From 1814 to 1819, the Sikh Empire was forced to send successive punitive expeditions against the hill states of Bhimber, Rajauri, Poonch, Nurpur, and others.

By subduing rebellions in these states, the Sikh Empire was attempting to keep control of the routes through the Pir Panjal Range and into Kashmir.

However the Durrani Empire kept de facto control of the areas because the Pir Panjal Range blocked supplies and fresh troops to the Sikh armies.

[5] On 1 May, both columns of the Sikh Army reached Rajouri and its ruler, Raja Agarullah Khan, rebelled and forced a battle.

Hari Singh Nalwa took command of a force and routed his army, which offered an unconditional surrender after losing most of its men and war supplies.

[1][nb 4] while Misr Diwan Chand split his force into three divisions and ordered them to cross the Pir Panjal Range through different passes.

[14] Jabbar Khan and his army fled from the battlefield to Muzaffarbad but were turned away by the governor, then fleeing to Peshawar and finally to Kabul.