Battle of Attock The Battle of Attock ( also known as the Battle of Chuch or the Battle of Haidru ) took place on 13 July 1813 between the Sikh Empire and the Durrani Empire . The battle was the first significant Sikh victory over the Durranis . Background . In 1811 – 12 , Ranjit Singh invaded the hill states of Bhimber , Rajauri , and Kullu in preparation for an invasion of Kashmir . In late 1812 , Fateh Khan , the Vizier of Kabul , crossed the Indus river under orders from Mahmud Shah Durrani to raid Kashmir and to free Shuja Shah Durrani from its renegade vizier , Atta Muhammad Khan . In an 1812 interview with Ranjit Singh , Fateh Khan agreed to a joint invasion of Kashmir . He could not invade Kashmir if he was opposed by the Sikh Empire , and agreed that a small Sikh force under Dewan Mokham Chand would receive one third of the plunder . Both invasions began at Jhelum , but once the armies reached the Pir Panjal Range , Fateh Khan used a heavy snowfall to double march his veteran mountain troops through the range . However , Dewan Mokham Chand offered the Rajauri raja a large jagir if he could find a path through the range that would allow the Sikhs to reach the valley of Kashmir at the same time as the Afghan troops and was able to have a small body of troops under Jodh Singh Kalsia and Nihal Singh Attari present at the captures of Hari Parbat and Shergarh . The vizier of Kashmir , Atta Muhammad Khan , had offered no resistance to either army but Fateh Khan refused to share the spoils . Shuja Shah Durrani chose to be escorted by Dewan Mokham Chand to Lahore , the capital of the Sikh Empire , out of fear of becoming a prisoner at Kabul . Ranjit Singh became annoyed at Fateh Khan ' s refusal to share plunder and opened negotiations with the renegade governor of Attock , Jahandad Khan , brother to the recently deposed Atta Muhammad Khan of Kashmir , and took control of the fort at Attock . After Jahandad Khan accepted his " jagir " , Dia Singh , a Sardar with a small contingent of troops in the area , took control of Fort Attock including 3 , 510 Maund s of grain , 439 rounds of cannon shot , 70 cannon and small mortar s , and 255 " Maunds " of rock salt . Hari Singh Nalwa arrived with Dewan Devi Das and a detachment of cavalry to support the garrison at an unknown date . Battle . Accusing Ranjit Singh of treachery , Fateh Khan set off from Kashmir at the head of 15 , 000 cavalry in April 1813 and invested Attock Fort . At the same time Ranjit Singh rushed Dewan Mokham Chand and Karam Chand Chahal from Burhan with a force of cavalry , artillery , and a battalion of infantry to meet the Afghans . Dewan Mokham Chand encamped from the Afghan camp , unwilling to risk a decisive engagement , although both sides engaged in numerous skirmishes and took losses . On 12 July 1812 , the Afghans ' supplies were exhausted and Dewan Mokham Chand marched from Attock to Haidaru , on the banks of the Indus River , to offer battle . On 13 July 1812 , Dewan Mokham Chand split the cavalry into four divisions , giving command of one division to Hari Singh Nalwa and taking command of one division himself . The lone battalion of infantry formed an infantry square protecting the artillery , with Gouse Khan commanding the artillery . The Afghans took up positions opposite the Sikhs , with a portion of their cavalry under the command of Dost Mohammad Khan . Fateh Khan opened the battle by sending his Ghazis on a cavalry charge which was repulsed by heavy fire from the Sikh artillery . The Afghans rallied under Dost Mohammad Khan , who led the Ghazis on another cavalry charge which threw one wing of the Sikh army into disarray and captured some artillery . When it appeared the Sikhs had lost the battle , Dewan Mokham Chand led a cavalry charge atop a war elephant that repulsed the Afghans " at all points " , and rout ed the remaining Afghan troops . Fateh Khan , fearing his brother , Dost Mohammad Khan , had died , escaped to Kabul and the Sikhs captured the Afghan camp , including the lost artillery pieces . Aftermath . Amritsar , Lahore , and other large cities across the Sikh Empire were illuminated for two months afterwards in rejoicing over the victory . After his defeat at Attock , Fateh Khan fought off an attempt by Ali Shah , the ruler of Persia , and his son Ali Mirza to capture the Durrani province of Herat , which left their newly captured province of Kashmir open to attack .