Report of Dread: An Anonymous Diary on the Situation of Southern Khorasan on the Eve of Afghan Invasion (1134-36/1721-23) Dr Javad Abbasi Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Following the uprising of Ghalzai Afghan subjects of the Safavids in early 1120s/1710s in Qandhar, the eastern parts of the Safavid territory became the scene of political and military disarray which culminated in the fall of Safavid central government in 1135/1722. Concurrent with the Ghalzais’ domination on much parts of southern Afghanistan, the Abdali tribe in northern Afghanistan, unable to halt them, had to withdraw toward Herat and central Khorasan. Having not confronted with any resistance there, through intermittent raids, for about two decades, they were plundering the villages and towns of Khorasan. Covering the geographical triangular zone situated between Herat, Birjand and Mashhad, these raids deranged the routine life of the local people and, at the same time, afflicting the Safavid central authority with an uneven situation in its eastern frontiers. As a matter of fact, the Abdali threat was not less dangerous than that of Ghalzais. Though narrative sources of this period contain information about the Abdali uprising and territorial expansionism, their approach to the affairs of Khorasan has been limited to prepare the reader with nothing but a general overview of the events and trends, with special reference to the military ones. The present paper is a preliminary attempt to widen the scope of existing knowledge about the daily life of local residents of southern Khorasan amid this period of increasing tumult. Focusing upon an anonymous diary (Ms in Astan-i Quds Razavi Central Library, Mashhad) concerning the Afghan military infiltrations to villages of central and southern Khorasan, particularly in region stretching from Khwaf to Qayen, during the years 1134-1136/1721- 1723. This diary includes a first-hand narrative on the details of atrocities committed by Afghans. In addition, it reflects people’s dread and absence of any governmental, organized army in the chaotic scene of Khorasan. This paper aims to introduce this diary and to signal out its importance for better understanding of condition under which the Safavid government collapsed.

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