Finding Azim Khan firmly entrenched in the Tosa Maidan pass, Ranjit Singh ordered a complete withdrawal of the expedition.
Ranjit Singh established ambitions over conquering Kashmir as early as 1799 following the withdrawal of Zaman Shah Durrani after his invasions in the Punjab.
[5] In 1808, Ranjit Singh expanded his ambitions once again and deployed spies on the road to Kashmir, and began encroaching on it by subjugating Bhimber in 1811, and Rajouri in 1812.
The vast riches of the region also attracted Fateh Khan, leading to him creating an alliance with the Sikhs in case they attempted to cut off his forces while he campaigned in Kashmir.
[6] Ranjit Singh also wished for his soldiers to accompany this expedition to acclimatize towards the harsh climate, and to secure the release of Shah Shuja Durrani and to take the Koh-i-Noor diamond from him.
[7] A treaty was thus made at Rohtas on 1 December 1812, where Ranjit Singh offered 12,000 men under Dewan Mokham Chand.
Mazhar Ali then sent artillery pieces to the Tosa Maidan pass, but his route was blocked by the Ruhullah Khan, ruler of Poonch.
Sujan Rae Adalti and his contingent of 4,000 men deserted in desperate need of food, returning to the Punjab on 5 July.
[14][15] On 5 August, the Sikh forces arrived at Sandha, and after advancing forward, Ranjit Singh found that his guns could not pass a stream.
Mit Singh Bharania was killed by enemy fire sometime during this expedition, and the Sikh armies retreated to Lahore.