The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c13.70

c13.70

After many attempts Hasan succeeded, in 643/1245, in wresting Multan¹. Thus, with Uch in the possession of the rebel Kabir Khan, the whole of Sind was lost. A Mongol invasion, early next year, however, unexpectedly enabled Masud's government to recover a partial control of the province. Mangutah, who succeeded Bahadur Tair in the Afghanistan command, crossed the Indus to chase, as the sequel seems to show, Hasan Qarlugh out of Sind. The latter thereupon hastily left Multan and fled down the Panjnad to Sehwan and thence to lower Sind². The Mongols, guided by Jaspal Sihra, the chief of the Salt Range, then directed their attention to Uch which was evacuted by Kabir Khan. The townsmen put up a brave defence and even inflicted sharp reverses on the besiegers but, at the end, they found single-handed resistance difficult to continue and sent an appeal to Delhi for succour. The naib Ulugh Khan (Balban) at once siezed this opportunity and speedily marched at the head of a strong force to their assistance. By a flank movement along the northern bank of the Beas, he threatened to cut off the Mongols' line of retreat through the Upper Sind Sagar Doab³. Sensing this danger, and informed of the great number of the Delhi troops, the latter thereupon raised the siege and withdrew beyond the Indus leaving a large number of captives behind.