Iltutmish followed the policy of neutrality when Mangabarni asked for help against the Mongols because

Answer & Explanation

Answer: [C]

The reason Iltutmish followed the policy of neutrality when Mangabarni asked for help against the Mongols is:

C) He did not want to drag his infant kingdom into Central Asian politics.

Iltutmish, who ruled as the Sultan of Delhi from 1211 to 1236, was faced with the request for assistance from Mangabarni, who was the ruler of Bengal and sought help against the Mongols. However, Iltutmish chose to maintain a policy of neutrality and refrained from getting involved in the conflict.

One of the main reasons for this decision was that Iltutmish's kingdom was relatively young and still consolidating its power in northern India. Getting involved in the conflict with the Mongols, who were a formidable force at the time, would have risked the stability and security of his own kingdom.

Therefore, the most appropriate option is C) he did not want to drag his infant kingdom into Central Asian politics.