Shahjahan launched the ill-fated expedition to Balkh in order to regain “his ancestral throne” from the Uzbek Janid rulers in 1646-47. The Mughal armies, led by Murad Bakhsh, managed to occupy Balkh by making the Uzbeks retreat. This Nisar was undoubtedly struck at that occasion. The occupation lasted only for a few months as winter set in and the Mughal army found it very difficult to hold Balkh. Finally, Aurangzeb was dispatched to organize a successful retreat to Kabul but many soldiers and equipment was lost as the Uzbeks attacked the Mughal army repeatedly.