Dogra invasion of Baltistan
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changes Baltistan comes under Dogra rule
| Dogra invasion of Baltistan | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Dogra conquests | |||||||||
 King Ahmad Shah of Skardu surrenders to Zorawar Singh, from a 1850 painting scroll | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Maqpon dynasty | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Zorawar Singh Mehta Basti Ram Mian Nidhan Singh † Wazir Lakhpat Rai |
Raja Ahmed Shah  Prince Muhammad Ali (POW) Wazir Ghulam Hussain † Wazir Sultan Beg † | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
| Fateh Shibji Battalion | Unknown | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 15,000 | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 4,850 dead | Unknown | ||||||||
The Dogra invasion of Baltistan was a military campaign led by Zorawar Singh Kalhuria, the Dogra Rajput commander of Gulab Singh of Jammu, against the Maqpon king Ahmad Shah in 1839/40. It resulted in the surrender of Ahmad Shah and annexation of Baltistan into the Dogra kingdom.[1][2][3][4]
In early 1835, Raja Ahmad Shah of Skardu disinherited his elder son Muhammed Shah and declared his younger son Muhammed Ali as the next ruler of Skardu after his death. Dissatisfied with the decision of his father Muhammad Shah arrived at the Dogra camp at Suru, during Zorawar Singh's Ladakh campaign and sought his help against Ahmad Shah. Muhammed Shah was provided refuge and was placed under the protection of maharaja Gulab Singh.[5][3][6]
Invasion
In the year 1840, Zorawar Singh gathered an army of 15,000 for his Baltistan campaign. Ahmed Shah was joined by Baltis and discontented Ladakhis, and destroyed the bridge over Indus River that connected Baltistan to the Dogra territory. Zorawar Singh moved downwards the riverbank for 25 days capturing Khatakchau and Khapolor. Mian Nidhan Singh was dispatched into Baltistan with 5,000 men to collect resources by raiding towns. Nidhan Singh and his men were surrounded by thousands of Baltis and Ladakhis when they advanced 15 miles into the Balti territory. Mian Nidhan Singh was killed and only 400 soldiers returned back to the camp.[7][8][9]
Zorawar Singh fell into doubt regarding whether to retreat or continue his invasion and remained at the bank of Indus as he could not cross Indus with such a large army. One night Mehta Basti Ram along with some men cut down trees and built a temporary bridge over icy Indus. While the Dogras were crossing Indus, a group of Baltis under Ghulam Hussian and Wazir Sultan Beg attacked them at Wanko Pass. After a fierce battle Ghulam Hussain was killed and Wazir Sultan Beg retreated with 2000 men dead and 1000 wounded, while Dogras had 250 men killed and 150 wounded. Zorawar Singh awarded Mehta Basti Ram with 500 Rupees and gold bangles. He awarded the soldiers ranging from 40 to 100 rupees based on their contribution.[10][11]
Zorawar Singh chased the retreating Baltis for 9 miles and massacred them along with Sultan Beg at Thano Kun. He encamped at Marwan to reorganize his troops and plan his next move. He advanced to Skardu and laid a siege to the fort of Skardu. He built a fort next to Skardu fort and named it 'Dogra fort' to get shelter in nights. After fifteen days of siege Ahmed Shah surrender the fort to Zorawar Singh.[2][12][7]
_p232_ISKARDO_FORT.jpg)
Next Zorawar Singh sent Wazir Lakhapat Rai to conquer Astore, where he laid a siege on the fort of Astore and prisoned its Raja.[13][14][15]