Son of a chief of the Afghan tribe of Abdal (near Hirat). After the death of Nadir Shah in 1747, he took Qandahar, Kabul, Peshawar and Lahore. He attacked India several times, but his victory at Panipat in 1761 over the Marathas, was most memorable. After the victory Abdali (also known as Durrani Shah) returned to his country, but before his departure made Shah Alam, the emperor of Hindustan.