Captain A. Mathews was at Lahore in April 1808 and notes that Maharaja had sent spies to Kashmir to report about the condition of the road from Bhimbar to Srinagar, and political situation in the valley. In order to secure the road leading to the valley of Kashmir, the Maharaja subjugated Bhimbar in 1811, and Rajauri in 1812.
In 1812-13 Maharaja & Wazir Fateh Khan (of Kabul) agreed a joint expedition to win Kashmir. Fatah Khan wanted to remove Kashmir governor Ata Mohd Khan as he paid no tribute to Kabul and helped Shah Shuja to win Peshawar in 1810. Maharaja was promised an annual payment of 11 lakh rupees regarding Kashmir.
The Lahore force was in command of Diwan Mohkam Chand with Dal Singh Naherna as his Kashmir deputy. The Diwan marched from Gujrat via Bhimbar. At Rajauri he joined Fatah Khan. There was a heavy snowfall and Fatah Khan Wazir was not inclined to associate the Sikhs with his Afghan soldiers. Besides he had achieved the neutrality of the Sikhs. His soldiers were accustomed to the severity of winter, snowfalls and blizzards. He left behind Mohkam Chand without informing him and pushed on by double marches into the valley.
The Diwan saw Fatah Khan’s design. He took Rajauri chief into confidence, promising him a jagir of Rs. 25,000 annually, if he would show him a shorter route to Srinagar. As a result, the Diwan accompanied by Sandhu and Sidhu Jat rulers Jodh Singh Kalsia and Nihal Singh Atariwala, overtook the Wazir before Srinagar, and participated in the capture of the Shergarh fort and Hari Parbat as well as in reducing the valley about the middle of February 1813.
Gulzar-e-Kashmir states that Fatah Khan gave to Diwan Mohkam Chand a Hundi of 8 lakhs of rupees. Shah Shuja-ul-Mulk who was in prison in Srinagar was safely brought to Lahore. Diwan Mokham Chand (under instructions from Maharaja Ranjit Singh) struck to the agreement and Lahore forces withdrew from Kashmir.