From Shiraz Makran
Muhammad ibn al-Qasim reached Makran via Shiraz.
After the cold crossing of Makran, he faced many difficulties in the mountainous region of Lasbela.
He made a strong mountain fort his center and stationed his archers on all the roads. Despite his father's opposition, he had assured the King (Raja) that his 20,000 soldiers would not allow 12,000 Muslims to advance beyond Lasbela.
As soon as the Muslims entered the hilly area, Bheem Singh's soldiers started attacking them.
A group of 30 to 40 soldiers would suddenly appear on the top of a mound or a hill and disappear after throwing arrows and stones at a column of Muhammad ibn al-Qasim's army.
The horsemen would have retreated and saved themselves, but these attacks proved to be very troublesome for the cavalry troops. Sometimes it became very difficult to control the camels, which were running around in turns, because of the pursuit of the attackers. Seeing this, Muhammad ibn al-Qasim increased the number of Harul's infantry, but one group of attackers would attack from the front and run away, and the other group would attack from behind. would attract, and the other would attack the left wing.
As Muhammad ibn al-Qasim's army advanced, the intensity of these attacks increased. After encamping at night, at least a quarter of the army had to guard the nearby hills for fear of bloodshed.
One evening, a spy informed Muhammad ibn al-Qasim, that a strong fort in the distance of Kos in the north was occupied by this army. Muhammad ibn al-Qasim called a council of scholars to discuss his experience.
Some of the scholars suggested leaving this route and taking a relatively smooth route along the sea coast.
The farther we are from this fort, the more we will be safe from these attacks, but Muhammad ibn al-Qasim did not agree with them.
He said, until this area is free from the enemy. Our progress is not without danger. Our aim is not to reach Dabil. Sindh is to be conquered and this fort is the main mill of their defense. I am sure that after the victory of this fort, the enemy will be forced to vacate this entire area and the soldiers of the enemy will escape from here.
They will show a defeatist mentality when they reach Dabil, but if we get out of here, their morale will increase and our rear will always be unprotected.
Our first objective is to conquer this fort.
After the conquest of this fort, if the army spread out in the hills becomes large enough, he will try to fight a decisive battle with us in this area and we are better at that too.
I understand that a large number of the defenders of this fort are distributed on the surrounding hills to check our advance.
I want to attack this fort today before sunrise and for this purpose I want to take only five hundred foot soldiers with me. You continue the advance through the night with the rest of the army.
The result of this will be that they will stop thinking about the four sides and start worrying about stopping your work.
On a moonlit night, the way forward will be more dangerous for you. If the news reaches you that the fort has been conquered by morning, then you should halt your advance and wait for my orders. So I to guard the fort
I will leave a few men with you and if they want to conquer the fort again, you should reach there. An old solider said, "I am sure that God has chosen you for the victory of Sindh."
God willing, none of your plans will go wrong, but it is proper for a commander to stay with the army.
The life of a commader is very precious. He is the last resort of the army.
He is the last resort of the army. If an accident happens to you in this perilous expedition,
Muhammad ibn al-Qasim replied, the Iranians were defeated in the battle of Qadisiyah despite their great army because they placed more hopes on the personality of Rustam than their own strength.But on the contrary, Saad bin Waqqas, the commander of the Muslim army, was unable to mount a horse and had to sit on one side of the field. But such was the self-confidence of the Muslims that they did not even realize the absence of their commander.
You will not find any such incident in our history, when solider surrendered after the martyrdom of commander.
We are kings and do not fight for lords.
We fight for God. Those who trust in kings and rulers may be disappointed after their death, but our God is always there.
In the Qur'an, there are its commands for us.
I pray that God does not make me a Rustam for the nation, but allows me to become a muthna. Whose martyrdom inspired every Muslim with the spirit of martyrdom. For me, the life of the general has no value, who hides it under the guard of his soldiers' swords and encourages his brave men to save their lives instead of fighting for their lives.
If conquering this fort was not so important, I would probably entrust this campaign to someone else, but both the danger of this campaign and its importance require that I lead it myself.
Zubair said, "I want to walk with you." Muhammad bin Qasim replied.
No, I don't think it takes two brains to conquer a fort.
In my absence you must remain with the army.
I appoint Muhammad bin Haroon in my place and you are his deputy.