Editing Ahmad Shah Durrani (section)

===First invasion of India (1747–1748)===
{{main|Battle of Lahore (1748)|Battle of Manupur}}
With Kabul under his control, Ahmad Shah dispatched his [[Commander-in-chief]], [[Jahan Khan (Afghan general)|Jahan Khan]], toward Peshawar with the intention of advancing as far as [[Attock]]. Jahan Khan quickly overran [[Jalalabad]], and Nasir Khan was unable mount a defense at the [[Khyber Pass]], forcing him to flee. The Afghan armies approached Peshawar, prompting many [[Pashtun tribes]] to declare for them, such as the [[Yusufzai]], [[Afridi]], and [[Khattak]]. With Nasir Khan overwhelmed, he completely withdrew from Peshawar and fled to Delhi.{{sfn|Lee|2022|p=119}}{{sfn|Sarkar|1964|p=127}} 
[[File:Nidha Mal Jharokha portrait of Muhammad Shah holding an emerald and the mouthpiece of a huqqa ca. 1730 The San Diego Museum of Art.jpg|thumb|left|Portrait of Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah]]
[[Shah Nawaz Khan (Mughal Empire)|Shāh Nawāz Khān]], the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] [[governor]] of the [[Punjab]], opened correspondence with the Afghans after they had seized Peshawar. Shah Nawaz, having toppled his brother from power to assume control over the Punjab, was opposed by the [[List of emperors of the Mughal Empire|Mughal emperor]] [[Muhammad Shah]], who refused to recognize him as governor. As a result, the Afghans promised to affirm Shah Nawaz as governor of the Punjab if he accepted Durrani suzerainty. Shah Nawaz accepted this before the Mughal [[Grand vizier|vizier]] promised to confirm him as governor if he opposed the Afghan invasion instead, which Shah Nawaz accepted.{{sfn|Lee|2022|p=119-120}}{{sfn|Gupta|1978|p=83}}{{sfn|Singh|1959|p=42-43}}

The betrayal saw Ahmad Shah dispatch Sabir Shah to try and convince Shah Nawaz once again. However, after insulting Shah Nawaz, Sabir Shah was imprisoned and executed, and Shah Nawaz began marching against the Afghan army.{{sfn|Mehta|2005|p=250}}{{sfn|Lee|2022|p=120}}{{sfn|Sarkar|1964|p=128}} Ahmad Shah crossed the [[Ravi River]] on 10 January, and established himself at the [[Shalimar Gardens, Lahore|Shalimar Gardens]], outside of [[Lahore]]. The armies of Shah Nawaz and Ahmad Shah [[Battle of Lahore (1748)|began battle]] on 11 January, and as the battle began, the Afghan regiments of Shah Nawaz's army defected. Despite commanding a much larger army then the Afghans, the Mughals were utterly defeated, and Shah Nawaz fled to [[Delhi]].{{sfn|Lee|2022|p=120-121}}{{sfn|Sarkar|1964|p=129}}{{sfn|Gupta|1978|p=84}}

With their victory, the Afghans entered [[Lahore]], plundering and massacring the city. Thousands were also conscripted, while the Mughals began mobilizing a larger army. Ahmad Shah left Lahore on 19 February with his forces, beginning to advance on [[Delhi]]. He captured [[Sirhind-Fategarh|Sirhind]] and continued advancing, outmaneuvering Mughal forces until they were caught at [[Battle of Manupur (1748)|Manupur]], where they battled. The Afghan army pressed the attack until a catastrophe occurred in the form that the ammunition stores of the Afghan army caught fire and exploded, incinerating 1,000 men, and forcing a complete withdrawal from the battlefield.{{sfn|Lee|2022|p=121-122}}{{sfn|Sarkar|1964|p=130-142}}{{sfn|Gupta|1978|p=85-86}} The Mughals did not pursue the Afghan army due to the death of Mughal emperor [[Muhammad Shah]], and turmoil in the camp.{{sfn|Singh|1959|p=67-70}}

Withdrawing to Lahore, Ahmad Shah became aware that his nephew, Luqman Khan, who had been left as regent in [[Kandahar]], had revolted. Ahmad Shah immediately returned to [[Afghanistan]], and marched on [[Kandahar]], quickly quelling the revolt. He spent the summer of 1748 preparing for his second invasion of India.{{sfn|Lee|2022|p=122}}{{sfn|Singh|1959|p=68-72}}{{sfn|Sarkar|1964|p=143}} The timing was significant for Ahmad Shah, as [[Itimad-ad-Daula, Qamar-ud-Din Khan|Qamar-ud-Din]], a significant commander for the Mughals at Manupur, had been killed, while the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah's death saw him succeeded by [[Ahmad Shah Bahadur|Bahadur Shah]], who largely focused on pleasure-seeking. Ahmad Shah also wished to avenge his defeat.{{sfn|Gupta|1961|p=74}}