In April 1672, the Afghan leader Aimal Khan Mohmand, supported by Darya Khan Afridi, declared war against the Mughal Empire. The Mughal governor of Kabul, Muhammad Amin, alongside Khushal Khan Khattak was attacked by the tribal Pashtuns. Although he was accompanied by a large Mughal force, he was decisively defeated by the Pashtun tribesmen. More than 40,000 Mughal soldiers were killed and over 20,000 were taken prisoner.
Hundreds of Mughal officers were killed, and the governor of Kabul retreated to Peshawar with only a small number of survivors. The daughter, sister and mother of Muhammad Amin were taken as prisoners, but his wife committed suicide. Khushal Khan was still confused if he should be on the side with the Afghans or the Mughals, but would later join the Afghan rebellion in 1673.