Eastern Afghanistan Operations

When the Uzbek Khan, Muhammad Shaybani besieged Kandahar, Babur found his nascent Kingdom of Kabul in trouble. He felt that Kabul would be the next target of the Uzbeks. So he consulted with his men and decided the only way out was to leave for India. What was to be Babur's second Indian expedition (and is considered by many Muslim historians including Abul Fadl as his second Indian expedition), became an operation of watch and see by keeping himself near Kabul and going around eastern provinces of Afghanistan to subdue rebellious Afghans and plundering towns and villages for supplies for his army's survival.

Skirmishes in Laghman & Nangarhar

In the month of the September, 1507 while marching from Kabul against India, he went by way of Little Kabul on reaching Robat-i-Surkh he passed Kuruk Sai by the hill pass. The Afghans who inhabit between Kabul and Laghman knowing full well that Babur was trying to make his escape, decided to attack him. When Babur marched out from Jagdalak, the Afghans of Khizrkhel, the Shimukhel, the Ghilzai or Khilji and the Khogyani formed the plan of obstructing his march through the Kotal Jagdalak (Lataband Pass?) and drew up on the hill which lies to the north beating their drums brandishing their swords and raising terrific shouts. Babur ordered the troops to ascend the hill and attack the enemy each in the direction nearest to him. His troops advanced and making their way through different valleys and by every approach that they could discover got near them upon which the Afghans after standing an instant took to flight without even shooting an arrow. After driving off the Afghans he reached the top of the ascent. He halted in Nangarhar before the fort of Jalalabad. Here he separated the army into four divisions who were to move about, some up the country and others down till he received intelligence of both the Afghans and the Uzbeks.

Plunders Alishang

He then decided to plunder Alishang where the Kafirs sow great quantities of rice and that probably the troops might there be able to lay in their winter's corn. Leaving Nangarhar therefore and pushing speedily forward we passed Saigal and advanced up to the valley of Birain. Kafirs had posted some men in a breastwork on a commanding eminence in the valley of Birain. the Kafirs descended rapidly from the hill and began to fire with arrows, Having wounded Puran the son in law of Qasim Bayg they were on the point of coming up with him and of making him prisoner when the rest of his party made a push put the enemy to flight and extricated and rescued him. Babur stayed one night in the Kafirs rice fields where he took a great quantity of grain and then returned to the camp.

Expedition in Kunar

At the time Mukim Beg Arghun's daughter Mah Chuchak, was married to Qasim Kokaltash (later wife of Shah Hassan) in the territory of Mendraur. It was at this time that Babur found it inexpedient to proceed in his expedition against India and sent back Mullah Baba Beshagheri with a few troops towards Kabul. Marching through Mendraur he proceeded by Ater Ghar (NE Jalalabad) and Shiweh and continued for some days till he went on by Kunar and Nurgul along the Kunar River and examined the country in a raft.

Turn of Events in Kandahar & Return

News came from Nasir Mirza via Mullah Mirak Ferketi about of the Uzbek siege of Kandahar. Muhammad Shaybani had abandoned the siege even after having taken the walled town of Kandahar but without having taken the citadel. Still, Nasir Mirza had abandoned Kandahar on several accounts and retired to Ghazni. The reason for the Uzbek retreat was that when Muhammad Shaybani came against Kandahar he had sent his Harem to Nirehtu, a fort east of Herat. Some persons having revolted in Nirehtu had taken the fort. Muhammad Shaybani hurriedly patched up a sort of peace and retired.

Relieved, Babur returned to Kabul by way of Badij. He reassigned governments and gave Ghazni to Nasir Mirza to Abdal Razak Mirza he gave the Nangarhar, Mendraur, the valleys of Darrah Nur, Kunar and Nurgul. He himself abandoned the title of Mirza and adopted Padishah or King.

References

• Baburnama - Autobiography of Mughal Emperor Babur
• Tarikh-i-Rashidi - A History of the Moghuls of Central Asia