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Vigne says, “Ali Sher Khan (the lion of Ali) father Ahmad Shah, the present Gyalfo, signalized himself by taking the Castle of Shighur, and making prisoners of an invading army from Ladak. He left two sons, Ahmad Shah of Iskardo, and Ghulam Shah, the Raja of Parkuta on the Indus: who both reigned at the last mentioned places, in consequence of the will of their father.”

Commenting on the remarks of Vigne, Cunningham says:-

“ I find, however, that Vigne mentions an invasion of Balti by an army of Ladakis, during the reign of Ali Sher, the father of Ahmad Shah, the last chief of Balti. The invaders were defeated and obliged to surrender. As this must have happened not more than twenty or twenty five years prior to Moorcroft’s’ visit to Ladak, it is strange that he makes no mention of it. Vigne’s account is further confirmed by the existence of a tree, which was pointed out to him on the Ladaki frontier near Khallach on the Indus, which was said to have grown from a stick planted there by Ali Sher Khan on his return from a victory in Ladak.”

Cunningham in his foot-note presumes that it is possible, however, that this may refer to the conquest of Ladakh by the first Ali Sher Khan. This presumption has no foundation and the conquest referred to above belongs to the reign of Ali Sher Khan II.

It appears that the principalities in Gilgit and Chitral with the exception of Astore and Bunji had by then become independent of the Maqpons of Skardu. The Khushwakt of Yassin and Katoor of Chitral were consolidating and gaining in strength. Despite the incessant fighting that took place in the east, Ali Sher Khan II as a man of peace devoted his energies and resources to the development of Skardu. He is reported to have constructed numerous irrigation channels, bringing under plough much of the land that lay fallow. He was succeeded by Ahmad Shah.

AHMAD SHAH

1800 TO 1840