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Why were Kabul, Kandahar, and Ghazni important to Mughal security and trade?

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Akbar A painting titled *Akbar Hunting* from a folio of *Akbarnama* (“History of Akbar”), late 16th century; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

For the Mughal Empire under Akbar, the northwestern frontier towns of Kabul, Kandahar, and Ghazni were vital to both state security and economic prosperity.1

These outposts served two primary functions:

Strategic Security: These towns acted as critical defensive buffers on the empire's northwestern frontier. By securing these locations, Akbar was able to fix the boundaries of his empire and protect against external threats, such as potential invasions from Central Asia.1
Trade and Logistics: These cities functioned as essential links connecting India to Central and Western Asia via overland trade routes. Beyond facilitating general commerce, they were specifically crucial for the Mughal military, as they provided a reliable source of horses for the Mughal cavalry.1

Akbar recognized the importance of these regions, strengthening his control over them during the 1580s and 1590s to ensure the stability and military readiness of his empire.1