Battle of Sutlej
Part of Indian Campaign of Ahmad Shah Durrani
Date March 1765 Location Panjab Result indecisive
Belligerents
Sikh Misls	Durrani Empire
Commanders and leaders
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Charat Singh Hari Singh Bhangi Jhanda Singh Bhangi	Ahmed Shah Abdali Sardar Jahan Khan Nasir Khan
Strength
30.000	12,000 on the right, 12,000 on the left, and 6,000 with Ahmad Shah in the center.
Casualties and losses
heavy	heavy

The Battle of Sutlej took place in March 1765 between the Sikh Misls and the Durrani Empire.^[1][2][3]

Ala Singh came to submit to Ahmad Shah Durrani when the Shah’s army reached Sirhind. Shocked by the desolation of what was once a flourishing town, the Shah received Ala Singh, who presented himself with valuable gifts. When Ahmad Shah asked about the ruins of Sirhind, Ala Singh explained that the Sikhs had repeatedly laid waste to the area, despite his efforts to curb their advances. In response, the Shah offered him the governorship of Sarhind along with an annual subsidy of three and a half lakhs of rupees, and even proposed granting him additional territories west of the Chenab. This appointment was meant both as a reward for Ala Singh’s service and as a strategic move to either bring other Sikh chiefs under his influence or to sow discord among them. Although Alha Singh accepted the title and the rewards, his appointment later led to tensions; after the Abdali retired, the Dal Khalsa attacked him for having submitted to Ahmad Shah. At the same time, the Sikhs, who had long relied on guerrilla warfare against the Mughal governors and Ahmad Shah’s forces, began to show increasing confidence. Over the past two years, their continuous successes emboldened them to engage in organized, pitched battles. They restructured their forces into a conventional formation with a center, right wing, and left wing, as described by Qazi Nur Muhammad. This new approach marked a turning point in the regional power struggle, setting the stage for significant confrontations along the Sutlej and in other parts of Punjab during this period.^[3][1][2]

After spending several days in Sirhind, Ahmad Shah Abdali began his return journey and crossed the Sutlej, probably at Machhiwara, Almost immediately after crossing the river, when his forces had barely moved away from the bank, Sikh warriors attacked his advance guard. The Afghans quickly readied themselves for battle. Ahmad Shah took command from the center, while on the right flank, commanders like Shah Vali Khan, Sardar Jahan Khan, Shah Pasand Khan, and Anzala Khan led 12,000 troops. On the left, Nasir Khan was in charge of another 12,000 Baluchis. The Sikhs, too, had arranged themselves in an orderly battle line: in their center, Jassa Singh Kalal stood firmly like a mountain, with Jassa Singh Thokah beside him; other Sikh chiefs took their places in the middle, while Charat Singh led the right wing with Jhanda Singh Dhillon, Lehna Singh Bhangi, and Jai Singh Kanhaiya, and Hari Singh Bhangi, Ram Das, Gulab Singh, and Gujjar Singh formed the left wing.^[3][1][2]

Ahmad Shah issued strict orders for his commanders not to advance from their positions. As the battle raged, the Sikhs overpowered the Afghan right flank. Noticing this weakness, Ahmad Shah summoned Nasir Khan and explained that many of his warriors had pursued the Sikhs too far, leaving the right wing empty. He instructed Nasir Khan to press on that side without overextending, warning that the enemy would eventually come to him. When Nasir Khan reached the right, he was fiercely attacked by Charat Singh. Although Nasir Khan’s men held their ground, the Sikhs, having failed to break the line, feigned a retreat. Nasir Khan, deceived by this tactic, pursued the fleeing Sikhs. However, once he was isolated from the main body, the Sikhs abruptly halted, turned around, and attacked him like a bird of prey. Forced to dismount and fight desperately, the Afghans struggled for hours before managing to rejoin their main force, only to face another sudden assault by a fresh detachment of Sikh warriors. The fighting continued with intense, shifting moments until both sides retired for the night.^[3][1][2]

The following morning, as the Afghans marched at sunrise, they had advanced only a short distance when the Sikhs appeared again. This time, the Sikh forces attacked from three sides—front, right, and left—and even reversed their formation from the previous day, switching their left and right wings. Their numbers were larger, adding to the pressure on the Afghans. Ahmad Shah promptly halted his troops and reorganized them in the same defensive formation. Just as the Afghans prepared to launch a counterattack, the Sikhs suddenly fled, only to reappear later behind the Afghan lines. Frustrated by this maneuver, Ahmad Shah ordered his soldiers not to break ranks, insisting they wait for the enemy to come to them before striking.^[3][1][2]

On the third day, with the sunrise, the Afghan army mounted their horses and advanced further. Soon, the Sikhs reappeared, launching an attack in the same unpredictable manner as before. They charged in with the force of a lion, then quickly withdrew like a fox, only to reengage with the same deceptive tactics. According to Qazi Nur Muhammad’s account, these Sikh fighters repeatedly appeared, fought for a short time, and then disappeared, never engaging in a prolonged, direct battle. He harshly criticized them, claiming they showed no shame or modesty in avoiding open combat, and accused them of lacking true faith. This pattern of hit-and-run attacks continued for several days, with the Sikhs persistently harassing the Afghan forces.^[3][1][2]

On the fourth day, a significant skirmish took place near Kapurthala, where the Afghan forces suffered heavy losses not only in manpower but also in their animals. This encounter further weakened the Durrani forces, adding to the cumulative strain caused by the relentless Sikh attacks.^[3][1]

On the seventh day, as the Afghans continued their march, they reached the ghat of the Beas. Ahmad Shah ordered that all non-combatants—camels laden with gold or wood, shopkeepers, craftsmen, merchants, traders, householders, women, children, and even bullocks and donkeys—be transported across first. Only after everyone had safely crossed did he move to the riverbank. At that moment, he was informed that approximately 30,000 Sikh warriors were waiting on the opposite bank, fully armed and ready for battle. As was customary, Ahmad Shah instructed each captain to take up his position with his armed retainers. The Sikh fighters then created a tumult on all sides and engaged in fierce combat. At one point, an Afghan Khan charged into the thick of the Sikh ranks, forcing the enemy to retreat and scatter, their pride insulted by the dust thrown upon them. The Afghans pursued the fleeing Sikhs, slaying many along the way. Once the Sikh force had finally withdrawn and was no longer visible, they reappeared briefly at the water’s edge before the entire Afghan camp managed to cross the river safely. The Shah then crossed himself, and the Baluchis followed group by group. He declared this final encounter the last battle of the Sikhs, stating that their cunning and tricks had brought them only disappointment. He boasted that, as the “Faith-protecting king,” he marched forth in grandeur and victory, ultimately continuing his journey by crossing the Ravi and the Chenab with ease.^[3][1][2]

At the end of March 1765, after leaving India, Ahmad Shah Abdali began his return journey. His retreat took a heavy toll when he crossed the Chenab, losing many men in the process. He then set up camp on the far side of the river and sent Jahan Khan ahead to build a temporary boat bridge over the Jehlum. From that point on, the Shah advanced cautiously, covering roughly ten kilometers a day so his troops could rest. Within two days, his army safely crossed the Jehlum via the boat bridge and made camp at Rohtas Fort.^[3][1][2]

While stationed at Rohtas, Ahmad Shah showed his gratitude to Nasir Khan for his support by granting him the territory of Quetta along with other rewards. The Shah also offered Nasir Khan additional lands—Derahs, Multan, and Jhang—which included all the regions west of the Chenab. However, Nasir Khan and his counselors respectfully declined these extra gifts, most likely due to concerns over the Sikhs. After these events, the Durrani army continued on to Kabul through Attock and Peshawar, while Nasir Khan crossed the Indus River using a boat bridge set up by Ismail Khan near Dera Ismail Khan, then proceeded through Dera Ghazi Khan until he reached Qalat.^[3][1][2]