15

episode is to the effect “36^th year of the reign; 999 A.H. (about 1591 A.D.): Mission to Tibet :- This year Haji Mirza Beg returned from Tibet and brought with him the daughter of Ali Rai, the Ruler of that place. The Emperor married the girl to the elder prince . .  

It is not recorded when Ali Sher Khan came to the Court of the Emperor to pay his homage. It appears that must have lost not time in proceeding to the Moghul court and paying his homage to the Emperor. Akbar Conquered and annexed Kashmir in 1586 A.D. (994) A.H.) and the marriage of the Balti princess with Jehangir took place in 999 A.H. or in the neighborhood of 1592 A.D. If the local version about Ali Sher Khan’s flight to Delhi and procuring the help of the Emperor is to be discounted, it is possible that after Kashmir had become part of the Moghal Empire, Ali Sher Khan, might have visited the capital of the Empire and married the Moghal Princess, Gul Khatoon there. Balti legend has gone so far as to say that she was the daughter of Akbar the Great himself. Gul Khatoon (later called Mindoq Gialmo by Baltis) brought with her engineers, sculptors, musicians, carpenters, silver and black smiths and was responsible for introducing Moghal culture and Art in Baltistan while Ali Sher Khan remained busy in his warlike exploits, recapturing his lost territories, extending his kingdom east and west.

Ali Sher Khan Anchan did not rest content with the conquest of Laddakh; he invaded and plundered the border village in Kashmir province 1603 and the Imperial Forces and administration in Kashmir proved incapable of measuring sword with him. As such the Governor of Lahore had to come to the help of the Governor of Kashmir. Zakaullah 19 observes as under:-

“ Ali Zad (Ali Rai) accomplished the conquest of Greater Tibet (Ladakh) and immense wealth came into his possession, he lost the balance of his mind. He started creating trouble in the outskirts of Kashmir in 1012 A.H. (1603 A.D.)’ The Emperor commanded KALEEJ KHAN, Governor of Lahore, to send reinforcement to Shaista Mohammad Quli, the Hakim of Kashmir, to smash this mosquito who had become intoxicated with haughtiness and pride. Kalby Khan dispatched three thousand cavalry and five hundred musketeers under the command of Saifullah Khan S/O Mohammad Quli, but Ali Zad (Ali Rai) fled without fighting and the Imperial forces advanced as far as horses could go and then they returned”.