Mahsud
Encyclopedia
Mahsud
Mahsud is a Pashtun
tribe in South Waziristan
, a tribal region in Pakistan
. Mahsud are considered to be one of the bravest and toughest Pashtun Tribes. The Mahsud (Masood) tribe lives in the centre of South Waziristan
valley, surrounded on three sides by the Darwesh Waziris
, and being shut off by the Bhittani
s on the east from the Derajat
and Bannu
districts. Two Pashtun tribes, Ahmadzai Wazir and Mahsud, inhabit and dominate South Waziristan
. Mahsud are the second largest tribe of South Waziristan
after Wazir
. Within the heart of Mahsud (Masood) territory in South Waziristan lies the influential Burki
(also known as Barak/Baraki/Urmar) tribe's stronghold of Kaniguram
. The Burki are considered by other tribes/khels of South Waziristan to be close brethren of the Mahsud due to marital and other ties and the fact that the Burki have lived in and controlled Kaniguram for over a thousand years. Some Mahsuds (Masoods) live in Afghanistan, in particular in Loogar, Wardak, Ghazni
, Kunduz
, and Baghlan
provinces, as well as in Germany
and Great Britain
.
The Mahsud (Masood) usually pronounce their name "Maseed." They are divided into three great clans or subtribes, namely Manzai
, Bahlolzai
, and Shaman Khel
. Mahsuds (Masoods) usually call these Dre Maseed, meaning the Three Mahsuds. Each tribe has his own Khan
.
In the words of Sir Olaf Caroe
, who acted as the former governor of the British Indian Frontier, "The Mahsud tribe are a people who can never even think of submitting to a foreign power." From 1860 to 1937, the English forces repeatedly attacked Mahsud positions, but never got a foothold in the area.
In 1860, three thousand Mahsud (Masood) tribesmen attacked the British regiment base in Tank (present South Waziristan). The British struggled to defeat them.
In 1897, Mujahed
tribesmen again stood up against the British all the way from Chitral
to Quetta
kakar, and the British experienced difficulty when engaging them. It was during this time that the name of Mullah Powindah
emerged. Powindah comes from the Pashto language
, meaning "nomad
".
Day after day, Mullah Powindah grew more popular and famous. He emerged as a legendary figure among the people of the region and beyond. There was even a time the British considered him to be the sole leader of the Waziristan country. His followers would sporadically kill individual British officers. However, the British were not able to capture the attackers, who would return to their mountain hideouts. All attempts to stop these attacks were unsuccessful.
In 1907, the Wazir and Mahsud (Masood) tribesmen were blocked from entry into any government-controlled territory. Economic sanctions
were imposed, blocking even basic amenities, such as food and medicine. The British commander of that time blockaded the areas of Makin
and Kaniguram. Various areas were searched to arrest Mullah Powindah without success. The British thought that the tribesmen were receiving weapons by sea, from the coast of Balochistan
and responded by creating check posts, but no weapons were confiscated.
Mullah Powindah died in 1913. It could be said that he was the crownless emperor of one of the most fiercesome of the Pashtun Tribes, the Mahsuds. Upon his death, his son Shah Fazal Din was given leadership and his son-in-law, Mulla Abdul Hakeem kakar, was appointed his adviser.
When World War I
started in 1915, the British were concerned that they would be engaged in battle on more than one front. This was a threat to their safety and economy, so they decided to close those fronts of lesser significance. They abandoned their ‘Forward Policy’ for the time being and sent a message of friendship and peace to the tribes. The tribes did not trust the British, and rejected these peace proposals. Instead, the Mahsuds assembled a militia to attack the British.
By this time, the British had established an air force in the subcontinent, which was used to harass the tribesmen, and as a result the tribe's hatred of the British increased. As a result of their suffering they were bent upon taking revenge, and hence their morale increased. A series of attacks were made by the Mahsuds, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. The attack on the Marhatta Regiment resulted in the deaths of hundreds of sepoy
s and five British Officers. In the attack on the Punjab Regiment
, the Mahsud warriors slaughtered everyone. The aerial bombardments had inflicted significant losses on the tribesmen, but they were content that they were also doing well and had killed around 250 of the enemy forces.
After the end of World War I, the British returned to Waziristan. This time, they built roads and forts throughout the land. The sophistication and constant patrols of the British Air Force helped create a secure atmosphere for their ground troops. With this sense of security, the British Army constructed a road from Jandola
to Ladha
. At Razmak
, they constructed a cantonment for their army officers and soldiers.
By 1922-23, all the British forces had moved from Wana
to Razmak
. They had constructed an airport there and instead of flying all the way from India
, their aircraft would fly from Razmak Airport and bomb the countryside. Because of this, the countryside of Makin
was totally devastated. The Mahsuds deemed it appropriate at this time to agree to a ceasefire because this new British tactic was inflicting widespread losses on their side. The ceasefire, they imagined, would also enable them to devise a strategy for countering the latest British advances.
In 1925, the Royal Air Force
successfully put down a Mahsud rebellion by strafing the tribes' mountain strongholds. The action, which came to be known as Pink's War
led to the tribal leaders seeking peace terms.
In 1927 Ghazi Ramzan Khan Shaman Khel attacked Wana camp with a huge lashkar (tribal militia). The result was a big loss for the British army. In 1928 Ghazi Ramzan Khan re-assembled his lashkar again for his next attack, on Sararogha Fort. This time he attacked with a powerful force, killed all of the defending soldiers (numbering 300) and took hold of the Fort.
and throughout the British Colonial period, they supported Afghan kings in their wars against the British. On many occasions the Afghan throne was saved with the help of the Mahsud, Burki/Baraki, and Wazirs from Wazirstan. Of those who fought during this time, most came back to their homeland, but those who stayed were given high ranks of office, such as Faiz Muhammad Mahsud, who was granted a title the equivalent of prime minister during the 1970s. Today the majority of Mahsuds are still in Logar Province, with the title of Waziri, but by caste, they are Mahsuds. The majority of these are Manzai with a sub-caste of Dramankel, Faridi, etc. When the Soviet-Afghan War started, some of these families came back to Wazirstan but could not stay there, so they moved to cities like Peshawar
and Karachi
.
Since independence, many social, economic and demographic changes have occurred in Waziristan. A large number of Mahsuds have joined mainstream Pakistani society. When the Hindu
traders of Tank left after the Partition of India
in 1947, most of their shops were taken over by Mahsuds. Now Mahsuds are employed in the militia and regular army, state bureaucracy, and involved in business all around the country. Many of them are now living far away from their native lands.
Immediately after independence, Mahsuds raised a tribal lashkar
which entered Kashmir
to help the newly created state Pakistan
to capture Kashmir
. They quickly reached the outskirts of Srinagar
Lashkar invasion of Kashmir.
Charles Chevenix Trench writes in his 'The Frontier Scouts' (1985):
Lashkar invasion of Kashmir: the truth by Prof Farakh A Khan (19. 8. 2007):
Mahsud is a Pashtun
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
tribe in South Waziristan
South Waziristan
South Waziristan is the southern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11,585 km² . Waziristan comprises the area west and southwest of Peshawar between the Tochi River to the north and the Gomal River to the south, forming...
, a tribal region in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Mahsud are considered to be one of the bravest and toughest Pashtun Tribes. The Mahsud (Masood) tribe lives in the centre of South Waziristan
South Waziristan
South Waziristan is the southern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11,585 km² . Waziristan comprises the area west and southwest of Peshawar between the Tochi River to the north and the Gomal River to the south, forming...
valley, surrounded on three sides by the Darwesh Waziris
Wazir (tribe)
Wazirs or Waziris are a Pashtun tribe settled in the North Waziristan and South Waziristan agencies of Pakistan as well in the urban cities of Tank, F.R Bannu,i.e Domel and adjacent villages, Karachi and Lahore. Across the border, they can also be found in Paktia, Khost and Paktika provinces of...
, and being shut off by the Bhittani
Bhittani
The Bhittani/Bettani is a Pashtun tribe located in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. The Bettanis reside in a territory that is a buffer zone separating Tank District from the Mahsud tribe of South Waziristan Region. The Bettani tribe live in the Frontier Region of Tank District...
s on the east from the Derajat
Derajat
Derajat meaning, 'Land of the Jats' or "Jat Land'. Derajat is a cultural region of central Pakistan, located in the region where the provinces of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab meet. Derajat is bound by the Indus River to the east and the mountains to the west...
and Bannu
Bannu
Bannu is the principal city of the Bannu District in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. It is an important road junction and market city. Bannu is a very old city, founded in ancient times; however, the present location of the downtown Bannu was founded by Sir Herbert Edwardes in 1848,...
districts. Two Pashtun tribes, Ahmadzai Wazir and Mahsud, inhabit and dominate South Waziristan
South Waziristan
South Waziristan is the southern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11,585 km² . Waziristan comprises the area west and southwest of Peshawar between the Tochi River to the north and the Gomal River to the south, forming...
. Mahsud are the second largest tribe of South Waziristan
South Waziristan
South Waziristan is the southern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11,585 km² . Waziristan comprises the area west and southwest of Peshawar between the Tochi River to the north and the Gomal River to the south, forming...
after Wazir
Wazir
Wazir or Vazir means Minister in Middle Eastern languages. It may refer to:-People:* Wazir Akbar Khan, an Afghan prince, general, wazir, ghazi, tribal leader, victor of first Anglo-Afghan war, hero and an Afghan legend....
. Within the heart of Mahsud (Masood) territory in South Waziristan lies the influential Burki
Burki
The Burki are a Pushtun tribe of South Waziristan, Pakistan, whose homeland is Kaniguram...
(also known as Barak/Baraki/Urmar) tribe's stronghold of Kaniguram
Kaniguram
Kaniguram is a town in South Waziristan, Pakistan. It is the principal place associated with the Burki tribe and was the home of the sixteenth century scholar Pir Roshan.-Demographics:...
. The Burki are considered by other tribes/khels of South Waziristan to be close brethren of the Mahsud due to marital and other ties and the fact that the Burki have lived in and controlled Kaniguram for over a thousand years. Some Mahsuds (Masoods) live in Afghanistan, in particular in Loogar, Wardak, Ghazni
Ghazni
For the Province of Ghazni see Ghazni ProvinceGhazni is a city in central-east Afghanistan with a population of about 141,000 people...
, Kunduz
Kunduz
Kunduz also known as Kundûz, Qonduz, Qondûz, Konduz, Kondûz, Kondoz, or Qhunduz is a city in northern Afghanistan, the capital of Kunduz Province. It is linked by highways with Mazari Sharif to the west, Kabul to the south and Tajikistan's border to the north...
, and Baghlan
Baghlan
Baghlan is a city in northern Afghanistan, in the eponymous province, Baghlan Province. It is located three miles east of the Kunduz River, 35 miles south of Khanabad, and about 1,700 metres above sea level in the northern Hindu Kush...
provinces, as well as in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Great Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The Mahsud (Masood) usually pronounce their name "Maseed." They are divided into three great clans or subtribes, namely Manzai
Manzai
is a traditional style of stand-up comedy in Japanese culture, which usually involves two performers —a straight man and a funny man —trading jokes at great speed...
, Bahlolzai
Bahlolzai
Bahlolzai is Pashtun tribe in Pakistan. Bahlolzai is considered as a clan of the Mahsud tribe. They live in Mahsud area in south Waziristan.-References:*...
, and Shaman Khel
Shaman Khel
Shaman Khel is one of the Mehsud subtribes. They live in three different places in South Waziristan. Ladha, Sararogha and Sarwekay.-Sub-Castes:Shaman Khel are divided by four sub-castes:* Chiyar Khel*Khali Khel* Bodinzai*Galishai...
. Mahsuds (Masoods) usually call these Dre Maseed, meaning the Three Mahsuds. Each tribe has his own Khan
Khan (title)
Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
.
In the words of Sir Olaf Caroe
Olaf Caroe
Sir Olaf Kirkpatrick Kruuse Caroe KCSI KCIE was an administrator in British India. He later became a writer on the Middle East and Asia.-Life:...
, who acted as the former governor of the British Indian Frontier, "The Mahsud tribe are a people who can never even think of submitting to a foreign power." From 1860 to 1937, the English forces repeatedly attacked Mahsud positions, but never got a foothold in the area.
History
In 1850, Lewat's tribesmen the Great Baromi's (Shabi Khel) defeated 3,000 British troops with only 300 fighters, using guerrilla tactics by attacking the British in the Valley of Bobar (Waziristan) from all sides with outdated rifles and swords. This attack demoralized the British and made them fearful of the Mehsuds. Survivors of this attack reported that the sight of the Mehsud tribesmen charging at them (with loud roars and wearing long hair and beards) affected them mentally.In 1860, three thousand Mahsud (Masood) tribesmen attacked the British regiment base in Tank (present South Waziristan). The British struggled to defeat them.
In 1897, Mujahed
Mujahideen
Mujahideen are Muslims who struggle in the path of God. The word is from the same Arabic triliteral as jihad .Mujahideen is also transliterated from Arabic as mujahedin, mujahedeen, mudžahedin, mudžahidin, mujahidīn, mujaheddīn and more.-Origin of the concept:The beginnings of Jihad are traced...
tribesmen again stood up against the British all the way from Chitral
Chitral
Chitral or Chetrar , translated as field in the native language Khowar, is the capital of the Chitral District, situated on the western bank of the Kunar River , in Pakistan. The town is at the foot of Tirich Mir, the highest peak of the Hindu Kush, high...
to Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
kakar, and the British experienced difficulty when engaging them. It was during this time that the name of Mullah Powindah
Mullah Powindah
Mullah Powindah born Mohiuddin Mahsud was a religious leader in the Pashtun tribe of the Mahsuds. Mullah Powindah led a long standing guerilla insurgency against the British forces in the late 19th century....
emerged. Powindah comes from the Pashto language
Pashto language
Pashto , known as Afghani in Persian and Pathani in Punjabi , is the native language of the indigenous Pashtun people or Afghan people who are found primarily between an area south of the Amu Darya in Afghanistan and...
, meaning "nomad
Nomad
Nomadic people , commonly known as itinerants in modern-day contexts, are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location. There are an estimated 30-40 million nomads in the world. Many cultures have traditionally been nomadic, but...
".
Day after day, Mullah Powindah grew more popular and famous. He emerged as a legendary figure among the people of the region and beyond. There was even a time the British considered him to be the sole leader of the Waziristan country. His followers would sporadically kill individual British officers. However, the British were not able to capture the attackers, who would return to their mountain hideouts. All attempts to stop these attacks were unsuccessful.
In 1907, the Wazir and Mahsud (Masood) tribesmen were blocked from entry into any government-controlled territory. Economic sanctions
Economic sanctions
Economic sanctions are domestic penalties applied by one country on another for a variety of reasons. Economic sanctions include, but are not limited to, tariffs, trade barriers, import duties, and import or export quotas...
were imposed, blocking even basic amenities, such as food and medicine. The British commander of that time blockaded the areas of Makin
Makin
Makin may refer to:*Makin , Kiribati**Makin Island, Makin, the main island***Makin , the capital of Makin**The Makin Island raid, a 1942 attack by US Marines on Japanese military forces on Makin Island...
and Kaniguram. Various areas were searched to arrest Mullah Powindah without success. The British thought that the tribesmen were receiving weapons by sea, from the coast of Balochistan
Balochistan (region)
Balochistan or Baluchistan is an arid, mountainous region in the Iranian plateau in Southwest Asia; it includes part of southeastern Iran, western Pakistan, and southwestern Afghanistan. The area is named after the numerous Baloch tribes, Iranian peoples who moved into the area from the west...
and responded by creating check posts, but no weapons were confiscated.
Mullah Powindah died in 1913. It could be said that he was the crownless emperor of one of the most fiercesome of the Pashtun Tribes, the Mahsuds. Upon his death, his son Shah Fazal Din was given leadership and his son-in-law, Mulla Abdul Hakeem kakar, was appointed his adviser.
When World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
started in 1915, the British were concerned that they would be engaged in battle on more than one front. This was a threat to their safety and economy, so they decided to close those fronts of lesser significance. They abandoned their ‘Forward Policy’ for the time being and sent a message of friendship and peace to the tribes. The tribes did not trust the British, and rejected these peace proposals. Instead, the Mahsuds assembled a militia to attack the British.
By this time, the British had established an air force in the subcontinent, which was used to harass the tribesmen, and as a result the tribe's hatred of the British increased. As a result of their suffering they were bent upon taking revenge, and hence their morale increased. A series of attacks were made by the Mahsuds, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. The attack on the Marhatta Regiment resulted in the deaths of hundreds of sepoy
Sepoy
A sepoy was formerly the designation given to an Indian soldier in the service of a European power. In the modern Indian Army, Pakistan Army and Bangladesh Army it remains in use for the rank of private soldier.-Etymology and Historical usage:...
s and five British Officers. In the attack on the Punjab Regiment
Punjab Regiment (Pakistan)
The Punjab Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Pakistan Army. The modern regiment was formed in 1956 from an amalgamation of the 1st Punjab Regiment, 14th Punjab Regiment, 15th Punjab Regiment and 16th Punjab Regiment...
, the Mahsud warriors slaughtered everyone. The aerial bombardments had inflicted significant losses on the tribesmen, but they were content that they were also doing well and had killed around 250 of the enemy forces.
After the end of World War I, the British returned to Waziristan. This time, they built roads and forts throughout the land. The sophistication and constant patrols of the British Air Force helped create a secure atmosphere for their ground troops. With this sense of security, the British Army constructed a road from Jandola
Jandola
Jandola is a town in Frontier Region Tank, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan....
to Ladha
Ladha
Ladha is a subdivision in South Waziristan, in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan, located between Wanna and Razmak. Just south of Ladha is the village of Kaniguram, and to the north is the small town of Makin.- Attacks :...
. At Razmak
Razmak
Razmak is one of the three sub-divisions of North Waziristan Agency in Pakistan, the other two being Miranshah and Mirali. Inhabitants are Uthmanzai Wazirs. Razmak is further sub-divided in three Tehsils. Tehsil being the lowest administrative unit in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of...
, they constructed a cantonment for their army officers and soldiers.
By 1922-23, all the British forces had moved from Wana
Wana
Wana is the largest town of South Waziristan Agency in Pakistan's FATA . It is the summer headquarters for the Agency's administration, Tank located in neighbouring Tank District being the winter HQ-Colonial history:...
to Razmak
Razmak
Razmak is one of the three sub-divisions of North Waziristan Agency in Pakistan, the other two being Miranshah and Mirali. Inhabitants are Uthmanzai Wazirs. Razmak is further sub-divided in three Tehsils. Tehsil being the lowest administrative unit in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of...
. They had constructed an airport there and instead of flying all the way from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, their aircraft would fly from Razmak Airport and bomb the countryside. Because of this, the countryside of Makin
Makin
Makin may refer to:*Makin , Kiribati**Makin Island, Makin, the main island***Makin , the capital of Makin**The Makin Island raid, a 1942 attack by US Marines on Japanese military forces on Makin Island...
was totally devastated. The Mahsuds deemed it appropriate at this time to agree to a ceasefire because this new British tactic was inflicting widespread losses on their side. The ceasefire, they imagined, would also enable them to devise a strategy for countering the latest British advances.
In 1925, the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
successfully put down a Mahsud rebellion by strafing the tribes' mountain strongholds. The action, which came to be known as Pink's War
Pink's War
Pink's War was an air to ground bombardment and strafing carried out by the Royal Air Force, under the command of Wing Commander Richard Charles Montagu Pink, against the mountain strongholds of Mahsud tribesmen in South Waziristan in March and April 1925....
led to the tribal leaders seeking peace terms.
In 1927 Ghazi Ramzan Khan Shaman Khel attacked Wana camp with a huge lashkar (tribal militia). The result was a big loss for the British army. In 1928 Ghazi Ramzan Khan re-assembled his lashkar again for his next attack, on Sararogha Fort. This time he attacked with a powerful force, killed all of the defending soldiers (numbering 300) and took hold of the Fort.
Recent history
Historically, the Wazirs and Mahsuds have always looked toward AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and throughout the British Colonial period, they supported Afghan kings in their wars against the British. On many occasions the Afghan throne was saved with the help of the Mahsud, Burki/Baraki, and Wazirs from Wazirstan. Of those who fought during this time, most came back to their homeland, but those who stayed were given high ranks of office, such as Faiz Muhammad Mahsud, who was granted a title the equivalent of prime minister during the 1970s. Today the majority of Mahsuds are still in Logar Province, with the title of Waziri, but by caste, they are Mahsuds. The majority of these are Manzai with a sub-caste of Dramankel, Faridi, etc. When the Soviet-Afghan War started, some of these families came back to Wazirstan but could not stay there, so they moved to cities like Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
and Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.
They are poor but brave… and although turbulent and difficult to deal with, still have a great love of their country and cherish their independence, possessing qualities that we admire ourselves, and which deserve consideration and respect.
Mahsud are very good marksmen and have the reputation of trustworthiness. Mahsud is the most independent of all the tribes. Even their own maliks have a very limited control over them. However, Mahsuds have been increasingly integrated with the Pakistani society since independence. - John Ayde describes the Mahsud.
Since independence, many social, economic and demographic changes have occurred in Waziristan. A large number of Mahsuds have joined mainstream Pakistani society. When the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
traders of Tank left after the Partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
in 1947, most of their shops were taken over by Mahsuds. Now Mahsuds are employed in the militia and regular army, state bureaucracy, and involved in business all around the country. Many of them are now living far away from their native lands.
Immediately after independence, Mahsuds raised a tribal lashkar
Lashkar
Lashkar , a Persian word for army, may refer to:* Lascar, a type of sailor or Militiaman employed by the British in South Asia.* A town in Madhya Pradesh that is now part of the Gwalior municipality in India...
which entered Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
to help the newly created state Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
to capture Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
. They quickly reached the outskirts of Srinagar
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
Lashkar invasion of Kashmir.
Charles Chevenix Trench writes in his 'The Frontier Scouts' (1985):
In October 1947, the Hindu Maharajah of Kashmir, although the vast majority of his subjects were Moslems, joined his State to India, Pakistan was outraged, and from all over the Frontier tribal lashkars hastened in lorries - undoubtedly with official logistic support - into Kashmir. Scouts were instructed to see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing and do nothing in this matter, although at least one British Officer, Harvey-Kelly of the SWS, took part in the campaign. It seemed that nothing could stop these hordes of tribesmen taking Srinagar with its vital airfield. Indeed nothing did, but their own greed. The Mahsuds in particular stopped to loot, rape and murder; Indian troops were flown in and the lashkars pushed out of the Vale of Kashmir into the mountains. The Mahsuds returned home in a savage mood, having muffed an easy chance, lost the loot of Srinagar and made fools of themselves.
Lashkar invasion of Kashmir: the truth by Prof Farakh A Khan (19. 8. 2007):
A First Hand knowledge of the Lashkar Commander(Kashmir War 1948) (Lt Col (R ) Gaideen Khan Abdullai Mahsud
From one generation to the next we have created myths and ignored history. We know very little truth about the war in Kashmir in 1947-48 but we all know that the Pathan Lashkar from the Tribal Areas sent in to conquer Srinagar went on a looting spree after they were beaten back from the outskirts of Srinagar. It is also understood that the Lashkars on their way back resorted to further looting some say even raping. It is unfortunate that we the people of Pakistan were never told the real story of war in Kashmir' and have to rely on popular myths and propaganda handed over from one generation to the next.
Why the war in Kashmir was necessary in 1947 and the legal rigmarole is a long story which I shall reserve for the future. Here I shall briefly summarise the role of tribal Lashkar in the Kashmir war of 1947-48. From the outset let me make it clear that there were three fronts labeled as Kashmir war with almost no connection with each other. In the north (Northern Areas) it was a peoples uprising against Dogra rule. Here the Gilgit and Chitral scouts joined by Dogra Muslim regiments were fighting without any help from Pakistan (Dani, Ahmed Hasan. History of Northern Areas of Pakistan. Sang-e-Meel Pub. Lahore. 2001). In the south Poonch was surrounded by local forces (Poonch Brigade) under Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim KhanSardar Muhammad Ibrahim KhanSardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan also known as Bani-e-Kashmir "Father of Kashmir" and Ghazi-e-Millat, is the founder of Azad Kashmir. Born in Horna Mirah, a village of District Poonch of Kashmir, Sardar Ibrahim obtained his LLB from the University of London in 1943, and began his practice as a...
again with little help from Pakistan. The Muzaffarabad Srinagar sector was where the tribal Lashkar was operating with some officers of the regular Pakistan army.
During the prelude to partition (1947) Kashmir State was disputed by India and Pakistan. There was unrest among the majority Muslim population of the State and the Hindu Maharaja was losing his authority in many areas. Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim KhanSardar Muhammad Ibrahim KhanSardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan also known as Bani-e-Kashmir "Father of Kashmir" and Ghazi-e-Millat, is the founder of Azad Kashmir. Born in Horna Mirah, a village of District Poonch of Kashmir, Sardar Ibrahim obtained his LLB from the University of London in 1943, and began his practice as a...
was desperate to physically oppose the Maharajas decision to join India that he even wanted to get 100 year old muzzle loader guns for his people to fight the Dogra army (Khan, Sardar M Ibrahim. The Kashmir saga. Ripon Printing Press Ltd. 1965). On October 23, 1947 Lashkar of about 5000 tribesmen from FATA was launched through Muzaffarabad. We must remember that a spontaneous uprising of Gilgit Scouts had taken place in August 1947 in Gilgit area. This was triggered when the Maharaja appointed a new governor to Gilgit on July 30, 1947. The two actions in Kashmir were independent of each other. One was taking place in the Northern Areas and the other in Kashmir itself. When the Lashkar captured Baramulla located 35 miles from Srinagar Maharaja Hari Singh fled to Jammu (October 26) and on October 27, 1947 acceded Kashmir State to India asking for military help and the same day the Indian army was air lifted and was in place to defend Srinagar. Heavy armament took a week by road. The leadership in Pakistan were of the opinion that to commit regular troops was too risky and could result in an all out war between the two recently independent countries. The leadership in India was also afraid of starting a full-fledged war between the two new nations and wanted war in Kashmir limited to that area (Kaul, BM, 1967). Pakistani leaders decided that we should use tribesmen from FATA, Swat army, volunteers and retired army personnel to conquer Kashmir. The tribesmen formed the majority and the most feared component of the rag tag army sent into Kashmir. It was also hoped that the Muslims of Kashmir shall also rebel against Dogra rule but this did not happen except in Poonch. In fact Sheikh Abdullah had managed to raise a Militia, which was later commanded by Lt Gen BM Kaul (The untold story. Allied Pub. Bombay. 1967). Muslims in Kashmir were divided.
There are few authentic sources available to understand what happened in Kashmir in 1947-48. Book by Maj Gen Akbar Khan gave the source material for this article (Raiders in Kashmir. Pak Publishers Ltd. Karachi. 1970). I was fortunate to interview one of the few surviving Lashkar commanders two years back who gave the inside information on the frontline reality. The spectacular advance of the Lashkar on Muzaffarabad Srinagar road and equally rapid retreat needs to be explored.
Kashmir War Interview with Lashkar Commander Lt Col. (R) Gaideen Khan Abdullai Mahsud (2005)
Kursheed Anwar Commander of the Muslim League National Guards was made in-charge of the Lashkars for Kashmir by Abdul Qayum Khan. Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan was the over all in-charge of operations in Kashmir. There was a clear understanding with the Lashkar that when they captured Srinagar they would be allowed to loot the treasury and the palace in lieu of payment. This was the accepted mode of warfare of not only for Tribal Pathans but all unpaid armies in the world since times immoral. In 1929 when the British against usurper in Kabul launched Nadir Shah he was allowed to recruit Wazir tribe from FATA. The Wazir tribes were allowed to loot the king's palace in Kabul in lieu of payment for their efforts. In case of Kashmir jihad in 1947 the Pakistan government was not responsible for their death or injury and only supplied some ammunition and rudimentary transport. Food and accommodation was also arranged by the Lashkar. This was called 'living off the land'. Despite all the drawbacks the Lashkars brushed aside the Dogra forces within the first week.
The Lashkar was launched from Muzaffarabad on October 23, 1947. When the Lashkar reached Baramulla and captured the town (October 26) after a stiff action they realized that they were now fighting the Indian regular army and hence knew that Indian reinforcements had reached the Valley. The Indian Commanding Officer was killed and one person from the Lashkar took off his jacket and wore it. Anwar addressed the Lashkar at Baramullah and told them that there was a change of plan and the treasury and the palace was not to be looted. The leaders of various Lashkars had earlier pleaded with him not to say this and matter could be resolved once they captured Srinagar. The Lashkars were enraged and showed their displeasure with Lashkar leaders, which was embarrassing for the leaders. Nevertheless some elements reached outskirts of Srinagar on October 29. Here Commander Gadeen Khan and his small group faced determined resistance. They overran opposition after a firefight but realised that they were now facing Indian armoured cars, artillery, air force and regular Indian ground troops. The Lashkar had no anti tank or anti air craft weapons. Small bands of the Lashkar when opposed by full Indian army in the open in sight of Srinagar did not stand a chance. The Lashkar started to disperse very rapidly. Of the 5000 tribesmen only 25 remained with Commander Gadeen Khan the rest went on a looting spree in the Valley and then headed home. The few remaining Pathans fought a rearguard action till some units of Pakistan army and volunteers arrived and stabilised the position at Chakoti.
According to Gen Akbar Khan (1970) by November 5 the lashkar had retreated to Uri 65 miles from Srinagar and small parties were pulling out of Kashmir altogether. The retreating lashkar mainly of Mahsud from South Waziristan and Afridi from Tirah were met by Gen Akbar Khan at Uri and was bombarded with questions such as:
“Who was I? I told them. Had the Pakistan Government sent me? No. Were any troops coming to help? No. Had I brought any weapons or ammunition? No. Did Pakistan want Kashmir or not? Yes. ”
Soon the apologetic tribesmen started negotiations for re-entering the fight for Kashmir. Large numbers again joined the battle. In April 1948 India launched its summer offensive. Facing Uri on the Muzaffarabad Srinagar road we had one regular battalion, Frontier Scouts, tribesmen and Azad units to stop the might of the Indian army supported by tanks, armoured cars, artillery and air cover. This rag tag force was able to stop the Indian army. The finest moment of the tribesmen was in the capture of Pandu and Chakoti where they distinguished themselves. We must remember that tribal volunteers were not a trained modern army. The natural ability of the tribesmen to use guerrilla tactics especially ambush was very affective. This second action by the FATA tribesmen is not remembered. On December 31, 1948 at midnight guns on both sides fell silent with the cease-fire (Khan, Akbar. 1970).
The Pathan 'volunteers' came at the call of Pir of Wana, South Waziristan Pir Ghulam Dastigir and Malik Akhya Jan (Izzatullah, Shaikh. Kashmir-Plebiscite: Part 1. Iqbal Company Ltd. Lahore). The people of FATA were encouraged to join the Lashkar by the Chief Minister of NWFP Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan despite- objections from the NWFP Governor Sir George Cunningham (Hussain, Ijaz. Kashmir dispute: an international law perspective. National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Islamabad. 1998). Sulemankhel tribesmen from Afghanistan also joined the fight as part of jihad (Khan, Sardar M Ibrahim. The Kashmir saga. Ripon Printing Press, Lahore. 1965). Sardar Mohammad Abdul Qayyum Khan called these 'volunteers' as Mujahideen/Tribal Volunteers (The Kashmir case. Published by Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Rawalpindi. 1970). Sheikh Izzatullah called the Pathans as 'raiders' working for Army of Liberation. Gen Akbar Khan also refers to them as 'raiders' . For the Indian side the Pathan Lashkar were invaders/raiders (Khalifa, Abdul Mannan. Kashmir story. ABKO, Lahore. 1970).
In the first wave of attack on the road to Srinagar the Lashkar had an incentive ie. to loot the Rajgarh palace and the treasury in Srinagar. However there were people amongst the Lashkar who opted to stay on and fight without material reward. Later the Lashkar rallied back for the Pando action and took valuable territory without material reward. I do hope we now have a balanced view of the contribution of people of Waziristan and other parts of FATA who put their life on line for Pakistan.