Mir Nasir Khan I
Nir Nasir Khan I was the Khan of Kalat between 1747 and 1794. Considered greatest of the Khans of Kalat, his reign was marked by maximum expansion of the state as well as political consolidation of the Khanate of Kalat.[1]
Early life[edit]
Mir Nasir Khan was the son of Mir Abdullah Khan, Khan of Kalat between 1714 and 1734, and his chief consort Bibi Maryam. Mir Abdullah had greatly expanded the borders of the Khanate, and conquered the region of Balochistan from Bandar Abbas to Karachi. His conflicts with the Kalhoras of Sindh ultimately led to war with them and his subsequent death in Kacchi in 1734. During Nader Shah's invasion of India, Nasir Khan's brother, Mir Mohabbat Khan, was the Khan of Kalat. Nader Shah confirmed him in his position. In the following events, Mir Nasir Khan was sent as hostage of Afsharids to Isfahan where he remained till 1748.[2]
Reign[edit]
Nasir Khan started his reign in 1748 when Ahmed Shah Abdali replaced him with Haji Khan, the previous Khan of Kalat. Nasir Khan I had undertook 25 military campaigns during his long reign. He had accompanied Ahmad Shah in his campaign in Khurasan as well as third battle of Panipat. His wars against the Talpur dynasty of Sindh led to their acceptance of his overlordship. He also led campaigns against the Sikhs in Punjab as well as Ali Mardan Khan of Tun and Tabas in eastern Iran.[2]
Proclamation of Independence[edit]
He had accompanied Ahmed Shah in his campaigns in India. However, when Marathas ousted the Afghans in 1758, he declared independence, prompting Afghan invasion. Succeeding treaty of Kalat recognized internal independent status of Kalat, although Nasir Khan still acknowledged overlordship of Ahmed Shah Abdali.[3]
Foreign relations[edit]
Nasir Khan I exchanged embassies with the Ottoman Caliphate, Durrani Empire, Afsharid Iran as well as Sultanate of Oman.[4] He had given refuge to the Omani prince, Sayyed Solṭān bin Aḥmad in 1784. Although Nasir Khan initially promised him to help in re-instating him over Oman, he in the end only gave him the port of Gwadar. Soltan ibn Ahmad ultimately became Sultan of Oman in 1792, and Gwadar became part of Sultanate of Oman. It remained so until 1958, when it was purchased by the Government of Pakistan.[2] He received the titles of Ghazi-e-Din by the Ottoman Caliphs as well as Begler Begi from the Durrani rulers. He also received the representatives (wakil) from the Talpur Sindh as a vassal province.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ "Baluchistan". Encyclopedia Iranica.
- ^ a b c "Baluchistan". Encyclopedia Iranica.
- ^ Hasan Dani, Ahmad (2003). History of Civilizations of Central Asia: Development in contrast : from the sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth century. UNESCO. p. 289. ISBN 9789231038761.
- ^ a b Breseeg, Taj Mohammad (2004). Baloch Nationalism: Its Origin and Development. Royal Book Company. p. 121. ISBN 978-969-407-309-5.