History of the Pashtun people
Takht-i-Sulaiman In Dera Ismail Khan, the highest peak of the Sulaiman mountains range (کوہ سلیمان) is known as Takht-i-Sulaiman at 3,487 metres (11,440 ft). In Balochistan, its highest peak is Zarghun Ghar at 3,578 metres (11,739 ft) near Quetta city. Takht-i-Sulaiman is situated in the territory of Sheranis, near Darazinda village. Legend has it that … Read more
In 1709, a sudden calamity fell upon Punjab, which shocked everyone in the Mughal empire. A Sikh leader by name of Banda Singh Bairagi (mentioned as “false Guru” in Mughal sources) committed barbarities which were never before heard of in India. The author of “Siar-ul-Mutakhireen” (written in 1780) writes: ” He (Guru Gobind) was succeeded by … Read more
Qizilblashs (قزلباش), Shia Turkmen from Iran, were planted in Kabul and Peshawar by Ahmad Shah Durrani. They had their own quarter in Kabul city, known as Chindawal which was heavily fortified. In general, the Sunni Pashtuns and Shia Qizilbashs hated each other because of sectarian differences. Qizilbashs and other Shias of Afghanistan supported British invaders … Read more
Various people of NWFP: Afridi, “Afghan”, Mashud, Wazir, Khyberi, Swati, “Tochi”, 1915 (c). Postcard photo by R.B.Holmes (a Peshawar based photographer). Some explanation (by the Admin of Tarikh-i-Pakhtunkhwa): 1- Afghan was general term for Pashtun people but R.B.Holmes and some other Britishers in early 20th century, began to apply the term exclusively for the subjects … Read more
One of the few resources that provides some clue to the dress of Pashtuns in the 16th century is a set of illustrations called the Codex Casanatense, created by a Portuguese. Two of its illustrations depict Pashtun male and female archers. The inscription reads: “People called Pathans, very warlike, for their women also accompany them … Read more
He was wearing blue British Royal Air Force uniform which he might have looted from a British soldier he killed at some point in his past. He and two other captured Afridi Pashtuns were paraded and exhibited on streets of Srinagar. They were mounted on top of a truck. Kashmiris threw chappals at them, … Read more
Photos of Pashtuns belonging to various tribes. From the London Illustrated News (11th February, 1959). Photographs taken by Wilfred Theisger. Photos courtesy: Pashtun_archives
In 1908, Stuart Hill Godfrey (the British Political agent for Dir, Swat and Chitral since 1902) toured Dir-Kohistan. The local Kohistanis (who are Dardic people) shared with him their oral traditions and legends. They informed him that eight generations ago their ancestors were converted to Islam by Akhund Salak, whose descendants for many years took … Read more
Umra Khan of Jandul and fairies of the Kumrat valley In the last quarter of 19th century, Umra Khan (عمرا خان) of Jandul (جندول), a Pashtun chieftain, garnered fame in the northern districts of Pakhtunkhwa, who had the ability and talent to found a sizable kingdom. He belonged to the Jandul area of present-day Lower … Read more
In 1950s Abdul Hai Habibi ‘discovered’ a rare document in Pakistan from Ghaznavid or Ghorid period on the basis of which he claimed that the Lawiks of Ghazni and the Turk Shahi rulers of Kabul in 8th century were Pashto-speakers ! In 1957, while he was in exile in Pakistan, he ‘discovered’ a small Persian … Read more
Pashtun tribal flags In the past, each section or a sub-tribe of a Pashtun tribe used to have its own unique flag or standard (‘bairagh’ بیرغ in Pashto). For example each of the eight sections of the Afridi tribe had their own particular flags representing them. The Pashtun tribal flags were triangular in shape. They … Read more
Palay Shah Palay Shah, popular as Palay Khan, fought against British and Zhob Militia in 1930s. The story of Palay Shah is shrouded in legends and is not documented well. His exploits against British are preserved in local folk poetry known as ‘Kakarai ghara’ (کاکړۍ غاړه). He and his men are said to have taken … Read more