BANDA SINGH BAHADUR shook the nearly 20-years-old mighty mughal empire in seven years, from 1709 to 1715. Thereafter , the mughals could never reassert their authority in areas north or Delhi.
After Banda Bahadur’s execution , the Sikhs went thought extremely difficult times , suffering brutalities at the hands of Mughals. The hard core of Banda’s army retreated to inaccessible areas of  hill tracts, jungles and ravines to continue their struggle . The Sikhs developed and practiced skilled guerrilla tactics.
Denying the rules vast resources of Hindustan formed an important strategy of Sikhs. Looting government treasuries, rich landlords and good-laden Mughals convoys became favourite targets in his Panth Parkash, which is based on oral evidence, sums ups the military implication of resources denial—“Mughals could not get enough land revenue , peasants refused to pay on the ground that they had already been robbed by Sikhs , there was little money to pay to soldiers who deserted.”
To undermine the government authority further Sikh, introduce the Rakhi system, which offered protection on payment of nominal fees; it insures the double protection because the Sikh bands restrained themselves also protect themselves and also protect people against marauders . They made them saviours and seriously undermined government’s authorities.
Nadir Shah and his successor, Ahmed Shah Abdali, repeatedly came to India not to rule but to loot. Theae raiders were ruthless; mass killing, rapes, abductions and enslaving of thousand of salves were the result of these raids. The Sikhs were the only one who relieved them of their booty, and freed slaves.
Nadir Shah , after plundering Delhi, was returning to Persia in the summer of 1739; he was moving close to the foothills of the Himalayas to avoid the heat of the plains of Punjab. The Sikhs who was already their and were well-versed with the terrain, found Nadir’s loot-heavy army carrying goods on elephants, camels and horses, an easy prey.
They started to raid and plunder the baggage train as soon as the returning Afghan army entered Punjab and continued to do so all the ways off Indus. Thus, the Sikhs relieved him the most of his looted wealth and managed to free the Indians youth , including women, who had been enslaved. Nadir Shah was surprised at this daredevil acts by Sikh raiders. He inquired from Zakariya Khan , governor of Lahore “who are these mischief markets?” Zakariya replied: “ These are a group of Fakirs , who visits their Guru’s tank twice a year and after bathing in it disappare”.
Nadir Shah wanted to know where they live. Zakariya said: “their houses are their saddles; they can last long period without food and rest . They are known to sleep on horseback. We have put prizes on their heads, but their numbers keeps increases. They are never despondent, but are always singing the songs of their Pirs…A drop of nectar from their Guru transmutes a coward into a lion so wonderful is its effect”.
Nadir Shah remarked: “Take care, the day is not distant when these rebels will take possession of your country”.Ahmad shah abdali, who succeeded badir shah, raided India nine times between 1747 and 1769. like his predecessor, his aim was to plunder india’s wealth and carry it to Afghanistan.

The sikh army was determined to frustrate his motive by “robbing the robber”. Sikhs shadowed the afghan army lurking around the “soft spots” and flanks, often taking an opportunity to raid, kill plunder and free enslaved men and women. During one of the raids, in march 1761, Sikhs freed over 2,000 young women, meant for afghan harems, and escorted them safely to their homes, some as far as delhi and beyond. They robbed abdali during eight of his invasions. With each raid they got more resources and strength, and become bolder.

Tired and exhausted battle-weary afghan soliders, eager to return home, were no match for the battle-hardy, highly motivated Sikhs: “fifty of them were enough to keep at bay the whole battalion of king’s forces”. Abdali made his ninth and last attempt to conquer Punjab in 1769; the Sikhs blunted his invasion at jhelum itself. Abdali returned to kandahar, a defeated and broken man.

Rattan singh bhangoo, describes the sikh guerrilla tactics: “hit the enemy hard enough to kill, run, turn back and hit him again; run again, hit and run till you exasperate the enemy, and then melt away”. The guerrilla tactics is summed up in two words: dhai phat (two –and-a-half injuries). The approach to battle with total surprise is one phat, a sudden shock action throwing the enemy off balance is half phat; successful speedily and orderly withdrawal after the attack is the remaining ‘one phat’.

Qazi nur mohammed, who accompanied ahemad shah abdali, was an eye-witness to all engagements . he was no firnds of Sikhs; his strong hatred is obvious when he refers to them as dogs, pig-eaters, accursed infidels, dirty idolaters and so on. Despite his strong dislike for Sikhs, he couldn’t help describing their excellent conduct, their values, agility and grand physical appearance. In his own words:

“do not call the Sikhs dogs, because they are lions and are brave like lions in the battlefield. When they take Indian sword in their hands, they traverse the country form hind to sind… none can stand against them in battle, howsoever strong he may be… when their battle axes fall upon the armor of their opponents, it becomes their coffin… they came to the field fiercely springing and roaring like lions and immediately split many a breast and make the blood of many others spill in the dust. The body of everyone of them is like a piece of rock… every one of them is more than 50 men… at time of peace, they surpass hatim” (in goodness and generosity).”

They retained their mobility by staying on horseback, without allowing to pitch classical battle to the enemy. They would cunningly draw a small contingent of the enemy from the main force, luring it to chase them, thus isolating it from any possible help, then encircle and annihilate this isolated contingent. After the skirmish , the Sikhs would retreatquickly, carrying with them much-needed horses and weapons. Qazi nur mohammed describes the technique:

“if their armies take to flight, do not take it as an actual flight. It is a war tactics of theirs. Beware; beware of them the second time. The object of this trick is when the furious enemy runs after them; he is separated from his main army and from his reinforcements. Then they turn back to face their pursuers and set fire even to water”.

Beside raw courage, supreme fighting skills and missionary spirit to die in the battle, which the khalsa  had in plenty, they also had a major force multiplier in their favour- the local support of hindus and muslims, both helped them, especially the peasantry. This was achieved by the exemplary conduct of sikh soldiers during battle. Sikhs never forgot-“soora so pahchaniye jo lare deen ke het, purja purjakat mare, kabh hu chhade khet”.