Sultan Ahmad Khan

Sultan Ahmad Khan Barakzai, was the ruler of the Emirate of Herat from 1857 until his death in 1863, and an army commander for the Principality of Kandahar.

Early life Sultan Ahmad Khan was born in Kandahar in 1818 to a Mohammadzai family of the Barakzai tribe of the Pashtuns to his father Mohammad Azim Khan, and to a Qizilbash mother.

He was exiled to Kandahar, following his brother Habibullah Khan's deposition at Kabul by the Peshawari Sardars led by Yar Mohammad Khan.

Rise to power In 1855, Sultan Ahmad Khan sent a petition to the Shah of Iran, Naser al-Din Shah Qajar to overthrow his uncle Dost Mohammad Khan and incorporate Afghanistan into Iran if he were to be supported by an Iranian army. However, Sultan Ahmad Khan was intercepted by Dost Mohammad Khan at the Conquest of Kandahar, and was exiled to Iran. in accordance with the Treaty of Paris. During Sultan Ahmad Khan's reign, he was completely dependent on Iran and not only minted coins in the Shah's name, but was also given assistance against Afghanistan.

He captured Farah soon after in March 1862, which had been a Mohammadzai possession since their occupation of the town on October 30, 1856. Farah was captured by the Mohammadzais. On July 22, being succeeded by his son Shah Nawaz Khan. Shortly before his death, he had been affected by a disease that caused limb paralysis. On May 27, 1863, Herat would finally fall to Dost Mohammad Khan.