Sikhs & Afghans (1813-37)

The story of Hari Singh Nalwa’s life is an account of Sikh-Afghan relations in the first half of the nineteenth century (Nalwa, 2009: 42). The Sardar interacted with three Pashtun dynastic representatives of the Kingdom of Kabul. The first was Ahmed Shah Abdali’s grandson, Shah Shuja of Saddozai Popalzai; second, Fateh Khan, Dost Mohammed Khan and his sons, of Mohammedzai Barakzai; third, Sultan Mohammed Khan, also Mohammedzai Barakzai, ancestor of Zahir Shah, King of Afghanistan (1933-73).

So successful was Hari Singh Nalwa in relieving the painful memories of torture and misery inflicted upon his compatriots and ancestors by the Afghans that they “considered him the most formidable enemy they had amongst the Sikhs” (NAI/ fsc 29-5-1837: 59).

References
Nalwa, V. 2009. Hari Singh Nalwa ― Champion of the Khalsaji, New Delhi: Manohar.
National Archives of India (New Delhi). Foreign Secret Consultation dated 29 May 1837, number 59.