Mughal–Safavid War (1637–1638)

Mughal–Persian war (1637–1638) is a conflict which took place in 1638, A conflict between Safavid Empire of Persia and Mughal Empire of Hindustan which took place over a city in present day Afghanistan named Kandahar^[3] The war resulted in a decisive victory for the Mughals when Ali mardan Khan surrendered the keys of Kandahar to the Mughals.^[4]

Siege of Kandahar
Part of Mughal–Persian Wars
The Surrender of Kandahar, a miniature painting from the Padshahnama depicting Persians surrendering keys to the city to Kilij Khan in 1638
Date 1637–1638 Location Kandahar Result Mughal victory[1][2] Territorial changes Kandahar falls back to Mughal India.
Belligerents
Safavid Iran	Mughal India
Commanders and leaders
Safi of Persia Ali Mardan Khan	Shah Jahan Dara Shikoh

Background

Main article: Mughal–Safavid war (1622–1623)

Mughals had previously lost the city of Kandahar to the Safavids. It was considered vital for the Mughal Empire that the twin gateway-cities to Hindustan, i.e. Kabul and Kandahar, be brought under Mughal rule. Central Asian trade provided the Mughals with warhorses, without which not only the military forces would be incapacitated, but could also potentially spark tribal revolts and foreign invasions.^[5] Kandahar in particular was at the crossroads of a number of major commercial trade routes in Central Asia. The two cities were thus the subject of deep strategic concern.^[6]

War

In 1639, the armies of Shah Safi of Persia captured Bamyan and it appeared that they would attack Kandahar next. In 1646, Shah Jahan, assisted by Kamran Khanand Malik Maghdood, had marched on Kandahar and negotiated the surrender from the Persian commander, Ali Mardan Khan. He expected the Persians to attempt to regain the city soon and so he ordered that the wall be repaired rapidly while a large Mughal army based in Kabul protected the area. In 1646, when no Persian attack came, the Emperor sent his son, Murad Baksh, to invade Uzbek-controlled Badakhshan. In the following year, Aurangzeb, another son, routed an Uzbek force outside of Balkh and captured the city, Kandahar was captured by the Mughals in 1638 too.^[7]

Surrender of Ali Mardan

Ali Mardan khan, Soon surrendered the city of Kandahar to the Mughal garrison,^[8][9] This resulted in the Reconquest of Kandahar by the Mughals.^[10][11][12] The defection of Ali mardan khan enabled the Mughals to regain control of Kandahar which remained under their authority till the next Safavid siege.^{[citation needed]}