Mohmand Blockade 1916-17 [Pictures]

Marwat Khan Lodhi · Jul 31, 2014

In 1915 Mohmands announced Jihad against British and their lashkars invaded Peshawer district near shabkadar but were defeated with great losses Another lashkar of about 9 thousands came down from the hills again in the october of the same year. .The Mohmand Blockade line was then instituted. It began in late September 1916 and continued on into July 1917. The Blockade was made up of a series of blockhouses and barbed wire defenses manned by men of the British and Indian Armies along the British border of Mohmand territory. The Blockade began in response to excessive Mohmand attacks. The most important engagement occurred on 15th November where at the Third Affair of Hafiz Kor.. The Blockade was lifted in July 1917 when the Mohmands finally submitted to British terms.

The standard military report on the Mohmand country recommends that the 'only means by which by which submission of tribes can be secured are the temporary occupation of country and the destruction of crops and villages (General staff 1926 : 33)

‘Live wire’ on the Mohmand Blockade Line c.1917