What were the main causes of the Panipat Third War?

Answer 1

One of the main causes was the expansionist ambitions of both the Marathas and Ahmad Shah Durrani. The Marathas were expanding their territory northwards which threatened the Afghan interests in the region. Also, the political instability in the northern part of India created a power vacuum that both sides wanted to fill.

Answer 2

The main causes of the Third Battle of Panipat were multi - faceted. Firstly, the Marathas' expansionist policies. They had a large and well - trained army and aimed to bring more regions under their control. Ahmad Shah Durrani, who had his own influence in the Afghan and northern Indian regions, felt threatened. Another factor was the internal politics of the Maratha Empire. There were differences in opinions among the Maratha leaders regarding the expansion strategy. This may have affected their military decisions during the battle. Also, the desire to control the rich agricultural and trade - rich regions of northern India was a significant factor for both sides.

Answer 3

The Marathas' growing influence and their attempts to assert control over the northern regions were a major cause. They had already established a large empire and were looking to expand further. Ahmad Shah Durrani, on the other hand, saw this as a threat to his own power and influence in the area. Moreover, there were also issues related to control over trade routes and resources in the northern part of India. The Marathas' increasing presence in these areas was not acceptable to Durrani, leading to the conflict.