Thread by @meemainseen

en route to #Askalanda
debugging Arab invasion of #Sind
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Chachnama identifies Askalanda and Pabiya as provinces of the Kingdom of Alor
The former refers to Uch as we discussed in a previous thread
For once Pabiya carried the name Chachpur and that takes us to 7th century CE

Crowned in 631 CE at Alor (present day Arror), Chach, a Brahman usurper replaced Rai dynasty in Sind
He soon took on a military expedition upstream on Indus and invested Pabiya
As governor of the town escaped to Askalanda, Chach followed in hot pursuit

Now in the fort of Askalanda, a man of interest, when promised the governorship of the forts at Pabiya & Askalanda killed the fugitive governor of the former and sent his head to Chach
Chach would then march upstream towards Multan but that campaign is beyond our scope

82 years later an Arab Muhammad bin Qasim having conquered lower Sind would follow the same route taken by Chach
He would invest Pabiya to give battle to one Kaksas, son of Chach and a cousin of Rai Dahir
This, contrary to common belief, was not the first Arab invasion of Sind

In 636 CE, 5th year of Chach's reign and the era of second Rashidun Caliph Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab, Usman al Saqifi, governor of Oman sent naval units to attack Indian ports of Tana, Barwas & Daybul
His brothers Al-Hakim and Al-Mughirah led the forces on Daybul (Bhanbhore)

Now Al-Baladhuri, the most reliable of early Indo-Arab historians in Kitab Futuh Al-Buldan tells us that this was arranged without the knowledge or approval of Caliph Umar and it was upon his instructions that further adventures on Indian coasts were suspended for the time being

On the outcome of Daybul we have conflicting narratives
Al Bladhuri tells us of Al Mughirah earning a victory, whereas Chachnama tells us of him losing his life outside the fort walls

By 650 CE Muslims were in direct contact with Hindu States of Sijistan (Afghanistan) and Sind

It was then that third Rashidun Caliph Hazrat Usman instructed Iraq's governor to dispatch someone to 'Al-Hind frontier'
Al-Hakim Ibn Jaballah Al Abdi, the man chosen for the mission, submitted an 'unfavorable' report
"Water is scanty, dates are inferior, robbers are bold'

Around 670 CE the forces sent by viceroy of Iraq under Sinan ibn Salamah conquered Makran
Arabs had thus secured bases in Sijistan, Kabul and Makran
They made occasional forays due east
One regular target was Kikan (Balochistan, Pakistan) then ruled by Sindhi monarchs

The first of expeditions on Kikan was undertaken in 660 CE by one Harith bin Murrah who operated from Sijistan
These adventures did not cause much damage and it was at Kikan that three years later Harith perished in a skirmish along with most of his soldiers

Then in 664 CE it was Muhallab ibn Sufra while advancing from Kabul penetrated deep into 'Banna and Al-Ahwaz', the area between present day Bannu (KPK) and Multan (Punjab)
Owing to the lack of dedicated support these excursions failed to secure a lodgment and had to withdraw

It was after Rai Dahar's accession that on the pretext of Dahar's refusal to make reparation for the plundering of Arab ships at Dybal by the pirates (a made up excuse), Arab invasion under Muhammad Bin Qasim took a decisive turn
And, dear readers, "he did not come by the sea"

With 6000 picked cavalry from Iraq, army of MBQ rode up to Shiraz (Iran) picking up forces already stationed there
The army then took the ancient route through Kech onto Makran
Mohammad bin Haroon Arab overseer at Makran provided reinforcements
5 catapults, each manned by 500 men

If one travels outside of Karachi and takes the route towards Lasbela, outside the town is a tomb of Ari Pir
Our Arab overseer of Makran Mohammad bin Haroon is buried here, for he despite his sickness followed the orders to accompany MBQ's Army but died as they reached Lasbela

Coming back to Muhammad Bin Qasim, the forces of the young general reduced Debal in April and took Nirun and Sehwan as they marched North
It was June when they gave battle to Raja Dahir at Rawar and killed him thus taking the central seat of Alor (present day Arror near Sukkur)

The forces then reached Pabiya and this takes us back to the beginning of this thread where we mentioned of Raja Kaksas, son of Chach meeting his end by the army of Muhammad bin Qasim
From here they would march upstream to the fort of Askalanda, the present day Uch Sharif

The fortress of Askalanda was governed by one Bajhra Taki who gave tough fight
After six days' siege entire garrison was put to sword by MBQ
Only traders, artizans & peasants were spared the Arab wrath
Utba Tamimi then took charge of Uch Sharif
and the year dear reader was 712 CE