What was the immediate reason for Ahmad Shah Abdali to invade India and fight the Third Battle of Panipat?

Ahmad Shah Abdali’s immediate motive for his 1759–61 return to India was retaliation against Maratha usurpation of his authority in North India. In 1758 the Marathas expelled Abdali’s agent Najib-ud-Daula from Delhi and captured Punjab, deposing Abdali’s viceroy (Timur Shah) and occupying Lahore. Abdali therefore launched a punitive expedition in October 1759 to recover the Punjab and avenge these actions, which culminated in his clash with Maratha forces at the Third Battle of Panipat (1761) [2]. Earlier Afghan governance arrangements — including Timur Shah’s appointment as viceroy of Lahore — underline why his deposition provoked Abdali’s direct military response [3].

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 4: India on the Eve of British Conquest > View > p. 60
2. [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 15: The Marathas > Circumstances > p. 233
3. [3] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 15: The Marathas > Circumstances > p. 232