The Abdali Regiment played an active role in Nader Shah’s 1738 invasion of the Mughal Empire.

Also Read: Nadir Shah

Durrani Empire

• The Durrani Empire (also called the Sadozai Kingdom or Afghan Empire) was founded by Ahmad Shah Abdali in the 18th century.
• It spanned regions of Central, South, and West Asia, including present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, northeastern and southeastern Iran, eastern Turkmenistan, and parts of northern India.
• At its peak, it was the most powerful Muslim empire after the Ottoman Empire during the late 1700s.
• Ahmad Shah unified various Pashtun tribes with the support of Baloch allies to establish the empire.
• The Durranis were from the Popalzai branch of the Pashtun Durrani (formerly Abdali) tribe, making them the second Pashtun rulers of Kandahar after the Hotaks.
• Kashmir and parts of Punjab also came under Durrani control during Ahmad Shah’s reign.
• The Barakzai dynasty succeeded the Durranis in the early 19th century.
• Ahmad Shah Durrani’s leadership was key to the empire’s rise and influence in the region.

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Ahmed Shah Abdali Indian Invasion

• Ahmad Shah Durrani invaded India eight times between 1748 and 1767.
• After Nadir Shah’s death, he became ruler of Afghanistan and began raiding neighboring regions for wealth.
• He ambushed civilians during the Chota Ghalughara and Vada Ghalughara, but eventually retreated after encountering Sikh resistance near the Chenab.
• After his retreat, the Sikhs rose in revolt and captured towns across Punjab. His repeated invasions destroyed the Mughal Empire and weakened the Marathas, especially with his victory at Panipat in 1761, which left a major power vacuum in North India.
• Ahmed Shah Abdali Indian Invasion reflected his relentless ambition and strategic intent. Afghanistan’s poverty and lack of resources pushed Abdali to target India’s wealth.
• He also aimed to assert political dominance over the Indian subcontinent.
• In 1757, he captured Delhi, installed a caretaker, and recognized Alamgir II as emperor.
• He appointed Najib-ud-Daula as Mir Bakhshi, his key agent in the Mughal court.
• In 1758, Maratha leader Raghunath Rao captured Punjab and expelled Najib-ud-Daula.
• Abdali returned in 1759 to retaliate and defeat the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat (1761).
• His final invasion took place in 1767, after which he stopped interfering directly in Indian affairs.

Third Battle of Panipat

• The Durrani Kingdom, also called the Sadozai Kingdom or the Afghan Empire, was a powerful empire that spanned parts of Central, South, and the Middle East Asia. 
• It was founded by Ahmad Shah Abdali, who is credited with uniting the various Pashtun tribes under one rule.
• At its peak, the empire covered present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan, along with parts of northeastern and southeastern Iran, eastern Turkmenistan, and northern India, including the Kashmir region. 
• It was considered the most powerful Muslim empire of the late 18th century, after the Ottoman Empire.
• Ahmad Shah established the empire with support from his Baloch allies and ruled as the head of the Durrani Popalzai clan, which had earlier been known as the Abdalis. 
• His family became the second line of Pashtun rulers of Kandahar, following the Hotak dynasty.
• After Ahmad Shah’s death, his descendants continued to rule until the early 19th century, when the Barakzai dynasty took over. 
• Durrani’s rise was largely due to Ahmad Shah’s military skill and leadership, which earned him a lasting legacy in the region’s history.