Kohan Dil Khan
Kohan Dil Khan Barakzai was the third Prince of the Principality of Kandahar who ruled from 1830 to his death in 1855. His rule sparked a succession crisis between his brother Rahim Dil Khan, and his son Siddiq Khan. The state of chaos and anarchy gave a strategic advantage to Dost Mohammad Khan, a half-brother of the Dil Brothers who reigned in Kabul, where he conquered Kandahar in 1855.Early life
Kohan was born into a Barakzai family, to his father Payandah Khan and to an Idu Khel Hotak lady, alongside his full-brothers, also known as the 'Dil Brothers': Sher Dil Khan, Pur Dil Khan, Rahim Dil Khan and Mehr Dil Khan.Reign
In 1852, Kohan was disturbed by the punishment of the Tokhi and Hotak tribes of Qalat by Dost Mohammad Khan. Kohandil Khan was worried that this would see the rise of greater influence from Dost Mohammad in the region and possibly stake claim to Kandahar and intervene in the region, ultimately to conquer it and unite the two Barakzai realms. Due to this, Kohandil Khan deployed his younger brother, Mihr Dil Khan, with 4,000 men toward Qalat. Kohan also dispatched several field pieces to fortify the Qalat citadel so that if Dost Mohammad ever attempted to seize Qalat, the citadel could hold out, thus challenging Dost Mohammad. Upon hearing this, Dost Mohammad dispatched Sher Ali Khan from Ghazni to Qalat, also sending Sardar Haidar Khan from Kabul with an army. The two brothers united armies while marching on Kandahar. The forces of Haidar Khan and Sher Ali reached Qalat, and Haidar Khan's cavalrymen rode up to the walls, but were driven off by cannon fire by forces under Mihrdil Khan. Haidar Khan relayed news of what occurred to Dost Mohammad. Dost Mohammad placed Sardar Mohammad Azam Khan as Regent in Kabul, and marched for Qalat along with Nawab Jabbar Khan, Sultan Mohammad Khan, Pir Mohammad Khan, and Sa'id Mohammad Khan. As Dost Mohammad encroached further towards Qalat and news of this came to Mihr Dil Khan, Mihr further entrenched himself in defensive positions and prevented entry through the gate of Qalat.