Editing Muhammad ibn al-Qasim (section)

===Military and political strategy===
The military strategy had been outlined by Al-Hajjaj in a letter sent to Muhammad ibn al-Qasim:<ref name="Derryl1">{{harvnb|MacLean|1989|pp=37–39}}</ref>
<blockquote>My ruling is given: Kill anyone belonging to the ''ahl-i-harb'' (combatants); arrest their sons and daughters for hostages and imprison them. Whoever does not fight against us...grant them [[Aman (Islam)|''aman'']] (peace and safety) and settle their tribute [''amwal''] as ''dhimmah'' (protected person)...</blockquote>

The Arabs' first concern was to facilitate the conquest of Sindh with the fewest casualties while also trying to preserve the economic infrastructure.{{sfn|MacLean|1989|pp=37-39}} Towns were given two options: submit to Islamic authority peacefully or be attacked by force ({{Transliteration|ar|anwattan}}), with the choice governing their treatment upon capture.{{sfn|MacLean|1989|pp=37-39}} The capture of towns was usually accomplished by means of a treaty with a party from among the enemy, who were then extended special privileges and material rewards.<ref name="Wink">{{harvnb|Wink|2002|pp=204–206}}</ref> There were two types of such treaties, "''[[Sulh]]''" or "''ahd-e-wasiq'' (capitulation)" and "''aman'' (surrender/ peace)".<ref name="Wink"/> Among towns and fortresses that were captured through force of arms, Muhammad ibn al-Qasim performed executions of ''ahl-i-harb'' (fighting men) as part of his military strategy, whose surviving dependants were enslaved.<ref name="Wink"/>

'''Casualties'''

Where resistance was strong, prolonged, and intensive, often resulting in considerable Arab casualties, Muhammad ibn al-Qasim's response was dramatic, inflicting 6,000 deaths at Aror (Rohri), between 6,000 and 26,000 at Brahmanabad, 4,000 at Iskalandah (Uch), and 6,000 at Multan.{{sfn|MacLean|1989|pp=22-29}} Conversely, in areas taken by ''sulh'', such as Armabil, Nirun, and Aror, resistance was light and few casualties occurred.{{sfn|MacLean|1989|pp=22-29}} Sulh appeared to be Muhammad ibn al-Qasim's preferred mode of conquest, the method used for more than 60% of the towns and tribes recorded by al-Baladhuri and the ''Chach Nama''.{{sfn|MacLean|1989|pp=22-29}} At one point, he was actually berated by Al-Hajjaj for being too lenient.{{sfn|MacLean|1989|pp=22-29}} Meanwhile, the common folk were often pardoned and encouraged to continue working;<ref name="Wink"/> Al-Hajjaj ordered that this option not be granted to any inhabitant of Debal, yet Muhammad ibn al-Qasim still bestowed it upon certain groups and individuals.{{sfn|MacLean|1989|pp=22-29}}