Wardak (or Wardag) are Karlanri Pashtuns who mainly live in the Wardak province of Afghanistan. They are said to be descended from the Sayyid Muhammad-i-Gisu-Daraz, or “of the long locks”, who among his four legal wives, married a daughter of Karlanraey , which wife bore him two sons, Honaey and Wardak. Like the other two sons of Gaisu Daraz, that is, Ushtaranaey by the Sherani wife and Mashwanaey by the Kakar wife, they were brought up with their maternal grandfather according to the Pashtun customs and traditions. Like other half-brothers they are considered part of their mother’s tribe. From Wardak and Honaey sprang the Wardak and Honi tribes.Â
Makhzan-i-Afghani mentions Wardak and Honaey as grandsons of Karlan.
Wardak had seven sons: Nur, Danaey, Mir, Gada or Gada-i, Mamak, Turak, and Mahyar. Turak or little Tur. The Mahyars are strongest in point of numbers.
Laram is the name of a tract in the Dir region where some Wardak clans are settled. Because of the name of the place the Wardak families are known as Laram. There are also numbers of Wardak dwellings in the Chahhach Hazarah territory (in Attock district) especially at and around Hazro and Nitopa.
In 16th century Wardaks were found in the Toman of Bangash and were able to furnish 500 horsemen and 5,500 foot. At some point afterwards, they pushed westward to near their present locality and ousted the Hazaras from there.Â
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| Tangi Wardak, Afghanistan, 1880. Painting by Thomas Hungerford Holdich (1843 – 1929). |
