History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c9.65.1

c9.65.1

What was the purpose of the expedition? Barani tells us that it was intended as a preliminary step to the conquest of Khorasan and Transoxiana so that the passage for troops and horses might be rendered easier.²⁹ Barani's knowledge of the geography of the countries with which he had no direct concern was limited like that of many other mediaeval scholars. Being a man of the class of 'Ulama who had never taken part in any campaign, he had no idea of the position of countries outside India. It is not clear why the Sultan should bring under his sway as a preparatory measure for the conquest of Khorasan and Transoxiana the Qarājal mountain, for there is no Qarājal mountain inhabited by the infidels along the route to these countries unless he chose to traverse through inhospitable and highly difficult regions. Further, why should he who was well-acquainted with history, abandon the traditional known route through the passes in the Hindu Kush which had been followed by India's invaders from time immemorial? The Mughals had come through these passes, and it was a fact known to the Sultan. If the Sultan had wished to conquer China or Western Tibet, this statement of Barani might have been intelligible, for the Qarājal is a barrier between these countries and Hindustan.