History of the Pashtun people
Ataullah Khan Ozai‐Durrani (1897-1964) was an Afghan inventor and developer of a method with which rice can be cooked under a minute. General Foods Corporation bought the patent and marketed it under the name “Minute Rice.” This made Ozai-Durrani a millionare. He was born in Herat, Afghanistan in 1897 and had immigrated to the US in … Read more
When you google “the flag of Ahmad Shah Durrani”, this black triangular flag pops up. It is fake. Iranica Encyclopaedia says: “Almost nothing is known about the flags of Afghanistan during the reign of the Sadōzay dynasty and the early decades of the Moḥammadzay dynasty. Traditionally, nonstandard flags of different colors were used in … Read more
Notes and seals on folios of a large 17th century Safavid illustrated and illuminated manuscript of the Shahnamah state that by the mid-18th century the manuscript was in the library of Ahmad Shah Abdali. By 1822 it had passed to his great-grandson, Kamran Shah Saddozai of Herat. In 1837, the army of Muhammad Shah of … Read more
Malik Wali Khan Kuki Khel and his lashkar fought in the Kashmir war (1947-1948). Later he played a very active role in the Pashtunistan movement. In December 1952 Malik Wali Khan Kuki Khel, Malik Said Ahmad Zakha Khel and Maulvi Ghairat Gul of Jamiat Ulema-e Islam called a jirga of the Afridis, at Mamanri to … Read more
The Miyana tribe belongs to the Saraban division of Pashtuns. They are found in Baluchistan province of Pakistan. Most of its branches have become extinct or have lost their identity. Their en-mass migration to India greatly weakened them and they fell easy prey to their Baloch neighbours. Luni, Jafar, Zamari and Gharshin tribes are remnants … Read more
Mausoleum of Shaikh Imam al-Din (a Khalil Pashtun), Palosai, Peshawar. According to Persian inscription on the site, Shaikh Imam al-Din died in 1650 AD and the mausoleum was constructed in 1653 AD. He was grandson of Shaikh Qasim Sulaimani, a renowned saint of Akbar’s reign.
The zoo in Peshawar city of British times was located in the Shahi Bag. It was closed down some time before 1931. The Peshawar district Gazetteer of 1931 reports: “The Shahi Bagh or Royal Garden is the property of Government, and its spacious and shady ground are now on the way to becoming the pleasure … Read more
A scene from an Indian tv series. Ibrahim Khan Gardi is portrayed as a ‘patriotic’ Indian Muslim with unwavering loyalty to Marathas and his ‘country’. In reality, the mercenary was ready to join Ahmad Shah Abdali after he was captured. According to an eyewitness account (Kashiraj), when the captured Ibrahim Khan Gardi was presented before … Read more
Utman Khels are Karlanri Pashtuns whose territory lies between Swat and Bajaur. According to a local legend the Utman Khels are the descendants of Baba Utman, a follower of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni. It is said that their original abode was in the mountains about Tank and Gomal from which they moved away in early … Read more
On the seal-ring of Ahmad Shah Durrani was engraved the phrase: “الحکم لله، یا هو، یا فتاح، احمد شاه در درّانی” (“Judgment is God’s, O Conqueror—Ahmad Shah, Durr-i Durrani”) He had the great seal made in the shape of a peacock’s fan, round and elongated like a flask, and it was used on all decrees … Read more