Assertion (A): Shah Alam II spent the initial years as an Emperor far away from his capital. Reason (R): There was always a lurking danger of foreign invasion from the north-west frontier.

The correct answer is B because both statements are true, but the reason does not explain the assertion.

Assertion A is true because Shah Alam II lived in exile for twelve years, mostly in Allahabad and Oudh, and did not enter Delhi until 1772. He lived under the protection of the Nawab of Oudh and later the British after the Battle of Buxar.

Reason R is also true because the north-west frontier remained a constant source of anxiety due to repeated invasions by Ahmad Shah Abdali, which destabilized the empire.

However, the reason for Shah Alam II staying away from Delhi was not the foreign invasion. Instead, he stayed away because of the intense power struggles and internal politics at the Delhi court. He specifically feared his own Wazir, Imad-ul-Mulk, who had murdered the previous Emperor, Alamgir II. Therefore, internal rebellion and the Wazir's control over Delhi were the actual reasons for his exile, making R an incorrect explanation for A.