Battle of Chenab (1764)
Battle of Chenab (1764) - Short Version
In early 1764, Ahmad Shah Durrani and the Durrani Empire tried to reassert control over Punjab. The Sikhs, organized into several Misls, were led by Charat Singh Sukerchakia, Hari Singh Bhangi, and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia. They gathered a large army, reported to be about 100,000 horsemen, while Durrani’s force numbered around 40,000.
The battle took place near the Chenab River in present-day Pakistan. The Sikhs waited for Ahmad Shah to cross the river before striking. When his vanguard and main force began crossing, the Sikhs attacked along the riverbanks. The fighting was fierce and costly, with many soldiers killed or drowned as they tried to cross.
The Afghan army collapsed and retreated in confusion. Ahmad Shah’s camp was sacked, and he narrowly escaped with some followers. After the victory, the Sikhs entered Lahore and imposed heavy taxes on the city’s inhabitants, marking a major shift in power in central Punjab.
Background and aftermath: Earlier in the 1760s, Sikh Misls had grown strong and challenged Afghan control, even capturing Sirhind in January 1764. The 1762 Vadda Ghalughara had weakened Durrani authority, but he launched another expedition in 1764–65, reaching as far as Sirhind before Sikh resistance checked him. In the end, the Sikhs secured control over most of Punjab, with Lahore under their rule and the Durrani influence greatly diminished.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 12:18 (CET).