Battle of Attock (1758)

The Battle of Attock took place on 28 April 1758 between Maratha Empire and the Durrani Empire. The Marathas, under Raghunathrao (Raghoba), delivered a decisive victory and Attock was captured. The battle is seen as a great success for Marathas who hoisted Maratha flag in Attock. Raghunathrao left Punjab after three months appointing Maratha Sardar Narsoji Pandit with 4000 Maratha troops to guard the fort from Afghans. It was conquered by the combined forces of Huzurati Troops and Shinde Army. The Shinde Troops were under the able command of Shreenath Mahadji Shinde, his elder brother Tukajirao and uncle Shambhuji Shinde.[1]

Battle of Attock
Part of Maratha conquest of North-west India
Date28 April 1758
Location
Attock (in modern-day Pakistan)
Result Decisive Maratha victory
Territorial
changes		 Attock captured by Marathas.
Belligerents

Maratha Empire

Durrani Empire
Commanders and leaders
Raghunathrao
Mahadji Shinde		 Karim Shah
Wazirullah Khan

Aftermath

After capturing Attock, Raghunathrao sent a letter to Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao on 4 May 1758 :[2][3]

Lahore, Multan, Kashmir and other subhas on this side of Attock are under our rule for the most part, and places which have not come under our rule we shall soon bring under us. Ahmad Shah Durrani's son Timur Shah Durrani and Jahan Khan have been pursued by our troops, and their troops completely looted. Both of them have now reached Peshawar with a few broken troops... So Ahmad Shah Durrani has returned to Kandahar with some 12-14 thousand broken troops. Thus all have risen against Ahmad who has lost control over the region... we have decided to extend our rule up to Kandahar.

On 8 May 1758, the Marathas defeated Durrani forces in the Battle of Peshawar and captured the city of Peshawar. Marathas had now reached the Afghanistan border. Ahmad Shah Durrani got alarmed with this success of Marathas and started planning to recapture his lost territories.

References
  1. Mehta, J.L. (2005). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. New Dawn Press, Incorporated. p. 237. ISBN 9781932705546. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  2. Roy, K. (2011). War, Culture and Society in Early Modern South Asia, 1740-1849. Taylor & Francis. p. 103. ISBN 9781136790874. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  3. Roy, Kaushik. India's Historic Battles: From Alexander the Great to Kargil. Permanent Black, India. pp. 80–1. ISBN 978-81-7824-109-8.

Other sources

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