[3][4][5][6] In the Muslim historiography, the Gakhars have been frequently confused with the Khokhars, who inhabited the same region, and it has been challenging to separate the events of both tribes.

[2] By the time of Sultan Muʿizz al-Dīn Muḥammad Ghūrī Gakhars had converted to Islam.

[2] In the following centuries, Gakhars engaged in a long-running struggle for sovereignty over the Salt Range with the neighbouring tribes:[7] The history of this region (the Salt Range) from the thirteenth century onward had been a sickening record of wars between various dominant landowning and ruling clans of Punjabi Muslims including the Janjuas, Gakhars, Thathals and Bhattis for political ascendancy.

[8]For a period, Gakhars were superseded by the Khokhars who under their chieftain Jasrat gained control of most of upper Punjab in the 15th century.

However, by the time of Mughal emperor Bābur's invasion of subcontinent, Gakhars had regained power.