Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
Who among the following Mongol leaders/ commanders did not cross Indus to attack India?
Solution & Analysis
Answer: A
Concept
The Indus River served as a psychological and physical barrier for the Mongol Khanates. While multiple commanders crossed it to raid the Sultanate, the founder of the empire famously stopped at its banks.Explanation
In 1221 CE, Chenghiz Khan reached the banks of the Indus in pursuit of the Khwarezmian prince Jalaluddin Mingburnu. However, he decided against crossing into India and returned to Central Asia, sparing the infant Delhi Sultanate under Iltutmish.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Option A is correct. Chenghiz Khan is the only major leader listed who arrived at the frontier but did not initiate a full-scale invasion of the Indian heartland.
Logic 2: Later leaders/commanders like Abdullah (C) and Qutlugh Khwaja (D) did cross the Indus and even threatened Delhi during the Khalji and Tughluq periods.