When the Emperor reached Atak, he sent Bhagwán Dás, Sháh Kulí Mahram, and other well-known amírs, with about 5000 horse, to effect the conquest of Kashmír. On the same day Isma'íl Kulí Khán and Ráí Singh were sent against the Bilúchís. Next day Zain Khán Koka was sent with a force against the Afgháns of Swád (Swát) and Bajaur, to reduce that turbulent people to order. The Emperor encamped at Atak on the 15th Muharram, 994.
In former times* a Hindústání soldier had come among the Afgháns, and set up an heretical sect.* He induced many foolish people to become his disciples, and he gave himself the title of Pír Roshanáí.* He was dead, but his son Jalála, a youth of about fourteen, came, in the year 989 H., to wait upon the Emperor, as he was returning from Kábul. He was kindly received; but after a few days his evil disposition induced him to take flight, and go off to the Afgháns. There he raised disturbances; and gathering a good number of men around him, he shut up the roads between Hindústán and Kábul. In order to repress this base sect of Roshanáís, whose baseness will be hereafter described, His Majesty placed Kunwar Mán Singh in command, and gave him Kábul in jágír.
When intelligence arrived of Zain Khán Koka having entered the country of Swát, and of his having encountered this sect of Afgháns, who were as numerous as auts and locusts, on the 2nd Safar, 994 H., Saiyid Khán Gakhar, Rájá Bírbal, and * * * were sent with forces to support him. A few days later Hakím Abú-l Fath was sent after them with additional forces. After these reinforcements had joined, Zain Khán began to plunder and ravage the Afgháns, and great spoil fell into his hands. When they reached the pass of Karágar, a person observed to Rájá Bírbal that the Afgháns meditated a night attack on that night, that the extent of the mountain and of the pass was only three or four kos, and that if they got through the pass, they would be safe from the attack designed. Rájá Bírbal,* without making any communication to Zain Khán, pushed on to get through the pass, and all his army followed. At close of day, when the sun was about to set, they reached a defile, the heights of which on every side were covered with Afgháns. Arrows and stones were showered down upon the troops in the narrow pass, and in the darkness and in the narrow defile men lost their path, and perished in recesses of the mountain. A terrible defeat and slaughter followed. Nearly eight thousand men were killed, and Rájá Bírbal, who fled for his life, was slain.* Rájá Dharm Singh, Khwája 'Arab, bakhshí of the army, and * * * were all killed. On the 5th Rabí'u-l awwal Zain Khán Koka and Hakím Abú-l Fath were defeated, and reached the fort of Atak with difficulty.
This defeat greatly troubled the Emperor. He dismissed these commanders, and sent Rájá Todar Mal with a large army to repair the disaster. The Rájá entered the mountain region with great caution. Here and there he built forts, and harried and plundered continually, so that he reduced the Afgháns to great straits. Rájá Mán Singh, who had marched against these sectaries, fought a hard battle with them in the Khaibar Pass, in which many of them were slain and made prisoners. The Rájá obtained a great victory.
News now arrived that Mír Kuraish was coming to Court as an ambassador from 'Abdu-lla Khán Uzbek, King of Máwaráu-n nahr, bringing presents, Nazar Be,* who was one of the great nobles of 'Abdu-lla Khán, being offended with the Khán, was also coming with his three sons, Kabz Be, Shádí Be, and Bákí Be, all of whom had attained the rank of nobles. The Emperor sent Shaikh Faríd Bakhshí and Ahmad Beg Kábulí, with a party of ahadís, to meet the caravan and bring it through the Khaibar Pass. This armed party, with the help of Kunwar Mán Singh, brought the caravan through the pass, having beaten the black sectaries who attempted to block the road, and killed many of them.
On the 11th Rabí'u-l ákhir, 995 (11th March, 1587 A.D.), when the sun passed from Pisces to Aries, the Nauroz-i Sultání was celebrated at the fort of Atak, and Kunwar Mán Singh came to the feast.
When Mirzá Sháh Rukh, Rájá Bhagwán Dás, and Sháh Kulí Khán Mahram reached the pass of Bhúliyás,* on the confines of Kashmír, Yúsuf Khán, the ruler of that country, came up and blockaded the pass. The Imperial forces remained for some days inactive, snow and rain came on, and the supplies of corn were cut off. Moreover, the news of the defeat of Zain Khán arrived, and the army was in great difficulty. The amírs resolved to make peace. They settled a tribute to be paid by saffron, shawls, and by the mint to the royal treasury, and they appointed collectors. * Yúsuf was delighted with these terms, and came to visit the amírs, and they brought him along with them to see the Emperor. When they came to Court, the Emperor disapproved of the peace, and the amírs were forbidden his presence; but after some days they were allowed to make their obeisances.
About this time the ambassador of 'Abdu-lla Khán with Nazar Be and his sons arrived, and had an interview. Isma'íl Kulí Khán and Ráí Singh also arrived, bringing with them the chief men and leaders of the Bilúchís. A sum of four lacs of tankas, equal to five hundred túmáns of 'Irák, was presented as a gift to Nazar Be and his sons. After the feast of the Nauroz was over, Kunwar Mán Singh was ordered to go to the support of Rájá Todar Mal, who had been sent against the Yúsufzáí Afgháns and others. When the Emperor had settled the course to be pursued with the Afgháns, and the affairs of Atak and Kábul, he resolved to return to Lahore, and started on the 24th Rabí'u-s sání. Hunting and amusing himself as he went, he arrived at Lahore on the 18th Jumáda-s sání.*
When Kunwar Mán Singh was appointed to the government of Kábul, Isma'íl Kulí Khán was sent from the river Behut (Beyah) in command of a strong force against the Yúsufzáí and other Afgháns. An Imperial order was issued to Kunwar Mán Singh, that when Isma'íl Kulí arrived, the Kunwar was to go on to Kábul. Saiyid Bukhárí also was appointed to support Isma'íl Kulí, and was directed to occupy Pesháwar.
Mír 'Arab Bahádur, who had fled for refuge into the hills of Kamáún, and had troubled the inhabitants of the country at the foot of the hills, was killed by the servants of Mír Abú-l Fath in the pargana of Sherkot.
On the 13th Rajab the ceremony of weighing the Emperor was performed, and a splendid festival was held; and on the 19th Prince Salím was married to the daughter of Ráí Singh, one of the great nobles. The Rájá sent fine presents with his daughter, and felt highly honoured by the alliance.
Muhammad Kásim Khán Mír-bahr and * * was sent with a large force to effect the conquest of Kashmír. After seven marches they entered the defiles of the mountains. When they reached the pass of Kartal, Ya'kúb, the son of Yúsuf Khán,* considering himself ruler of Kashmír, came with a considerable force to oppose them. He closed the pass, and there took his post. But fortune fought for the Imperial army, and the stone of dissension was cast among the Kashmírís. The chiefs of Kashmír were distressed with the rule of Ya'kúb, and several deserted from him and joined Kásim Khán. Another party raised the standard of rebellion in Srínagar, which is the capital of the country. Ya'kúb, deeming it of primary importance to crush the internal rebellion, returned to Kashmír. The Imperial army then entered Kashmír without opposition, and Ya'kúb, unable to make any resistance, fled to the mountains. Srínagar was occupied, and revenue collectors were appointed to all the parganas.
The Emperor, on being informed of the conquest, sent letters of thanks to Kásim Khán and the other amírs, and bestowed honours and promotions upon all of them. Ya'kúb raised a force, and fought with Kásim Khán, but was defeated. Another time he tried a night surprise, but was unsuccessful. The royal forces pursued him into hills full of trees and defiles, beating him and driving him before them. He was very nearly captured. At last, in wretched plight and in humble mood, he waited upon Kásin. Khán, and enrolled himself among the subjects of the Imperial throne.* The country of Kashmír was thus cleared.