Hamza913
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Mahmud Ghaznavi was a powerful ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire. He was born in Ghazni, and ruled over the Ghaznavid Empire for a period of 32 years, from 998 to 1030 AD. He was the first ruler to use the title of Sultan, which reflected the fact that he recognised the Abbasid Caliphate as being suzerain over him. He was also the first major Muslim leader to come from South Asia.
Under Ghaznavi, the empire expanded to include most of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia and Iran, however, the main territories of the Ghaznavid Empire were considered to be Afghanistan and Pakistan, which is reflected by the fact that the two largest cities of the empire existed within the boundaries of those two nations (Ghazni and Lahore). Mahmud Ghaznavi also launched numerous raids into Hindustan, looting and depopulating numerous cities as well as destroying/damaging many statues and temples, such as the famous Soomnath Temple. He even went as far as to vow he would raid Hindustan on a yearly basis for as long as possible.
Ghaznavi maintained a large and powerful army, which mostly consisted of Turks, Pashtuns and Punjabis. Ghaznavi would often use these different ethnic groups to keep each other in check, e.g if Pashtuns started causing trouble he would send Punjabis to deal with them. What's most notable about his military is that it had many people of Hindu origin fighting within it, and even several of his generals were of a Hindu background. However, it can be assumed with relative certainty that these people were only Hindu by birth, and were unlikely to have actually practised the religion since Ghaznavid soldiers we involved in frequent attacks on Hindu holy sites as mentioned earlier. The Ghaznavid army was also the first Muslim army to make use of war elephants.
It was also under Mahmud Ghaznavis rule that Islam and Persian culture was firmly established in Pakistan, with many people from Pakistan converting to Islam (thanks to missionaries) and many foreign Muslims migrating to the region. Since these Muslims were mostly of a Persian background, this also allowed for Persian culture to be established in Pakistan, particularly Lahore which became a hub for Persian culture. The effects of this are still seen today, e.g Urdu has many Farsi loan words and is written in Nastaliq script.
Mahmud Ghaznavi is remembered most fondly by people from Afghanistan and Pakistan. He is liked in Afghanistan because he was born there, developed the region significantly (especially Ghazni) and had many Afghans working in his army and administration. He is liked in Pakistan because he firmly established Islam in the region (which allowed for Pakistan to exist in the first place), developed the region significantly (especially Lahore), brought Persian culture which influenced Pakistan immensely, had many Pakistanis work in his army and administration, brought along with him many people who settled and intermarried with the local population of Pakistan, and because the areas of Baluchistan, KPK and FATA have also been historically associated with Afghanistan. The Pakistani military has also named a missile after him. Many Turks also speak fondly of him as he had Turkic ancestry and employed many Turks in his army and administration.
He is most hated by Hindustanis as he looted and depopulated their country on a regular basis.
Ghaznavid Empire under Mahmud Ghaznavi:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmud_of_Ghazni
http://storyofpakistan.com/mahmud-ghaznavi
http://historypak.com/mahmood-ghaznavi/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghaznavids
Under Ghaznavi, the empire expanded to include most of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia and Iran, however, the main territories of the Ghaznavid Empire were considered to be Afghanistan and Pakistan, which is reflected by the fact that the two largest cities of the empire existed within the boundaries of those two nations (Ghazni and Lahore). Mahmud Ghaznavi also launched numerous raids into Hindustan, looting and depopulating numerous cities as well as destroying/damaging many statues and temples, such as the famous Soomnath Temple. He even went as far as to vow he would raid Hindustan on a yearly basis for as long as possible.
Ghaznavi maintained a large and powerful army, which mostly consisted of Turks, Pashtuns and Punjabis. Ghaznavi would often use these different ethnic groups to keep each other in check, e.g if Pashtuns started causing trouble he would send Punjabis to deal with them. What's most notable about his military is that it had many people of Hindu origin fighting within it, and even several of his generals were of a Hindu background. However, it can be assumed with relative certainty that these people were only Hindu by birth, and were unlikely to have actually practised the religion since Ghaznavid soldiers we involved in frequent attacks on Hindu holy sites as mentioned earlier. The Ghaznavid army was also the first Muslim army to make use of war elephants.
It was also under Mahmud Ghaznavis rule that Islam and Persian culture was firmly established in Pakistan, with many people from Pakistan converting to Islam (thanks to missionaries) and many foreign Muslims migrating to the region. Since these Muslims were mostly of a Persian background, this also allowed for Persian culture to be established in Pakistan, particularly Lahore which became a hub for Persian culture. The effects of this are still seen today, e.g Urdu has many Farsi loan words and is written in Nastaliq script.
Mahmud Ghaznavi is remembered most fondly by people from Afghanistan and Pakistan. He is liked in Afghanistan because he was born there, developed the region significantly (especially Ghazni) and had many Afghans working in his army and administration. He is liked in Pakistan because he firmly established Islam in the region (which allowed for Pakistan to exist in the first place), developed the region significantly (especially Lahore), brought Persian culture which influenced Pakistan immensely, had many Pakistanis work in his army and administration, brought along with him many people who settled and intermarried with the local population of Pakistan, and because the areas of Baluchistan, KPK and FATA have also been historically associated with Afghanistan. The Pakistani military has also named a missile after him. Many Turks also speak fondly of him as he had Turkic ancestry and employed many Turks in his army and administration.
He is most hated by Hindustanis as he looted and depopulated their country on a regular basis.
Ghaznavid Empire under Mahmud Ghaznavi:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmud_of_Ghazni
http://storyofpakistan.com/mahmud-ghaznavi
http://historypak.com/mahmood-ghaznavi/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghaznavids
, and the stone fragments are carted back to Ghazni, where they are incorporated into the steps of the city's new Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) in 1026 A.D. 
