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himself in Kharmang Fort. Siege of the fort lasted for four months. Finally Mirza Khan surrendered on condition that his life would be spared. The condition was granted and Mirza Khan was allowed to go to Ladakh with his family etc. the administration of Kartaksha (Kharmang) was entrusted to Sher Khan (Sher Shah). 

Hasssan Khan ruler of Khaplu and Chorbat, and Rahim Khan ruler of Saling, were brothers. After the death of Hassan Khan, his brother Rahim Khan, had forcibly evicted his nephews Babar and Yaqub from their father’s patrimony with help of Raja of Laddakh who was a relative of Rahim Khan. Both Babar, Yaqub and their mother were carried away to Laddakh as prisoners of war by the Laddakhi Raja. As a reward for the help rendered by the Raja of Ladakh, Raja Rahim Khan ceded the valley of Chorbat to the Ladakhi Raja while Raja Rahim Khan annexed the principality of Babar and Yaqub with his own. There is another version that after the death of Rahim Khan his son Hatam Khan taking advantage of the turmoil in Skardu invited the Raja of Laddakh to invade Khaplu who after investment of that kingdom carried Babar and Yaqub and their mother Haya Khatoon to Laddakh and imprisoned them. The Raja of Ladakh annexed Chorbat district to Laddakh. The invasion of Khaplu by the Raja of Laddakh at the instance of Raja Haider Khan of Khaplu as recorded in the Ladakhi chronicles claims that after invadingo Khaplu, a dependency of Skardu, by Parak Namgyal with a large Army, Rajas Hatim Khan, Sultan Khan and Ali Khan submitted to Parak Namgyal but the chief of Balti (Shah Murad) after obtaining aid from the government of Kashmir, was defeated at Sairu and the Kashmiris lost many of their officers as well as their colors and drums, as consequence of which the chiefs of Karchu and Balti (Shah Murad) tendered his submission and became tributary to Ladakh. The Ladakhi chronicle exaggerates their victory when it says that the ruler of Balti (Skardu) tendered his submission. No record is forthcoming as to the invasion of the Moghals in aid of Skardu as referred to in the Ladakhi chronicle. There is only one event unspecified in the Moghal History which shows that the Moghal once failed to conquer Ladakh. A reference to it has been made while dealing with the reign of Ahmad Khan, father of Shah Murad.

Ali Khan fled from imprisonment and Rahim Kha, Raja of Khaplu, gave him refuge. Mirza Khan instead of going to Laddakh had also taken refuge there. The combined army of Skardu and Shigar marched upon Khaplu and stormed the forts of Kharku and Haldi. The Kharku Fort at Khaplu proper fell after a siege of three months. Rahim Khan had surrendered on the condition that he will not be harmed. Without caring for his word of honor, Shah Murad imprisoned Mirza

 

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