The Battle of Lahore

The Battle of Lahore began on January 1st, 1748, when ASD and his troops crossed the Sindhu River and moved to the Shalimar Garden in Lahore. Shah Nawaz Khan was anticipating this and was camped outside Lahore. ASD’s forces were much smaller, and he decided that instead of launching a frontal attack, his troops would launch multiple surprises attacks with muskets riding on horses and disperse quickly to regroup and attack again. This was more of a skirmish than a full-scale battle and this went on for a while. The Afghans were battle-scarred veterans and psychologically they were able to inflict pain and confusion among the Moghuls although there were very few causalities. 

Shaw Nawaz Khan (SNK) was a big believer in astrology and after consulting with astrologers, he decided to delay a full-scale attack and instructed his commanders to stay in the trenches and not attack until they were provoked by the Afghans.  On the day of the battle, SNK was eating and enjoying his meal when he suddenly heard an explosion, and realizing that the Afghans were close by, he dispatched his cavalry to attack the Afghans. The Afghans retreated but came back soon with renewed vigor and this SNK sent his chief commander Adina Beg Khan to attack the Afghans. Adina Beg Khan, however, went out and stood as a mute spectator when the Afghans were ravaging through, and he soon retreated.

The Moghul troops saw this and thought that the retreat means a cease-fire and returned to their trenches, when suddenly the Afghans attacked them with renewed vigor and slaughtered them.  SNK tried to gather his forces and lead riding from his elephant, but it was too late. Truce with ASD was not possible as earlier SNK had killed ASD’s Darvesh by pouring molten lead in his throat. Having lost the battle SNK left for Delhi with his personal belongings and servants.

Lahore was leaderless now…