Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c12.89

c12.89

Over and above this, foreign invasions also followed in quick succession. Nadir Shah invaded the country in 1739. Besides the loss of life in the Punjab and decimation of the Mughal army, in Delhi itself he massacred not less than 30,000 people.⁶⁶ Ahmad Shah Abdali followed in the footsteps of Nadir Shah and led a number of campaigns in each of which there was great loss of life. In his first invasion (1748), all men bearing arms in Sarhind were put to the sword. His killings in the Punjab, massacres at Mathura (1757), and mass deportations were followed by famine and pestilence.⁶⁷ The battle of Panipat (1761) was preceded by famine and followed by pestilence. In the battle itself 100,000 men were killed and, according to *Siyar-ul-Mutakhirin*, no less than 20,000 persons were carried away as captives to Afghanistan.⁶⁸