The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c15.82

v4.c15.82

The “foster-father cohort” was importunate for vengeance on those who had been concerned in the murder of Atga Khān, but Akbar, who had pardoned and reinstated two and could not lay his hand on the third of the conspirators, did not meet their demand and found it necessary to divert their attention by active employment. A plausible pretext for interfering in the affairs of the Gakkhars offered him an opportunity. Sultān Sārang, who had been confirmed by Bābur as chief of the Gakkhars, had been put to death by Islām Khān Sūr and his son Kamāl Khān was in Akbar’s service. The leadership of the tribe had been seized by Kamāl Khān’s uncle, Sultān Ādam, and Kamāl, who had rendered distinguished services against the Afghāns at Jaunpur, begged Akbar to restore him to at least half of his inheritance. Akbar accordingly called upon Sultān Ādam to surrender to his nephew half of the tribal territory and, on his refusing to comply, fitted out an expedition the command of which he gave to Khān Kalān and Qutb-ud-dīn Khān, two of Atga Khān’s three brothers. The expedition was successful. Sultān Ādam and his son Lashkarī were captured and Kamāl Khān was placed in possession of the Gakkhar country, which lay between the Indus and the frontier of Kashmīr. He put his uncle to death and threw his cousin into prison, where he shortly afterwards died.