This dagger seems to me remarkably like Indian 'chilanum', which commonly of course have variations of transversely extended bar in place of pommel, and often temporally resemble anthromorphic style hilts of ancient times in degree.
The crossguard or quillon block also resembles these type daggers in some of the variations, with these kinds of weapons from N.India/Deccan, and with the bud terminals (Deccani style 17th c. 'Elgood' p.117, "Hindu Arms and Ritual").
Interestingly the pommel 'bar' with upturned stylized dragonheads resemble daggers using this form from Vijayanagara of examples captured at Adoni in 1689 and taken to the Bikaner armoury in Rajasthan. Much of the south of Afghanistan was controlled by Mughals in N.India while Safavids controlled the west, and these type dragonheads were both Safavid and Ottoman in favored motif.
The dagger form itself is termed a 'khapwah' ("Art of the Muslim Knight", p.185) and this interesting variant reflects amalgamation of the Pashtun 'choora' blade and hilt elements of chilanum style featuring Deccani and N. Indian characteristics.
It is always hard to judge actual age of a weapon from photos, but there does seem to be genuine aging in the metal commensurate with its stated discovery in rubble supposing having been in situ in the structure for some time. It would seem quite possible to have been an early to mid 18th c. item.
I would point out that many weapons of India have been viewed misleadingly as unusually small in certain cases, and in Afghan regions the axes known as 'lohar' when actually handled seem unintimidating in size. Many of these kinds of weapons were small but quite deadly when used in close contact and against unsuspecting or indisposed victims, and were covertly hidden in clothing.
There is no reason to suspect this is a ritual weapon, but representative of the confluence of forms and styles typical in these regions, and quite a fascinating variant. Thank you for sharing this!
All best regards,
Jim
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