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Though Muslims entered South Asia with the conquest of Sindh by Muhammad bin
Qasim and then with the annexation of Punjab by Mahmud Ghaznavi, yet the real
credit of the establishment of Muslim rule in the region goes to Shahab-ud-din
Muhammad Ghuri. The Ghurids had a long history of differences with the
Ghaznavids, which ultimately resulted in the capture of Ghazni at the hands of
Ghiyas-ud-din Muhammad bin Sam, the ruler of Ghur, in 1173. Ghiyas-ud-din handed
over Ghazni to his younger brother Muhammad Ghuri and himself concentrated on
the conquest of Khorasan. After taking charge of Ghazni, Muhammad Ghuri spent
most of his time in preparation for an attack on South Asia. In 1175, he invaded
the Sub-continent for the first time through the Gomal pass and occupied Multan
and Uch, but failed to capture Gujrat. He again came through the Khyber Pass
with the aim of attacking the Ghaznavid territories. He managed to capture
Peshawar in 1179 and Sialkot in 1185. After defeating the last Ghaznavid ruler,
Khusau Malik, he occupied Lahore in 1186.
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