The Battle of Halani (Sindhi: هالاڻي جي جنگ) was fought in 1783 between the Sindhi speaking Baloch tribe of Talpurs and the Kalhoro Dyansty near Halani village for the control of the Sindh region, in modern-day Pakistan. The Talpurs, led by Mir Fateh Ali Khan Talpur, won the battle over Mian Abdul Nabi Kalhoro of the Kalhora dynasty, and established the Talpur dynasty.

Background

In spite of the written covenants on the holy scripture, Mian Abdul Nabi lost his mind and got the two Talpur chiefs, Mir Abdullah Khan and Mir Fateh Khan, murdered in cold blood. This incident occurred in the year AH 1196/1782-83 CE. Some sources reveal that the Talpur chiefs were murdered while reciting the holy Quran, and this brought about a general indignation and discontentment among the Baloch tribes of Sindh, Mir Fateh Ali son of Mir Sobdar and the grandson of Mir Bahram Khan, became the next leader of the Talpur confederacy and declared that he would punish Mian Abdul Nabi Kalhora. The Talpur confederacy, which was headed by Mir Fateh Ali, was aided by Mir Sohrab (of Khairpur) and Mir Tharo Manikani. The tribes of Sindh were however divided in their affiliation. The Laghari, Nizamani, Marri, Jamali, Khatiyans, Khokhars and the Khaskhelis tribes threw themselves in lot with the Talpurs, whilst the Khosa, Jatoi, Numeria, Juneja, the Lekhey, the Kaleri, the Khuhawar sided with the Kalhoras.

Battle

The Kalhora dynasty of Nawabs were supported by the Durrani Empire. While the Talpurs traced their roots back to Nader Shah had Qajar and possibly slight nominal support from the Mughal Empire. At the Battle of Halani both sides ferociously deployed the usage of gunpowder weaponry. The battle was described by a future chronicler with one word Atishfishan (meaning "blazing flame"), this battle was even fought between gunboats in the Indus river.

Aftermath

The Talpur dynasty ruled in Sindh until defeated by the British forces at the Battle of Miani in 1843. 2 of 3 Talpur kingdoms were defeated but Khairpur survived by allying with the British.