the province, as well as exaggerated reports of an illness Dost Mohammad Khan befell in 1851, led to circulating rumors that Dost Mohammad Khan had died. This led to unrest in Qataghan, further intrigued by Mir Wali and the Mir Ataliq of Kunduz. This led to the defeat of Afghans in a battle, prompting Dost Mohammad Khan to issue orders to prepare reinforcements to be sent to Balkh and reinforce the garrisons there. Once again, Barakzai Sardars had stunted this plan and refused to give support to reinforce the garrisons in Balkh, specifically Nawab Jabbar Khan, predicting that no good would come out of sending troops to reinforce Balkh. Despite the Initial setback, the rebellion in Qataghan was quelled. Hotak-Tokhi Campaign to Qalat (1851-1852) The Tokhi and Hotak tribes who ruled around Qalat often plagued the route between Kandahar-Ghazni, raiding caravans and merchants for plunder and loot, despite it being a heavily used route of trade. The Hotaks and Tokhis also closed the route to caravans. As a result, merchants petitioned Dost Mohammad Khan, asking him to reopen the trade route and permanently keep it open. Dost Mohammad instructed his son, Sher Ali, the governor of Ghazni, to take an army alongside an artillery corps to Qalat and to tame both tribes. With one regiment of Infantry, four field guns, some Militia, and some personal cavalry, he set out for Qalat. At Awlang Ribat, the Tokhi forces gathered, preparing for battle against Sher Ali's forces. As soon as Sher Ali and his army arrived at Awlang Ribat, the fighting began, as combat raged until night fall with the battle ending inconclusively, with many killed and wounded on both sides. Both sides disengaged from battle when night came, as Sher Ali's forces drew up a large Sangar around his camp. His forces would venture out of the defenses in the day, and return at night, continuing this process until his forces would gain the upper hand by whittling down the Tokhi numbers with skirmishes, until he finally defeated them. Sher Ali collected the diwani revenues and a fine was imposed on the Tokhis for rebelling, and lead punitive actions. He also reached an agreement with tribal leaders that if a merchant or travelers property was robbed, the village elders would owe back the losses or hand the thief over to the governor. Alongside this, they would no longer oppose the governments