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Revision as of 00:10, 14 June 2007 by Hongooi (talk | contribs) (Disambiguate Punjab to Punjab region using popups)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)| Battle of Jamrud | |||||||||
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| Part of Afghan-Sikh wars | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Sikh Empire | Afghanistan | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Hari Singh Nalwa | Akbar Khan & Abdul Samad Khan | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 1000 in the fort, with 2000-3000. | 8,000, with approx 15,000 irregulars | ||||||||
Introduction
The Battle of Jamrud, was fought between the Sikhs under Ranjit Singh and the Afghan Emir Dost Muhammad Khan. The Afghans had been facing a succession of defeats at the hands of the Sikhs over the years precdeding, and had seen their once mighty Empire shrink with the loss of Punjab, Kashmir, Multan and more painfully what now constitutes the North West Frontier Province. The last loss was the most personal as the inhabitants of the region were fellow Pashtuns and the town of Peshawar was the summer capital of the Afghan Emirs.
Background
In 1837, the Sikh Army at Peshawar army was back at Lahore for the wedding of Kanwar Nau-nihal Singh, the son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It is alleged that inside information on the goings on in Lahore were sent to Kabul by the Dogras which encouraged the Afghans to attack and reclaim the land of their fellow tribesmen. Such a message was very encouraging to the Afghans and the Emir of Afghanistan Dost Muhammad Khan who immediately rushed his army under his son to drive the Sikhs out of Peshawar.
The Battle
Sardar Hari Singh Nalua had earlier build a fort on the entrance of Khyber pass called fort of Jamrud, this fort was being commanded by Sardar Mahan Singh Mirpura. For want of timely help the Sardar was of course killed, but the Afghans could not dislodge the Punjabi troops from the fort of Jamrud.
Fallout
The Afghan victory was pyrrhic, but important as it marked the end of any Sikh plans to invade Afghanistan and marked the westernmost limit of Sikh influence. The loss of Hari Singh Nalwa proved a major blow to the Sikh Army and the subsequent passing away of Ranjit Singh plunged the Kingdom into dynastic conflict.
References
- The Pathans. Olaf Caroe
- Hari Singh Nalua