The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c6.s1.47

c6.s1.47

sought Ghoride assistance against the *Qara-khitais*; all he had achieved was merely to increase the ambition of the opportunist Muizuddin. In compelling the latter to make peace and even enter into an alliance with him, he now used the same enemy whose destruction was his ultimate aim. But neither the Ghorides nor the *Qara-khitais* realised the significance of Alauddin's policy. His ignominious defeat hung heavily on Muizzuddin's mind and the destruction of the infidel power became his immediate objective¹. "Vainly did the Caliph of Baghdad entreat him to finish with the Khwarizm Shah first and even to conclude an alliance with the *Qara-khitais* for the purpose²." Hostilities were commenced with the latter by Muizzuddin's governor of Balkh who captured Tirmiz³. Before he could follow this up by a full scale invasion of their territory in Transoxiana, the rising in the Punjab, however compelled Muizzuddin to make a hasty expedition thither in order to "put the affairs of the treasury and armory in order⁴." On his way back he despatched orders to the ruler of Bamian to prepare for the ensuing campaign and to arrange for the building of a bridge over the Oxus. From Lahore he granted leave to his troops to return to their homes for a short while after which they were to assemble for the campaign which he proposed to carry on for three years⁵.