History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c44.s8: §8. Early Mughal failures; Mahabat Khan's slackness.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c44.s8
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§8. Early Mughal failures; Mahabat Khan's slackness.
v3.c44.s8.1
The Emperor, immediately on hearing of the disaster, ordered Fidai Khan the governor of Lahor to hasten to Peshawar (18th May) to guard against any Afghan incursion. Muhammad Amin Khan was degraded and sent off to Gujrat as *subahdar*. Mahabat Khan, who had governed Afghanistan thrice before, and achieved success in dealing with this people, was recalled from the Deccan and sent to Kabul as viceroy for the fourth time. Much was hoped from his proved ability and local knowledge. But the new governor shrank from risking the fate of his predecessor.. He avoided any energetic action against the exultant Afghans, and made a secret arrangement with them, each side promising not to molest the other. In this way he dawdled away months at Peshawar, first urging the smallness of his force and then the approach of winter as a plea for his inaction. Next spring, a sergeant at the mace was sent from the Court to drive him on to Kabul, and at last he went there by the Karapa Pass after bribing the Afghans on the way not to oppose him. But the Khaibar route remained closed as before. The Emperor was highly displeased at Mahabat's conduct* and sent Shujaet Khan in independent command of a large force with abundant war-material and artillery, to punish the Afghans (14th November, 1673). Jaswant Singh was to co-operate with him.
v3.c44.s8.2
∗ Khush-hal Khan was a Mughal mansabdar, as his father Shahbaz had been (Akhbarat, year 10, sh. 9). On 30 March, 1667 the Emperor, who had at first appointed Acmal Afridi to accompany M. Amin Khan to Peshawar, detained him and then sent him to fight in the Deccan, by way of precaution. (Ibid. 10/4.)
v3.c44.s8.3
∗ *M.A.* 121, 129, Ishwardas, 65b-67a. Mahabat's letter to Aurangzib (I. O. L. MS. 2678, pp. 122-126 of the copy made for me). *Storia*, ii. 202, 205. *Life of Mahabat Kh.* in *M. U.* iii. 590-594, 384.