Best post iv ever seen on this forum

[khushal]

Could you elaborate more on this information.

https://books.google.com/books?id=sW4fr1KTn_0C&pg=PA39&lpg=PA39&dq=azad+khan+afghan&source=bl&ots=GFA-LNNxUA&sig=ImBTo_QIxkppd9GcBOKlnYb9MBk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEoQ6AEwCWoVChMIrJnP0d-LyAIVkA-SCh1d2QCa#v=onepage&q=azad%20khan%20afghan&f=false

http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/azad-khan-afgan-d

[Samandri]

Could you elaborate more on this information.

Azad Khan Suleiman Khel was deputy governor of Azerbaijan when Nadir Shah died. But in the war of succession that started in Iran, Azad Khan emerged as one of the most powerful contender for throne of Persia beside Karim Khan Zand. Azad Khan even captured Isfahan but lost it. From 1748 to 1761, he contested for occupation of Persia with his rivals but was finally defeated by Karim Khan Zand.

Karim Khan Zand , learnt the lesson from his struggle with Afghans and massacred all the Afghan settlers in Persia on one order.

[Brown Skinned Savage]

Sorry I hadn't responded to this yet, I was at a concert last night; but very impressive set of information. But I still insist that despite this evidence, that Abdali can still be relegated as a "traitor" for the following reasons.

- He aided a foreign power AGAINST an established Pashtun Power in Pashtun land and allowed Pashtun land to once again fall under a foreign power.

- While clearly this evidence shows Azad Khan, from the Sleiman Khel was enlisted with Nadir Qoli; he was the governor/administrator of Azerbaijian, he did not assist Nadir Qoli against the Pashtuns, at least as far as I've read from the references you've given me, which admittedly has not been beyond the citations provided.

- Thus he was merely affiliated with Nadir Qoli by dint of having been subdued by their overtaking the region which Azad Khan's tribe resided.

Feel free to add any information or respond to any sufficient reasons why this assessment would be incorrect
@khushal, @History of Pashtuns

[Afghanfootball]

Mana imagine Ahmad Shah Baba had actually accepted Azad Khan's extention of an olive branch. Afghanistan would have probably been a super power of the region and we could have possibly seen Afghanistan have much more territory today. This is the only thing that Ahmad Shah Baba did that I strongly disagree with, however I can't hold anything against the man considering he created modern day Afghanistan.

[Afghanfootball]

And his crushing blow to Marathas. He also prevented the invasion of Turkistan by Qing china beyond Kashghar.

I'm not going to go beserks on you people since it's Akhtar buy come on man this is disgraceful. How could a Pashtun call Ahmad Shah Baba a goon. Also his biggest achievement was uniting the Afghan tribes to create Afghanistan.

[Brown Skinned Savage]

because he helped Nadir Shah Qoli uproot Pashtun power in Pashtun land ...it's THAT simple...

[Brown Skinned Savage]

Karim Khan Zand , learnt the lesson from his struggle with Afghans and massacred all the Afghan settlers in Persia on one order.

Can you give more details on this portion? This is truly fascinating.

[Afghanfootball]

Professor John Perry in his book, “Karim Khan Zand” writes: “The Durrani king (Ahmad Shah Durrani) while in Niashapur sent friendly letters to Karim Khan Zand promising army and wealth if Karim can prevent Azad Khan from coming towards the east, Afghanistan.” According to Prof. John Perry, the two, Ahmad Khan Durrani and Karim Khan Zand made a treaty to divide the Persian Empire among themselves, keeping Azad Khan in the north and Khursan as the buffer zone. But Azad Khan, although 17 years older than Ahmad Shah Durrani and a much senior leader, never wanted to face Ahmad Khan Abdali and fight another Afghan army."

http://www.afghan-web.com/bios/azad_khan_afghan.html

[khushal]

Sorry I hadn't responded to this yet, I was at a concert last night; but very impressive set of information. But I still insist that despite this evidence, that Abdali can still be relegated as a "traitor" for the following reasons.

- He aided a foreign power AGAINST an established Pashtun Power in Pashtun land and allowed Pashtun land to once again fall under a foreign power.

- While clearly this evidence shows Azad Khan, from the Sleiman Khel was enlisted with Nadir Qoli; he was the governor/administrator of Azerbaijian, he did not assist Nadir Qoli against the Pashtuns, at least as far as I've read from the references you've given me, which admittedly has not been beyond the citations provided.

- Thus he was merely affiliated with Nadir Qoli by dint of having been subdued by their overtaking the region which Azad Khan's tribe resided.

Feel free to add any information or respond to any sufficient reasons why this assessment would be incorrect
@khushal, @History of Pashtuns

We've talked about this before. Nadir had defeated the Abdalis and Ghilzai's and after their defeat, both enlisted in his army where they were favored over the other ethnicities even his own Qizilbosh. Why else would they join his Army.
It is reasonable to assess that the success of Nadir Shah Qoli was that he was a master arbitrator adn had great forethought and instead of trying to completely wipe out pashtuns from power, he instead incorporated them into his Empire with powerful influence in the Empire.

https://books.google.com/books?id=5L8CnWkACQkC&pg=PR12&lpg=PR12&dq=nadir+shah+recruiting+abdali+tribesmen&source=bl&ots=zDHOV49Gf0&sig=B9x6JS-3H_hiJOcAF7OSauM9Gfo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAmoVChMIurfn5LCbyAIVA0iSCh1aagZc#v=onepage&q=nadir%20shah%20recruiting%20abdali%20tribesmen&f=false

I wouldnt consider him a traitor but he should have lent a hand to Azad Khan. Pashtuns would have had more influence in Iran today.