1947 to 1973: History of Bajaur in Pakistan

History of BAJAUR and Pakistan - 1947 to 1973

After the partition of British India in 1947, Bajaur, along with the neighbouring princely states of Dir and Swat, entered into a loose accession arrangement with Pakistan but remained practically independent. The Nawab of Khar continued to rule Bajaur almost autonomously. However, soon after the creation of Pakistan, propagators of the so-called “Pukhtoonistan” started infiltrating the masses of Bajaur.

The idea, although heavily funded by the Afghan government, failed to lure the Bajauri tribesmen into switching their allegiance in favour of Kabul.

Seeing the failure of the propaganda effort, in 1960, The Afghan-affiliate militias started sporadic attacks on border areas of Bajaur. The skirmishes between Bajauri tribesmen and Afghan militias went on for months. Growing impatient with the resistance, however, the Kabul rulers sent the regular Afghan army to launch a full-scale assault on Bajaur.Unable to counter the Afghan military’s might, the Nawab of Khar asked for Pakistan’s military support. Pakistan responded positively, its troops entered Bajaur and confronted the Afghan army forcing it to retreat.

After the Afghan military retreat, Pakistan decided to station its troops permanently in Bajaur. Though the tribesmen resisted this decision but Pakistan’s military superiority silenced the resistance soon. Paramilitary troops were stationed at various strategic hilltops in purpose-built military forts. Bajaur was declared a subdivision of Malakand Agency and the then Nawab of Khar, Abdul Subhan Khan, was elected on Bajaur’s seat as Member to Pakistan’s Parliament. An Assistant Political Agent (APA) was appointed for running the area’s affairs. Initially the APA and his administration were stationed in Munda, Dir. In later years the administration setup was gradually shifted to Khar.
In 1973, Bajaur was given the status of an Agency with its Headquarters at Khar.

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"Bajaur Guloona".

The Khanates of Khar, Nawagai, Pashat and Jar: History of Bajaur

The Khanates of Khar, Nawagai, Pashat and Jar in Bajaur
Bajaur was one of British India’s semi-autonomous protectorates (divided into many Khanates) although practically the rule was limited to parts of the Tarkanri region. The Utman Khel and Watelai (Mamund) regions largely remained independent from direct British influence.
The Tarkanri region had a number of mini-states or Khanates ruled by Khans belonging to the Ibrahim Khel (Baram Khel) tribe. These Khanates were Khar, Nawagai, Pashat and Jar.
*** Khar (also called Riasat) was ruled by the Khan of Khar. Its jurisdiction was from Jar to Loi Sam. The Mamund tribe was, however, out of its domain.
*** Nawagai was ruled by the Khan of Nawagai. Its jurisdiction was from Nawagai to Zor Bandar.
*** Pashat was ruled by the Khan of Pashat. Its jurisdiction was from Raghagan to Pashat. Large areas of the Salarzai tribe were, however, out of its domain. A parallel Khanate was also established in Gambat ruled by the Khan of Gambat.
*** Jar was a small Khanate ruled by the Khan of Jar. Its jurisdiction was from Raghagan to Sikandro. The Utman Khel tribe, living parallel to the Jar Khan's areas, was, however, out of its domain.

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1973 to 1993: History of Bajaur in Pakistan

History of BAJAUR and Pakistan - 1973 to 1993

In 1973, Bajaur was granted the status of a separate Agency, headquartered at Khar, and a Political Agent (PA) was appointed. A government colony (Civil Colony) for the administration’s offices and employees residences was established at Khar. Electricity and Telephone services arrived in the area, schools and rural health centers / dispensaries were established in the main villages and communication infrastructure like roads and bridges etc were built. A medium capacity hospital, a degree college for boys and a high school for girls were established at Khar.

The Nawab ran the tribal affairs and the PA saw the administrative affairs, however, with the passage of time, the clout of the former decreased and the assertiveness of the later increased. In 1988, the Khan of Nawagai, Haji Bismillah Khan (father of sitting MNA and Federal Minister Engineer Shaukatullah Khan) was elected on Bajaur’s seat in Pakistan’s National Assembly. This was the first time someone other than the Nawab Abdul Subhan Khan was elected from Bajaur. In 1990, the elections were won by a businessman Haji Lal Kareem of Nawagai.

In 1993 Nawab Abdul Subhan Khan passed away, leaving behind five sons. None of his sons has been sworn in as Nawab although his sons and grandsons write Nawabzada (Son of Nawab) as salutation. However, the title as well as influence of Nawab went to the graveyard with Abdul Subhan Khan.

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"MAMUND Uprising" against British Raj (1897~1898)

The MAMUND Uprising against British Raj (1897~1898)

Source:"The Risings on the North-West Frontier" (Compiled from the Special War Correspondence of the "Pioneer")
CHAPTER IV. (Page 80 ~ 90) 
WITH GENERAL JEFFREYS' BRIGADE.
General Wodenouse's Brigade, accompanied by Sir Bindon Blood, reached Nawagai on Monday, September 13th, the camp having been sniped at the previous night at a place called Lhamshak. No jirgahs had come in, and evidently the natives were hostile, as small parties armed with Martinis had fired the previous day on two squadrons of the 11th Bengal Lancers reconnoitring the Mohmand Valley. But the Khan of Nawagai was friendly, and while the troops remained in his territory, collected grain and supplies for them. No large body of the enemy being in sight, instructions were issued to the Survey Officers with the force to examine the Mittai Valley closely, with a view to the settlement of its boundaries.

Mughal Ruler Zaheeruddin Babur in Bajaur

Mughal Ruler Zaheeruddin BABUR in BAJAUR 
(Excerpts from BABURNAMA translated by Annette Susannah Beveridge) 

Babur arrives at the fort of Bajaur (Khar) 
{4 Jan 1519} Marching at dawn from that camp with the intention of attacking the fort of Bajaur (actually Khar), we dismounted near it and sent a trusty man of the Dilazak Afghans to advise its Sultan (Haider Ali Gibari) and people to take up a position of service (qulluq) and surrender the fort. Not accepting this counsel, that stupid and ill-fated band sent back a wild answer, where-upon the army was ordered to make ready mantelets, ladders and other appliances for taking a fort. For this purpose a day's (5^th Jan) halt was made on that same ground. 

Bajaur Agency Homepage - By "Bajaur Guloona"

"Bajaur Guloona" is proud to announce the first Webpage for Bajaur Agency, a tribal district of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan

Bajaur Agency Homepage

This Webpage will
1) Present up-to-date information about the Agency and its People.

2) Act as a medium of interaction for the Agency's People, Students, Professionals, Researchers and those interested in learning about it.

It will also help present the "Other side of FATA" to the World; the side that is contributing a lot to the Society and has nothing to do with Terrorism.

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Note: All info is shared here "in good faith" and after all thorough research possible. However, "Bajaur Guloona" may not be held responsible for any discrepancy in the info that may explicitly and/or implicitly damage anybody's interests. Corrections will, however, be made if any errors in the info are pointed out.

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We Hope You find the info useful. Keep visiting this blog and remember to leave your feedback / comments / suggestions / requests / corrections.
With Regards,
"Bajaur Guloona".