Battle of Khwar Pass

Safavid Ghilzai War

Persian sharpshooters

Date	1729
Location	Persia
Result	Persian victory (Ashraf's ambush failed)

Belligerents

Safavid Loyalists

Hotaki dynasty

Commanders and leaders

Nader

Ashraf Hotaki
(not present at time of battle)

Casualties and losses

Minimal

Heavy

all guns & baggage

Naderian Wars

Khorasan
Sangan
Sabzevar
1st Herat
- Kafer Qal'eh
- Herat 1729
Safavid restoration
- Damghan
- Khwar pass
- Murche-Khort
- Isfahan
- Zarghan
First Ottoman War
- West Persia
- Tahmasp's campaign
- Mesopotamia
- Caucasus
  - Ganja
  - Yeghevārd
2nd Herat
Rebellion of 1733
Qandahar
Indian campaign
- Khyber pass
- Battle of Karnal
Central Asia
Daghestan
Persian Gulf
Second Ottoman War
- Kars

The Battle of Khwar Pass was a failed ambush set up by Ashraf Hotaki during his retreat in the aftermath of his defeat at Mihmandoost. Gathering what forces lay on his route, Ashraf pulled together another formidable fighting force around the remains of his badly bloodied force, even having enough men to spare for an ambush set up at a narrow pass east of Varamin.

Battle

The Four-cornered Citadel of Varamin as seen by Jane Dieulafoy

Placing hidden guns and sharpshooters on the high ground overlooking the pass and fortifying the narrow pathway Ashraf even left a significant body of cavalry behind in order to hunt down the survivors of the ambush. Nader's spies however reported on Ashraf's designs at Khwar. Skirting around the ambush Nader, personally taking command, launched a two-pronged assault utilising musketeers with artillery support, catching the Afghans in an ambush of his own forcing the Ottomans to flee leaving their guns and baggage behind.