Battle of Jalandhar Doab

Battle of Jalandhar Doab
	Part of Indian Campaign of Ahmad Shah Durrani
Date	January – February 1758
Location	Jalandhar, Punjab
Result	Sikh victory
Belligerents
Sikh Confederacy	Durrani Empire
Commanders and leaders
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia	Sa’adat Khan Afridi; Khwajah Ubaid Khan
Strength
Unknown	20,000 Horsemen

The Battle of Jalandhar Doab was a confrontation between the Sikh Dal Khalsa and the Durrani Empire, led by Sa’adat Khan Afridi and Khwajah Ubaid Khan. This battle, marked by Sikh raids and strategic victories, severely weakened Afghan control over the Punjab region and expanded Sikh influence.^[1]

Background

The Sikhs were more confident after successfully opposing Afghan soldiers in previous battles. They stormed Afghan outposts, interfered with government, and demanded karah prasad, a holy sacrifice of bread, sugar, and ghee, from the local populace. With every Sikh attack, the Durrani Empire's power continued to decline as it battled to maintain control over Punjab.

Sa'adat Khan Afridi tried to retake power in early 1758 but was routed in the Jalandhar Doab and had to retreat to the hills. The subedar of Lahore responded by sending Khwajah Ubaid Khan and a force of 25,000 men to stop the Sikh advance, but the Afghans too failed in this endeavor.^[2]

Battle

In a series of raids, the Sikhs attacked Khwajah Ubaid Khan's men using successful guerilla tactics, causing significant Afghan casualties. The Sikhs took all of Ahmad Shah Durrani's remaining artillery, slaughtered several of Ubaid Khan's officers, and pillaged his camp and supplies. Sikh soldiers expanded into the Bari Doab region, invading the suburbs of Batala, Kalanaur, and Lahore as Afghan forces were in disarray.^[3]

With numerous Sikhs conducting nighttime raids and pillaging the city's surrounding districts, witness Tahmas Khan characterized the situation in Lahore as catastrophic. The Afghan administration's weakness was shown when the gates of Lahore were forced to close by 10 p.m. in order to prevent more assaults.

Aftermath

In an effort to reorganize and regain power after the loss at Jalandhar Doab, Jahan Khan proceeded from Lahore. He reunited with his retreating men at Batala and severely punished Murad Khan by ordering his whipping, out of rage at the defeats and the spread of Sikh power. The Afghan control over the area weakened in spite of these campaigns, and the Sikhs established their power throughout Punjab, eventually overthrowing Afghan rule.^[4]

References

↑ Grewal, J. S. (8 Oct 1998). The Sikhs of the Punjab, Volumes 2-3 (illustrated, reprint, revised ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 91. ISBN 9780521637640.
↑ Singh, Ganda (1959). Ahmad Shah Durrani: Father of Modern Afghanistan. Asia Publishing House. p. 198.
↑ Lane-Poole, Stanley (1 Jan 2008). History of India: Mediaeval India from the Mohammedan Conquest to the Reign of Akbar the Great. Cosimo, Inc. p. 230. ISBN 9781605204970.
↑ Gupta, Hari Ram (1999). History of the Sikhs: Evolution of Sikh confederacies, 1708-1769 (3, illustrated ed.). Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. p. 140.

[1] Grewal, J. S. (8 Oct 1998). The Sikhs of the Punjab, Volumes 2-3 (illustrated, reprint, revised ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 91. ISBN 9780521637640.

[2] Singh, Ganda (1959). Ahmad Shah Durrani: Father of Modern Afghanistan. Asia Publishing House. p. 198.

[3] Lane-Poole, Stanley (1 Jan 2008). History of India: Mediaeval India from the Mohammedan Conquest to the Reign of Akbar the Great. Cosimo, Inc. p. 230. ISBN 9781605204970.

[4] Gupta, Hari Ram (1999). History of the Sikhs: Evolution of Sikh confederacies, 1708-1769 (3, illustrated ed.). Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. p. 140.

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