Siege of Lahore (1761)

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Siege of Lahore
Part of
Afghan–Sikh Wars

Sacking of Lahore by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia
Date27 October 1761
Location
Result Sikh victory[1][2]
Belligerents
Sikh Misls
Durrani Empire
Commanders and leaders
  • Ahmad Shah Durrani
  • Timur Shah Durrani
  • Khwaja Obed, the Governor of Lahore
  • Strength
    Unknown 12,000
    Afghan–Sikh Wars

    The siege of Lahore took place in 1761 when the Sikhs besieged Lahore and captured it after facing no opposition from Durrani forces.

    Background

    After victory in the Third Battle of Panipat, Ahmad Shah Durrani sent General Nuruddin with 12,000 soldiers to chastise Sikhs. Charat Singh Sukerchakia attacked Nuruddin's army at Sialkot. Nuruddin escaped and the Sikhs won a great victory in the 1761 Battle of Sialkot.

    Afghan General Khwaja Obed Khan was also sent to punish Sikhs. Khwaja Obed wanted to attack Charat Singh at

    Jai Singh Kanheya. The Afghan forces were surrounded and Khwaja fled the battlefield. Sikhs once again defeated the Afghans in the 1761 Battle of Gujranwala.[4]

    Siege of Lahore

    The Sikhs gained enough confidence to capture Lahore after back to back victories. They met at Amritsar on 27 October 1761, the day of Diwali, and decided to capture Lahore. The Sikhs besieged Lahore, Khawaja obed did not oppose the Sikh attack, Sikhs entered the Lahore city, plundered the city,[5] captured the Royal mint and struck coins bearing Sikka Zad dar Jahan Bafazat-i-Akal, mulk-i-Ahmad garift Jassa Kalal, which means 'the coin struck by Grace of God in the country of Ahmad captured by Jassa Kalal.'[6]

    References