Mir Nasir Khan I

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Mir Muhammad Nasir Khan I Ahmadzai (Balochi: میر محمد نصیر خان اول احمد زئی) was the Khan of Kalat between 1748 and 1794. Considered greatest of the Khans of Kalat, his reign was marked by maximum expansion of the state as well as political consolidation of the Khanate of Kalat. He was known as Nasir Khan Noori among his subjects.^[1]

Mir Nasir Khan was the son of Mir Abdullah Khan, Khan of Kalat between 1714 and 1734, and his chief consort Bibi Maryam. Mir Abdullah had greatly expanded the borders of the Khanate, and conquered the region of Balochistan from Bandar Abbas to Karachi. His conflicts with the Kalhoras of Sindh ultimately led to war with them and his subsequent death in Kacchi in 1734. During Nader Shah's invasion of India, Nasir Khan's brother, Mir Mohabbat Khan, was the Khan of Kalat. Nader Shah confirmed him in his position. In the following events, Mir Nasir Khan was sent as hostage of Afsharids to Isfahan where he remained till 1748.^[2]

Nasir Khan began his reign in 1748 when Ahmad Shah Durrani, the ruler of the Durrani Empire, replaced Haji Khan, who was the previous ruler of Kalat. Throughout his reign, Nasir Khan undertook 25 military campaigns. He had accompanied Ahmad Shah in his campaign in Khorasan as well as the Third battle of Panipat. His wars against the Talpur dynasty of Sindh led to their acceptance of his overlordship. He also led campaigns against the Sikhs in Punjab, accompanying Ahmad Shah, as well as campaigning against Ali Mardan Khan of Tun and Tabas in eastern Iran.^[2]

He had accompanied Ahmad Shah in his campaigns in India. However, when Marathas ousted the Afghans in 1758, he declared independence, prompting Afghan invasion. The succeeding treaty of Kalat recognized the internal independent status of Kalat, although Nasir Khan still acknowledged the overlordship of Ahmed Shah Durrani.^[3]

Nasir Khan I exchanged embassies with the Ottoman Caliphate, Durrani Empire, Afsharid Iran as well as Sultanate of Oman.^[4] He had given refuge to the Omani prince, Sayyed Solṭān bin Aḥmad in 1784. Although Nasir Khan initially promised him to help in re-instating him over Oman, he in the end only gave him the port of Gwadar. Soltan bin Ahmad ultimately became Sultan of Oman in 1792, and Gwadar became part of Sultanate of Oman. It remained so until 1958, when it was purchased by the Government of Pakistan.^[2] He received the titles of Ghazi-e-Din by the Ottoman Caliphs as well as Begler Begi from the Durrani rulers. He also received the representatives (wakil) from the Talpur Sindh as a vassal province.^[4]

He died in 1794 in his residence in Kalat (modern-day Balochistan).