Ahmed Shah Abdali vs Qaboos bin Said

After the assassination of Nadir Shah, Abdali was elected as the leader of the Abdali Pashtuns at a loya jirga in Kandahar. He founded the Durrani Empire, uniting Pashtun tribes and establishing the modern state of Afghanistan.

Abdali established the Durrani dynasty and consolidated Pashtun rule over Kandahar, Herat, and Kabul. He implemented a centralized administration and expanded the empire's borders to include parts of modern-day Pakistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan.

Abdali launched multiple invasions of India between 1748 and 1767, plundering Delhi, Mathura, and other cities. These campaigns brought immense wealth to the Durrani Empire but also caused widespread destruction and depopulation.

Abdali led Afghan forces to a decisive victory over the Maratha Empire at the Third Battle of Panipat. The battle shattered Maratha power in northern India and established Afghan dominance in the region for decades.

Upon taking power, Qaboos initiated a comprehensive modernization program known as the 'Omani Renaissance'. He built schools, hospitals, roads, and a modern civil service, transforming Oman from a isolated, underdeveloped state into a stable, prosperous nation.

One of Qaboos's first acts as Sultan was to abolish slavery, which had been legal under his father's rule. This reform ended a centuries-old practice and aligned Oman with international human rights standards.

Qaboos bin Said led a British-backed coup against his father, Sultan Said bin Taimur, who had isolated Oman. Qaboos assumed power as Sultan, ending decades of conservative rule and beginning a modernization program.

Qaboos bin Singh established a foreign policy of neutrality and mediation, maintaining diplomatic relations with both Iran and the United States, as well as with the Soviet Union. This approach made Oman a trusted mediator in regional conflicts.

Qaboos bin Said's military forces, supported by British, Iranian, and Jordanian troops, defeated the Marxist insurgents of the Dhofar Rebellion. The victory consolidated his control over Oman and ended a decade-long insurgency.