Mughal–Safavid war (1622–1623)

The Mughal-Safavid War of 1622-1623 was a conflict fought between the Mughal Empire under Jahangir and the Safavid Empire under Shah Abbas I over the important fortress city of Kandahar (present-day Afghanistan).

The war was triggered by the weakening of Mughal control over Kandahar due to internal rebellions and Jahangir's preoccupation with court intrigues and his failing health. Taking advantage of this situation, Shah Abbas I, who had long desired to regain Kandahar which had been lost to the Mughals in 1595, launched an offensive in 1622.

The Safavid army, commanded by Shah Abbas himself, swiftly laid siege to Kandahar. The Mughal garrison, weakened and poorly supplied, was unable to withstand the siege for long. After a relatively short period, the city fell to the Safavids in May 1622.

Jahangir, despite his initial reluctance due to illness and the advice of some of his courtiers, eventually dispatched a Mughal army to retake Kandahar. However, the Mughal forces, hampered by logistical problems, internal rivalries among the commanders, and the distance they had to travel, were unable to effectively challenge the Safavid control.

The campaign in 1622-1623 proved unsuccessful for the Mughals. The Safavids consolidated their hold on Kandahar, effectively severing the vital trade route between India and Persia, and diminishing Mughal prestige. The war concluded with Kandahar remaining under Safavid control, marking a significant setback for the Mughal Empire and a resurgence of Safavid power in the region. The loss of Kandahar had long-term consequences, as it became a recurring point of contention between the two empires for decades to come.