Khoqand and India: The role of ulema in diplomatic relations

Some scholars have traced the earliest diplomatic relations between the Khoqand Khanate and India to 1825, but the archival documents and manuscripts reveal important information about diplomatic relations which were actually established much earlier. While there were several key factors that contributed to the development of these relations, the primary concern of the rulers of Khoqand was to establish a close relationship with India that could be used to their advantage within the Central Asian region. However, despite the historical importance of these diplomatic relations, the relations of the Khanate with India (especially with the Maharajah of Djammu and Kashmir), and the role of religious leaders (,ulemas) as ambassadors has remained poorly studied. In many sources belonged to the 19^th century it was established that the Khoqand Khanate actively pursued diplomatic relations with India. Written sources also contain information about embassy missions led by religious leaders. Miyan Khalil Sakhibzada, Tash Khodja sudur and Khodja Bek led an embassy mission sent to India by the Khoqand Khanate. Written sources and archival documents dedicated to the history of the Khoqand Khanate contain information about their activities as ambassadors. This paper aims to study these issues and to analyze the dynamics of the embassy missions between the Khoqand Khanate and India.