For much of his early life, Haqnazar was simply called by his middle name "Haider", which was given to him in honor of Kasım Khan's Shaybanid uncle, Sheikh Haidar.
In the fight against the Khivans, the Kazakhs conquered the Mangyshlak peninsula and successfully repelled the Oirats.
Haqnazar began a campaign against Moghulistan with the aim of finally re-incorporating Jetysu into the Kazakh Khanate.
However, in the north, there was a threat from the Khanate of Sibir, led by Kuchum Khan.
In 1568, the Kazakhs successfully defeated the Nogai Horde at the Emba River and reached Astrakhan, but were repelled by Russian forces.