The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c13.50

v4.c13.50

His reception, though splendid, was in fact more designed to exhibit the magnificence of his host than to do honour to an emperor of India, and when he joined the Shāh's camp he was subjected to many insults and hardly veiled threats of violence if he did not change his religious practices.¹ These were borne with quiet patience and at last in 1545 Shāh Tahmāsp offered him a force with which to contend against Kāmrān, a condition of success being the promise to restore Qandahār to Persia. Passing through Sīstān he laid siege to Qandahār and sent Bairam Khān to Kābul to gain adherents there. After an obstinate resistance for several months 'Askarī surrendered Qandahār. He and his amīrs came out with swords hanging round their necks to show their complete submission. Humāyūn forgave his brother as usual, but at the feast to celebrate the capture of the town he had 'Askarī's letters to the Baloches placed in front of him. Qandahār was reluctantly made over to the Persians and designs begun for an attack on Kābul. The Persian allies, however, having attained their object, declined to advance and the cold of winter and the smallness of his force prevented Humāyūn from moving, though Kāmrān had been deserted by many adherents. Pressed by his necessity he overcame his reluctance to break his promises to the Shāh, and when the Persian prince died who had accompanied him in command of his allies, he reoccupied Qandahār and was at last able to set out for Kābul. During the absence of Kāmrān in the Hazāra country Yādgār and Hindāl escaped from Kābul and joined the emperor. Though he was impeded and faced near the city by Kāmrān he pressed on, gaining more and more deserters, and was able to enter the camp of Kāmrān, who fled into Kābul and then escaped towards Ghaznī and finally into Sind, so that Humāyūn was able to enter the city and again meet his son Akbar (November, 1544).