The Turk Shahis of Kabul (665-822)

The Western Turks had also spread south of the Hindu Kush. Around 665 Barha Tegin took power in Kabul and founded a new dynasty, with Kabul as summer capital and Udabhanda near the Indus as winter capital. A note on origin: some scholars trace the dynasty to the Hephthalites or to the Khalaj, who were themselves a Turkic tribe.

The Turk Shahis were the main barrier to the Arab advance from Khorasan towards India. At times they paid tribute and made peace, at times they fought and retook Kabul. Buddhism, Hinduism and local faiths lived side by side, and coins show the rulers in Turkic crowns and dress.

Around 822 the last Turk Shahi, Lagaturman, was overthrown by his minister Kallar, and power passed to the Hindu Shahis. Later these lands were conquered by another Turkic dynasty, the Ghaznavids.