Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c10.s5.3

v1.c10.s5.3

The situation which resulted at Lāhor from Hayātullah’s usurpation of its government put the imperial Court into the greatest perplexity. The usurper held the lawful deputy governor Yahiyā Khān in his hands, and the despatch of a force from the capital to oust him might drive him to kill his captive, who was also a son-in-law of the wazir. Therefore, by the wazir’s advice the Emperor had temporised with Hayātullah, sent him smooth messages, and even held protracted parleys with the envoy sent by the rebel to Delhi to negotiate for the grant of the subahdāri to him. The situation was made more critical by Abdālī’s conquest of Qandahār and Kābul, which naturally raised the fear that if he invaded India the least sign of disfavour at the Delhi Court would drive Hayātullah into the arms of the invader. Therefore, the Delhi Government, instead of boldly facing the danger and crushing the rebel at Lāhor by a prompt and vigorous attack, found wisdom in doing nothing but talking indecisively and letting matters drift.