1833–1834 expedition of Shuja Shah Durrani

1833–1834 expedition of Shuja Shah Durrani
Part of Durrani insurgency

Sketch of Kandahar in 1857
DateJanuary 1833 – 1 July 1834
Location
Result
  • Shuja Shah forced to retreat
Belligerents
Barakzais
Principality of Kandahar
Principality of Kabul
Durranis
Shuja Shah's forces
British Empire
East India Company
Supported by:
Sikh Empire
Commanders and leaders
Pur Dil Khan
Kohan Dil Khan
Rahim Dil Khan
Mehr Dil Khan
Dost Mohammad Khan
Mohammad Afzal Khan
Shuja Shah Durrani (WIA)
William Campbell (POW)
Strength
Numerically inferior
20,000 men from Dost Mohammad
(only 3,000 engaged by Dost Mohammad)
30,000 (Initial)
80,000 men (during siege of Kandahar)
Casualties and losses
Unknown Heavy losses
Up to 16,000 killed

Beginning in January 1833, Shah Shujah Durrani, the deposed Afghan emperor, led an expedition to re-claim his throne. Raising a force while in exile in the Sikh Empire, he marched through Sindh to Kandahar, besieging it from 10 May 1834 until 1 July 1834. Shah Shujah would be defeated by the Barakzai rulers of Kandahar and Kabul.