Immediate Cause of Rebellion. Offensive and Support. Retreat and Further Conflict. Resolution and Aftermath. Role of Nur JahanEarly Life and Marriage. Family Influence and Political Rise. Role in Governance and Administration. Cultural Contributions and Legacy. Relationship with Jahangir and Shah JahanPolitical and Administrative Developments. Jahangir's Reign and Challenges. Nur Jahan's Influence and Succession Issues.
Aurangzeb came into conflict with the Afghans, a situation not new to the Mughals. Akbar and Shah Jahan had also faced conflicts with the hardy Afghan tribesmen.
These conflicts were partly economic and partly political and religious. The Afghans, with limited means of livelihood in the rugged mountains, often preyed on caravans or enrolled in the Mughal armies.
The Mughals generally kept them content by paying subsidies, but population growth or an ambitious leader could lead to breaches of this agreement.
In 1667, Bhagu, the leader of the Yusufazai tribe, proclaimed Muhammad Shah as king and himself as wazir.
The movement spread, and Bhagu's followers started ravaging and plundering the Hazara, Attock, and Peshawar districts, bringing traffic in the Khyber to a standstill.
Aurangzeb deputed the chief bakhshi, Amir Khan, along with a Rajput contingent, to clear the Khyber and crush the uprising. After a series of battles, the Afghan resistance was broken.
In 1672, the Afridi leader Akmal Khan proclaimed himself king and declared war against the Mughals, closing the Khyber Pass.
Amir Khan advanced to clear the Pass but suffered a disastrous defeat in the narrow defile, losing 10,000 men and goods worth two crores to the Afghans.
This defeat brought other tribesmen, including Khushhal Khan Khattak, into the fray.
In 1674, Mughal noble Shujaat Khan suffered a rout in the Khyber but was rescued by Rathors sent by Jaswant Singh.
Aurangzeb went to Peshawar in 1674 and remained in the neighborhood till the end of 1675, using force and diplomacy to break the Afghan united front and restore peace.
The Afghan uprising showed that resistance to Mughal rule and the urge for regional freedom were not confined to Hindus, such as Jats and Marathas.
The Afghan uprising helped to relax Mughal pressure on Shivaji, making it difficult for the Mughals to pursue a forward policy in the Deccan till 1676.
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