gs1medium
What was the immediate reason for Ahmad Shah Abdali to invade India and fight the Third Battle of Panipat?
- A.He wanted to avenge the expulsion by Marathas of his viceroy Timur Shah from Lahore
- B.The frustrated governor of Jullundhar Adina Beg Khan invited him to invade Punjab
- C.He wanted to punish Mughal administration for non-payment of the revenues of the Chahar Mahal (Gujarat, Aurangabad, Sialkot and Pasrur)
- D.He wanted to annex all the fertile plains of Punjab up to the borders of Delhi to his kingdom
▶ Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: D. He wanted to annex all the fertile plains of Punjab up to the borders of Delhi to his kingdom
Ahmad Shah Abdali, founder of the Durrani Empire, had long-term ambitions regarding the Indian subcontinent. His invasions were driven by a desire to expand his territory and secure resources. The fertile plains of Punjab, strategically located and agriculturally rich, were a prime target for annexation, extending his dominion towards the heartland of the weakening Mughal Empire.
Source: UPSC gs1 2010