Afghan–Maratha War

The Afghan–Maratha War was fought between the Afghan Empire under Ahmad Shah Durrani and the Maratha Confederacy and the Sikh Confederacy between 1758 and 1761. It took place in north-west India, primarily the region around Delhi and Punjab.. The war was continued by the Rohilla Afghans and Taimur Shah Durrani till 1790.

Afghan–Maratha War
Part of the Indian campaign of Ahmad Shah Durrani
Third Battle of Panipat, 14 January 1761
Date 28 April 1751–10 September 1790 Location Punjab and region around Delhi Result Maratha victory: Marathas successfully capture northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent, including Punjab and the city of Peshawar, Multan and Attock from the Afghans Afghan Empire retains control over much of contended territories including Peshawar and the Punjab until the Sutlej Mughal emperor exiled and Delhi occupied by Afghan vassal Rohilkhand Maratha Empire loses influence over the imperial government at Delhi Maratha Resurrection and attempts of invasion by Taimur Shah Durrani hatled by Marathas and Sikhs
Belligerents
Afghan Empire Rohilkhand Jaipur Jodhpur Pathan Rebels Amb State Khanate of Kalat Oudh State Mughal Empire	Maratha Empire Sikh Confederacy
Commanders and leaders
Ahmad Shah Durrani Timur Shah Durrani Najib-ud-Daula Zabita Khan Ghulam Qadir Muhammad Bangash Madho Singh I Pratap Singh Vijay Singh Shuja-ud-Daula	Sadashivrao Bhau † Vishwasrao † Ibrahim Khan Gardi † Tukoji Rao Scindia † Shamsher Bahadur † Raghunath Rao Sakharam Bapu Bokil Mahadji Scindia (WIA) Malhar Rao Holkar Dattaji Scindia † Tukoji Rao Holkar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Charat Singh Ala Singh Adina Beg

Background

Pathan War and Marathas

In April 1751, a Bangash incursion into northern India was repelled at Qadirganj. When the Rohilla Pathans advanced to support their Sunni allies, they encountered strong resistance near Farrukhabad from Maratha forces led by Gangadhar Jaswant and Jawahir Singh Jat. The engagement resulted in a decisive defeat for the Rohillas: their commander, Sadulla Khan, retreated from the battlefield, while Bahadur Khan was killed. Reports suggest that around 10,000 Rohilla fighters perished in the battle, forcing the invaders to withdraw across the Ganges on 28 April.

Ahmad Shah Durrani

In 1757, the Afghans invaded Hindustan and captured the Mughal capital of Delhi, forcing the Mughal emperor to cede territories up till the Sutlej to the Afghan Empire. Delhi was placed under the occupation of an Afghan vassal, the Kingdom of Rohilkhand. The Afghan emperor, Ahmad Shah Durrani installed his son Timur Shah Durrani in Multan and returned to Afghanistan.

Battle of Delhi (1757)

The Mughal emperor and the imperial grand vizier alarmed by this foreign occupation, secretly sent for his vassal, the Peshwa. The Maratha Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao sent his brother Raghunath Rao along with Shamsher Bahadur, Ramsingha, Gangadhar Tatya, Sakharam Bapu Bokil, Naroshankar Rajebahadur, Sidhojiraje Gharge-Desai-Deshmukh, Mankojiraje Gharge-Desai-Deshmukh, Maujiram Bania and a large army towards Delhi. They were accompanied by Malhar Rao Holkar of Malwa who had much experience in North India and with its rulers. The Marathas captured Delhi in August 1757. They decisively defeated the Rohillas near Delhi in 1758.