The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c9.140

c9.140

Thus secure under Mongol tutelage, Kashlu remembered his old enmity to Balban and planned revenge. Early in 655/1257 he marched his troops along the Beas to the Himalayan foothills in order to effect a junction with Qutlugh Khan, his old friend and ally whom Balban had failed to trace in the Sirmur hills. They met and their joint army marched towards Delhi⁵. The threat was serious and required great resourcefulness to meet it. Balban equipped a powerful force and moved out to meet them near Samana. As the two forces prepared for engagement a party of Delhi ecclesiastics sent a secret invitation to Kashlu Khan promising to deliver the city. The news somehow leaked out and reached Balban who immediately instructed the Sultan at Delhi to banish all the conspirators. Unaware of this turn of events and expecting an easy entrance, Kashlu avoided a frontal battle and eluding Balban's forces managed to reach Delhi. There he learnt that his partisans had been expelled and that the citizens were determined to put up a strong defence. It is not known what happened to Qutlugh, for he is not mentioned again, but Kashlu Khan is stated to have given up the project and retired to Uch¹. Shortly afterwards he paid a visit to Hulaku in Iraq², the object being probably to induce him to lend armed assistance for the occupation of Delhi. In any case, a Mongol army under Sali Bahadur came towards the end of 655/1259 to take up quarters in Sind³. The Mongols however, did not invade Delhi territory; the preparations set on foot by Balban early in 656 culminated only in a military parade outside the city.