What was the immediate reason for Ahmad Shah Abdali to invade India and fight the Third Battle of Panipat?
UPSC CSE Pre 2010
A. He wanted to avenge the expulsion of his Viceroy Timur Shah from Lahore by Marathas
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: He wanted to avenge the expulsion of his Viceroy Timur Shah from Lahore by Marathas
Option a is the correct answer.
Ahmad Shah Abdali wanted to avenge the expulsion of his Governor Timur Shah from Lahore by Marathas. The Third battle of Panipat took place between Ahmed Shah Abdali and Maratha commander Sadashiv Rao on 14 January 1761 in the Panipat ground.
Important Tips
In 1747, Ahmad Shah Durrani established the Durrani empire in Afghanistan and annexed Lahore. Durrani's son Timur Shah was the governor of Lahore. Maratha Peshwa Bajirao captured Lahore and kicked out Timur Shah. Other rulers were alarmed by this rise of Marathas, and they requested Durrani to stop Marathi expansion.