History of the Pashtun people
The mausoleum Abdul Rashid Bajauri Baba is located on the Kohat road and Said Hasan Pir road in Peshawar, near Government College of Technology. A certain Akhundzada (who is notorious for making stuff up) is claiming in his article that Abdul Rashid Bajauri was a Tajik. But actually, there is no evidence that he was a … Read more
Gor Khuttree is an important monument in the old city of Peshawar. It can be either appraoched from Chowk Yadgar or from Hastnagari Gate. In ancient times it was a Buddhist establishment which later assumed a Hindu character. The earliest account of the site is given by Babur. Both Akbar and Jahangir regard it as … Read more
Ruins of Malot fort on hill top (Hoshiarpur district, Indian Punjab). Source Malot fort was founded in the reign of Sultan Bahlul Lodi by Tatar Khan Yousaf Khel Lodi. [1]. Ghazi Khan Lodi, son of Daulat Khan Lodi (Sikandar and Ibrahim Lodi’s governor of Punjab) possessed a library of valuable books at Malot … Read more
The Ormur (Aor-marr اورمړ ) or War-mur, also known as Baraki (or Burki), is an ancient tribe of Afghans. The name Ormuṛ literally means “fire extinguished” in Pashto. ‘According to the genealogies, the Urmar Afghans are descended from Amar-ud-Din or Amar Din, son of Sharkabun, and are near kinsmen of the Duranis. Raverty cites the … Read more
Sayyids of Kunar: For centuries the long and narrow valley of Kunar with Pashat as its main town had been ruled by a Pashtunized Sayyid family of Arab descent. They were descendants of Sayyid Ali Tirmizi, popularly referred to as Pir Baba by Pashtuns. The latter had accompanied Zahir al-Din Babur from Tirmiz. His shrine … Read more
The Swatis were the former inhabitants of Swat valley. Yousfzais drove out them of Swat in the early 16th century. Swatis are numerous people, mostly settled in the districts of Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar and to some extent in Kohistan. They have settlements in Agror valley, Konsh and Bhogarmang glens of Mansehra District. Majority of them … Read more
‘Afsana-i-Shahan’ [1] records Babur’s Timurid instinct of shedding innocent blood, he killed Sultan Ibrahim Lodi’s seven-year-old son. ‘When Ibrahim was slain, his son, who was seven years old, was taken prisoner. As he was brought before Babur Badshah, the king asked for an ewer [2]. He gave it into his hand (and said), Help me … Read more
In 1519, Babur came into Yousafzai country with a large army. He devastated their lands but could make no impression on their sangar. In order to better judge the intentions of the Yousafzai , he disguised himself as a qalandar (religious ascetic) and went with friends one dark night to the Mahura hill where the … Read more
The Tirahis are Dardic people who once populated the whole Tirah valley. They were driven out of Tirah by Bayazid Ansari, the Pir-i-Roshan, in 16th century and their lands were given to Afridis and Orakzais. At the present day the chief seat of the Tirahi is in the Kotrud valley of the Shinwari country in … Read more
Bala Hissar means high fort in Persian. There are several other forts which are also named Bala Hissar. It is unknown as to when the Bala Hissar of Peshawar was erected. Chinese pilgrim, Hiuen Tsang makes a reference to it in 7th century AD when he uses the term “Kung shing” in the description of … Read more