The Institutes of Akbar 287: 59. Qa’sim Kha'n, Mir Bahr Chamanardi (?) Khurasan.

287

He is the son of Mirza Dost’s sister, who was an old servant of the Timurides. When Mirza Kamran was, in 954, besieged in Kabul, Humayun had occupied Mount ‘Uqabain, which lies opposite the Fort of Kabul. Whilst the siege was going on, Qasim Khan and his younger brother, Khwajagi Muhammad Husain (No. 241), threw themselves down from a turret between the Ahanin Darwazah and the Qasim Barlas bastion, and went over to Humayun, who received them with distinction.
Soon after Akbar’s accession, Q. Kh. was made a Commander of Three Thousand. He superintended the building of the Fort of Agrah, which he completed “after eight years at a cost of 7 krors of tankahs, or 35 lacs of rupees. The Fort stands on the banks of the Jamnah river, E. of the town of Agrah, on the place of the old Fort, which had much decayed. The breadth of the walls is 30 yards, and the height from the foundation to the pinnacles 60 gaz. It is built of red sandstone, the stones being well joined together and fastened to each other by iron rings which pass through them. The foundation every where reaches water.”
In the 23rd year, Q. was made Commander of Agrah. In the beginning of Sha’ban 995 (32nd year), he was ordered to conquer Kashmir, ‘a country which from its inaccessibility had never tempted the former kings of Dihli.’ Though six or seven roads lead into Kashmir, the passes are all so narrow, that a few old men might repel a large army. The then ruler of Kashmir was Ya’qub Khan, son of Yusuf Khan Chak. He had fortified a pass; but as his rule was disliked, a portion of his men went over to Q., whilst others raised a revolt in Srinagar. Thinking it more important to crush the revolt, Ya’qub left his fortified position, and allowed Q. to enter the country. No longer able to oppose the Imperialists, he withdrew to the mountains, and trusted to an active guerilla warfare; but disappointed even in this hope, he submitted and became ‘a servant of Akbar.’ The Kashmiris, however, are famous for love of mischief and viciousness, and not a day passed without disturbances breaking out in some part of the country. Q. tired of the incessant petty annoyances, resigned his appointment (vide No. 35). In the 34th year he was made Governor of Kabul. At that time a young man from Andajan (Farghanah) gave out that he was a son of Shahrukh. He met with some success in Badakhshan, but was defeated by the Turan » Sháh. The pretender then made friendship with the Zíbulí Hazárahs, and when Q., on one occasion, had repaired to Court, he entered Akbar’s territory, giving out that he was going to pay his respects to the Emperor. But Háshim Beg, Q.’s son, who officiated during the absence of his father, sent a detachment after the pretender, who now threw himself on the Hazárahs. But Háshim Beg followed him, and took him a prisoner to Kábul. Q., on his return from India, let him off, and even allowed him to enter his service. The pretender in the meantime re-engaged his old men, and when he had five hundred together, he waited for an opportunity to fall on Q. At this juncture, Akbar ordered the pretender to repair to Court. Accompanied by his ruffians, he entered at noon Q.’s sleeping apartments, when only a few females were present, and murdered his benefactor (1002). Háshim Beg soon arrived, and fired upon the pretender and his men. In the mêlée, the murderer was killed.
For Qásim’s brother vide No. 241; and for his son, No. 226.