Sher Afgan

Ali Quli Istajlu, 'Sher Afgan Khan', also mentioned as Ali Quli Khan Istajlu 'Sher Afgan Khan' (Persian: شيرافگن خان‎‎) was a Mughal courtier, earlier serving in Persia, who became the jagirdar of Burdwan in West Bengal (1605–1607). He was also the first husband of Nur Jahan (Mehrunissa), who later married Jahangir after Ali Quli Khan's death and became Empress of India.

He was given the title Sher Afgan Khan, by Prince Salim, Jahangir, after his meritorious actions, during a war with the Rana of Mewar. Ali Quli Khan Istajlu, was educated under the instructions of Shah Ismail II of Safavid dynasty in Iran. Like his wife, Sher Afgan was also an immigrant from Isfahan,Persia, who fled from Iran, to Kandahar, then in India.

He was the father of a daughter called Ladli Begum, after she married Prince Shahryar, the fifth and youngest son of Jahangir and rival to Shah Jahan.

Ali Quli Khan Istajlu was the safarchi (table-attendant) of Ismail II, the third Safavid Shah of Persia (1576–78). After the Shah's death, Ali Quli came to Kandahar, and at Multan he met Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana who made him a royal employee while in the field.

Later, on Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana's recommendation, Ali Quli received a mansab, Thatta (in present-day Pakistan). During the following years he rendered distinguished services to Akbar, and moved to the royal courts at Lahore.

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