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Annexation of Kabul Akbar’s step brother Mirza Mohammad Hakeem was the governor of Kabul. In 1581 he revolted against the Mughal Empire and was defeated badly. He asked for the forgiveness of the Mughal emperor and was reinstated as the governor of Kabul. In 1585 Mirza Hakeem died. Akbar took the advantage of this opportunity and annexed Kabul into the Mughal Empire. Raja Maan Singh was appointed as the governor of Kabul. Under the able leadership of Raja Bhagwan Das and Kasim Khan, Akbar sent a military campaign to conquer Kashmir in 1586. They defeated Kashmir ruler Yusuf Khan and his son Yaqub Khan in the battle. Thus Kashmir was the next princely state to fell to the Mughals. In 1591 governor of Multan, Khankhana, Abdur Raheem was sent to conquer Sindh by the Mughal Emperor. At a place named Sehwan, Sindh ruler Jaani Begh gave a stiff resistance to the invading Mughals and severely damaged their military might. Toddar Mall’s son Dharu was killed in this battle. But in the end Jaani Begh accepted his defeat and surrendered before the Mughals. He married his daughter with Khankhana’s son. Akbar appointed him as a ‘Mansabdar’ into his administration and thus Sindh was annexed into the Mughal Empire.

Suppression of North-West Frontier Tribes After the annexation of Kabul, Akbar sent military campaigns to suppress the rebel North-West Frontier Tribes. Among them, Yusufjai Tribe was the strongest and most dangerous tribe. To suppress this tribe Akbar sent a military campaign under the generalship of Birbal and Jain Khan. These Tribals gave stiff resistance to the Mughals and severely damaged their military might. More than 8,000 Mughal soldiers were killed in the battle along with Birbal. His death was emotionally a big blow to Akbar. On hearing this news he was very upset. To avenge his death, he sent a huge army under the leadership of Raja Maan Singh and Raja Toddar Mall. Both these military leaders severely defeated Yusufjai Tribals and avenged the previous Mughal defeat. Mughlas fought against the Roshnaia Tribe for many years and totally suppressed them. Abdullah Khan, the Uzbek leader was very much influence by the victory of Mughals against the North-West Frontier Tribes. He decided not to fight against them and signed an agreement with them. In 1595 Kandhar was annexed into the Mughal Empire. Before that it was a part of the Kingdom of Shah of Iran. Muzaffar Hussain Shah, the governor of Kandhar was not at good terms with the Shah of Iran. He conspired against him and himself surrendered Kandhar to the Mughals. He was appointed a ‘Mansabdar’ in the Mughal administration.

South India Expedition After conquering whole of the north India and strengthening his administration, Akbar decided to conquer South India. At that time, Khandesh, Ahmadnagar, Bizapur and Golkunda were the four famous princely states of South India. These states were ruled by the Muslim Shiya rulers. Akbar sent messengers to all those states to acknowledge his lordship. Except the Khandesh ruler Ali Khan the other three rulers declined to do so. Akbar decided to conquer those states. In 1595, on his orders, Mughal forces marched towards Ahmadnagar under the generalship of Prince Murad and Abdur Rahim Khankhana. At that time, Bahadur Nizamshah was the Sultan of Ahmadnagar and Chand Bibi was his regent. Under her leadership, the Ahmadnagar soldiers fought bravely against the invaders. When saw no hope of victory, they signed an agreement with Chand Bibi according to which Brar area was annexed into the Mughal territory. After some time the Chieftains of Brar areas collected a huge military and tried to force the Mughals to oust from the Brar areas. Mughals defeated them in a battle that was fought at a place named Soupa. In April, 1600, Mughal military once again laid seize to Ahmadnagar and after four months of battle defeated the defending forces of Ahmadnagar. The ruler of that state was sent into prison in Gwalior. After the death of Khandesh ruler, Ali Khan, Meeran Bahadar ascended to his throne and declared himself free from the Mughal Empire. So Akbar, himself led the Mughal military against the Khandesh ruler. They easily conquered Burhanpur the capital of Khandesh. After that Mughal forces laid seize to the fort of Asirgarh. “It was impossible to conceive of a stronger fortress or one more amply supplied with artillecy, war-like stories and provisions”. But for six months, Mughals forces failed to enter into the fort. It is said that Akbar got the doors of the fort opened by bribing some officials. In January, 1601 Khandesh was annexed into the Mughal Empire. It was Akbar’s last victory. The defeated Khandesh ruler was sent into prison to Gwalior. By 1602, Akbar ruled a vast empire that expanded from the Himalaya and Kashmir to Godawari River in South. In east it Bengal was its part while in west Hindukush mountains worked as its borders. It had 15 Provinces named, Delhi, Agra, Lahore, Multan, Kabul, Awadh, Bihar, Bengal, Ilahabad, Ajmer, Malwa, Ahmadabad, Khandesh, Brar and Ahmadnagar.

The greatest medieval ruler, though ruled the vastest empire at that time, but he died in utter despair. His own son Salim revolted against him and declared himself the next Mughal heir. He died because of illness on October 25, 1605. He was buried near Agra and a beautiful tomb was built at that place. Some historians say that misconduct of his sons had troubled him and hastened his death.