A Comparative Analysis of Mughal Policy towards Afghans and Rajputs

This study examines the different approaches of the Mughal rulers regarding the Afghans and Rajputs communities in India between the 16th and 18th centuries through an analysis of the first six Mughal rulers' policies and attitudes towards these communities. The findings revealed that the Mughal-Afghan relations were not strained by mutual distrust and perceived unreliability of the Afghan elites, whereas Rajputs who had once submitted were integrated into the imperial framework through loyalI services and alliances. The study highlights how these policies shaped the Mughal Empire's stability and expansion.