Who really was Mir Chakar Rind? Busting the fictional account of nationalists

[Samandri]

According to Tarikh-nama-Herat of Saif Harvi , in the 13th century, the tract of land from Mastung to Quetta to Duki (Through Sibi) to Rojhun Mazari was an integral part of the history’s first semi-sovereign state of Afghanistan, of which capital was at Mastung. At that time the Afghan tribes Nahars and Kungs or kangs were powerful predatory tribes in the Siwi to Rujhan area because it is stated in the said book the Kurt/Mughal forces attacked these “Afghan thieves” in a place situated 70 Farsakhs (about 20 miles) south of Duki. According to Col.H.S.Jerrets English translation of Ain-i-Akbari Vol.II (page 336) and also according to Cambridge history of India Vol.III (page 503) Rai Sahra of the Afghan clan of Langahs used to rule Siwi immediately before 1440 A.D. In the same year he is stated to have captured multan from his son-in-law Shiekh Yusuf Qureshi. The Shiekh went to Delhi and sought refuge with Sultan Behlol lodhi whereas Rai Sahra assuming the title of Sultan Qutubuddin ruled Multan for the next 16 years until he died in 1456 A.D and was succeeded by his son Sultan Hussain I. This Langah ( Afghan) rule of Siwi in the 15th century is the least known episode although it has the effect of further eroding the authenticity of that part of Baloch epic poetry which assign the same period in the plains of Siwi and Dhadar to its own legendary of the Rind and Lashar tribes.

Towards the end of 15th and in the beginning of 16th century A.D, Siwi fort was ruled by Bahadur Khan of Sindh and then by one sultan Purdil Barlas whose forces were thrown out by the forces of Shah Baig son of Zannun Beg Arghun. In 1543 A.D Siwi fort was visited by the fugitive Mughal King Humayun along with his infant son Akbar, the future great Mughal and the emperor of India. The father and the son found the Arghuns in the possession of the fort . Mullah Mehmud Jiskani, the author of Tazkir-ul-bar, assigns 15th century for the occupation of Siwi by the Pannis. According to the Akbar-nama of Abul fazal and Akbar-nama of Faizi Sirhindi , by 1575 A.D Panni Afghans were already in control of Siwi fort. They, therefore must have been present in the general area of Siwi much before that date since it is likely that their conquest of Sibi or Siwi would have taken some considerable time.



It is therefore historically incorrect to claim that the Siwi fort was either built or was ever ruled by the legendary Baloch Hero Mir Chakar Rind . He is said by the Baloch historians to have lived and fought between 1450-1550 A.D whereas Siwi town as well as Siwi fort existed centuries before this period and were ruled in turn by epic Hindu kings Brahmuns, Buddhists, Persians, Turks, Mughals and Afghans. In the latter case Afghan presence in Siwi, which may have commenced in Al-Beruni times, continued right upto May 1879 when it gave way to the British supremecy over Sibi, Duki, Loralai and Pishin in accordance with stipulations of the treaty of Gandmak. As a matter of fact the Baloch people had not even entered the upper Sindh plains till about 1580 A.D. The Ain-i-Akbari clearly describes the amount of land revenue as well as the Afghan land owners of Duki, Harnai and Siwi tract. At that time in the whole length of this plain either there were no Baloch land owners at all or, as Major Raverty states, only one Mahal near Sukkar/Bhakkar by the name of “Jatoi: contained people belonging to the Baloch race. This is the reason that word Balochistan , first used by Abu Fazal , applied to the northern locality of Sukkar in Sindh rather than to any area covered by the present day Sibi , Quetta, Zhob divisions.

Over a dozen or so Baloch historians writing on the exploits of Mir Chakar’s exploits in the Sibi-Dhadar plains have relied almost entirely on legendary tales. It is only fair to expect them to conduct further research to see how much of the fiction contained in the Baloch epic poetry may be accepted as authentic history and for what reasons. Beside , said Baloch historians, when their works are studied critically , do not agree with one another, on the specific dates of the life, events and activities of the legendary heroes.

All the authentic books dealing with Siwi during the 15th and 16th centuries fail to make any mention even of the name of this legendary hero. Not only this, these histories show that Siwi, during the period in question, was ruled by different other rulers including Mongoloid Turk extraction. Nor is there any graveyard in the vicinity of Siwi to show that some of the legendary Rind and Lashar heroes or their companions , killed in frequent battles, lie buried in the area where they area said to have lived , fought and died. In this connection reader may refer to the Babar-nama, Tarikhe-Masumi, Tarikhe-Mazare-Shahjehani, Tarikhe-Farishta, Tuhfa-i-Akbar-Shahi, Ain-i-Akbari, Akbar-nama and Major Raverty notes on Balochistan. All the Baloch historians have based their accounts , not on historical records but on legends.

The British histrorian Major Raverty maintains that Mir Chakar lived, fought and died , not in Siwi, but over a hundred miles north of Multan and that too as an ordinary zamindar under the supremacy of Suri and his subordinate Niazi Afghans. The same author also quotes an article by Longworth Dames published in the “Journal of the Bengal asaitic society”| For the year 1880 in which the author had himself doubted the contention that the old Siwi fort was ever built by Mir Chakar Rind. On the contrary Dames thought Shah Baig Arghun really built the fort of Siwi.

Tareekh-e-Farishta contain nothing about the so called Rind-Lashar wars and the legendary baloch heroes of Siwi-Dhadar area. There is however mention of Ismael Khan, Ghazi khan and Futeh khan, the chiefs of the Dodai Balochs, having waited on Sher Shah Suri some where in the present Punjab area. This happened at a time when the vanquished King Humayun fled in the direction of Sindh (1542/1543 A.D) and the victor Sher Shah had assumed formally the title of the King of the India. At another place following account has been recorded ,

“meanwhile Haibat khan (Niazi) was sent to wrest Multan out of the hands of the Balochies who had occupied it. Futeh Khan Baloch was in consequence was attacked and expelled and the whole country submitted to the arms of Dilhy, Haibat khan received the title of Azam Humayun and government of Multan.”

Another interesting details in Tarikh-i-Farishta ,

“The method of measurement was the general practice throughout the kingdom, the only exception being the country around Multan which suffered greatly from the disorders. Sher Shah ordered Haibat khan to expel the Balochis who had plundered and taken possession of those parts of the country during the times of Mongol raids. Haibat Khan defeated the Balochi chiefs and restored the country to its former state”

In Tarikh-i-Shershahi/Tuhfai-Akbar-Shahi by abbas Khan Sarwani there is a mention in Multan area of one “Chakar Rind”. He has been shown to be an ordinary hakim of Satgarah (place in Okara, Punjab) and on one occasion is ordered by Haibar Khan Niazi to prepare himself for the visit and review of his armed men by Niazi. This sudden news greatly upsets Chakar Rind who is shown, in the manuscript, to have thereby thrown in panic,
The relevant lines on page 92 and 93 read as follows,

“When Sher Shah had laid siege to the fort of Raisin, he received a letter from Khawwas khan saying that he and Niazi had developed some differences between themselves. “The letter contained a request that Sher Shah should, therefore , summon one of the two. Having gone through the letters of Khawwas , Sher Shah summoned khawwas khan, Isa Khan Niazi and Haseeb khan. Then he conferred the country of Punjab on Haibat Khan Niazi and ordered him to rescue and rehabilitate Multan which had been usurped by the Balochs. He was also to chastise Fateh Khan Jat of Qabula, who had been, during the Mughal period, laying waste to the country upto Panipat. As soon as Haibat khan received these orders , he summoned the representative of Chakar Rind – The hakim of Satgarah . The representative was told to go and inform Chakar Rind that Haibat khan Niazi was going to tour those areas . Chakar should be prepared to present his contingent for parade/review. One who related the story that he had heard it from Wakil Fateh khan kanbo that when he went to Chakar Rind and disclosed to him what Haibat Khan Niazi has said, the former was thrown in panic, he had no time either to a reception or to put together the ‘lashkar’ as demanded. At this time Haibat khan Niazi was merely two day’s distance away. Next morning the news came that Haibat khan Niazi had already arrived. Hearing this, Chakar became nervous, although he did manage to get on his horseand to go out to receive the dignity.”

A careful reading of the relevant Persian text suggests that Chakar Rrind was not even ‘Mir’ Chakar Rind, a title conferred on him by his well-wishers posthumously. He was one of the several ordinary subordinate “Hakims” under the general command of Afghan forces viz Haibat khan Niazi – operating against the Balochs of Multan under the orders of Sher Shah Suri. Besides , far from being a hero of balochs, Chakar is shown bothy by legend as well as history , as a notable who was subordinate of Suri and Niazi Afghans.

We have the testimony of failry reliable records that like Alberuni’s India, Tarikh-Namah-Heart, Tarikhi Makhzani Afghani, Tarikh-i-farishta , Ain-i-Akbari etc etc which say that in the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, the whole of Koh-e-Sulayman area down to the valley of Sindh was inhabited by Afghans.

Marris who are stated to be Rinds of Mir Chakar’s party actually obtained Kahan , Mawand and Kohlu area from Nahars , Hasni Tarins and Zarkuns with the military assistance of Mir Naseer Khan of kalat in the 18th century. Some details of these events havc been provided in Mr. O.T Duke’s report on Thal-Chotili and Harnai district, compiled in 1883 A.D. Rai Bahadur Hitu Ram on page 681 of his Tarikh Balochistan has recorded that in a Leghari Barkhan there is a mosque which has, affixed to it, an inscription in a stone. According to this inscription , the mosque was built in 770 A.H i.e 1368 A.D by one Malik Boya Musiani Tarin – indicating that Tarins were there in western Dera Ghazi khan as far back as 14th century. It may be recalled that According to Tarikh-Namah Heart, compiled by Saifi, the area of later day Quetta , Loralai and Sibi divisions was known as “Afghanistan” in 1249 A.D.

According to Tarikhi Sindh (volume vi part one page 392) of Ghulam Rasool Mehr, the Dhahdar area was in possession of Barozais, with Malik Kala khan Barozai listed as owner of land thereof , upto the times of Mian Nur Muhammad Kalhora (1719-1753 A.D). Graves of Panni notables such as Junaid Khan Barozai , Mirza Khan Barozai, and well known Mullah Misri Afghan are present in Dhadar. The town of Dhadar formed the first capital of the Panni tribe of Afghans on their arrivals in the plains. It was also the place where Dara Shikoh, the Mughal prince, visited Juanid khan, the first Barozai chief and in the vicinity of which many of the famous Baruhi Afghan battles were fought towards the end of seventeenth century A.D.

Both the legend as well as the history of Chakar Rind career at Multan make out Chakar as an ally and an instrument of the military strategy of Afghans rather than a Baloch national hero. Last not the least. In March 1992 Chakar khan Baloch , editor of monthly magazine “Balochi Douya Multan” called upon the Baloch historians to come up with solid historical evidence to prove Chakar Rind’s existence in Siwi. No one has ever responded to his clarion call.
(A-Aziz-Luni)

Sources/References
1. The Ain I Akbari : Abū al-Faz̤l ibn Mubārak, 1551-1602
2. The Akbarnama
3. Tareekh Farishta
4. Al-Harawi -- The Tarikh Nama-i-Harat
5. Tuhfa-i-Akbarshahi (Tarikh-i-Shershahi)
6. Alberuni's India. An account of the religion
7. Notes on Afghanistan and Baluchistan by Major Henry George Raverty
8. Babar-Namah
Fact and Fiction about Mir Chakar Rind | History of Pashtuns



@DESERT FIGHTER @save_ghenda @Shahmir @ghoul @Jaggu

 

[Samandri]

Now lets have a look at the claims of Baloch historians about Mir Chakar Rind.

1- In the 15th century, Mir Chakar Khan Rind became the first King of Balochistan and established the first Kingdom of Balochistan.

2-After defeating the Lashari tribe, Mir Chakar Rind went to war against Afghan King Sher Shah Suri. Sher Shah Suri approached Mir Chakar to unite with him to consolidate his gains. Mir Chakar refused to help Sher Shah Suri and beaten the Afghan armies in Punjab.

3. Mir Chakar Rind helped Humayun's father Babur against Ibrahim Lodi

4. Mir Chakar joined the Mughal army of Emperor Humayun with 40,000 Baloch forces in 1555,after a long exile in Persia. Emperor Humayun came back, recaptured Delhi, and ousted the Suri dynasty in 1556. As a reward, Emperor Humayun conferred a vast Jagir, including horses and slaves, to Mir Chakar.

 

[Samandri]

@DESERT FIGHTER , i was wrong in assuming that Chakar Rind was some Dacoit and plunderer, i take back my words which i said while arguing with you last year. He was actually an ordinary subordinate of Haiabat Khan Niazi and was loyal to rule of Pashtuns, so my respect for him.

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

@DESERT FIGHTER , i was wrong in assuming that Chakar Rind was some Dacoit and plunderer, i take back my words which i said while arguing with you last year. He was actually an ordinary subordinate of Haiabat Khan Niazi and was loyal to rule of Pashtuns, so my respect for him.

I hear Khan of Kalat also married the daughter or was she the sister of the aghan amir? hear thats how quetta went to the Baluch .. oops.

 

[Samandri]

I hear Khan of Kalat also married the daughter or was she the sister of the aghan amir? hear thats how quetta went to the Baluch .. oops.

Mir Muhabbat Khan offered his daughter to Ahmad Shah Abdali but he refused and invaded Kalat. His younger brother Mir Naseer Khan revolted in 1758 but was defeated and treated with kindness. Mir Naseer Khan offered his cousin to Abdali and Sbdali married her. Refer to the following article of retired brigidiar from Pak army.

Pashtun-Baloch relationship in History
This is with reference to the article entitled "Ahmed Shah Abdali was not a Saint" by Dr Naseer Dashti
(Dawn, Encounter Aug 23).

The Afghan-Baloch relationship is a very delicate and sensitive affair. For its analysis immensely reliable and more informative sources other than the fireside stories and folklore are desired. Yet for clarity and objectivity an analysis of such writings which is undistorted by tribal prejudices and bitterness over an un-recallable past is required which should be illuminating and thought provoking for those who want to discern whether the Afghan monarch was a man of dual personality or not?

To avoid digression from the subject and restrict the arguments within the perimeters, we identify the salient points of Dr Naseer Dashti's essay as under:
1. Ahmad Shah Abdali attacked Kalat, defeated the Brahuis and married a daughter of the Khan. He was a
merciless plunderer and murderer of Baloch people just like his master and mentor Nadir Shah Afshar.
2. For his assumptions, Dr Dashti's sources are the fireside stories told by their forefathers and Balochi folklore on Afghan intrusions and acts of murders, lootings, and cattle lifting on Baloch soil.
3. He calls the authors of the Pathan history official historians, academicians and makes the media solely responsible for projection of Ahmad Shah Abdali to please Afghanistan or words to that effect.

To avoid impulsive, passion-carried conclusions and preconceived irrational deductions a brief resume of Baloch-Pathan interaction is worthwhile. Relying on the history book Tarikh Nama-i-Herat compiled by Saifi Haravi, (A. Aziz Luni Afghans of Frontier Passes Vol-I, p-59), by 1250 AD some of the Pathan tribes had reached the territory of the present day Balochistan and interaction between the two races had started since then; the main Afghan tribes being the Pannis, Tarins, Kakars and Sheranis. According to Rai Hatu Ram who remained associated with the political affairs of Balochistan for a very long time and served with Sir R. Sandeman, the Raisani Afghans (Tarins P-172 and-570) came from Kandahar via Pishin and occupied the Thal-Chotiali area. Rais Khan Tarin, with a band of his clan, occupied Kalat, while Mastung with adjoining area was then occupied by the other Afghan tribes and there was no trace of the Brahuis or Balochs in the area (Rai Hatu Ram, Tarikh-i-Balochistan, p-172).

Siwa, a Hindu raja and the first ruler of Kalat, is mentioned in the pages of history. After him, Kalat changed hands to the Mughals, Mirwanis and Baloch Rinds successively. In the battle between the Mirwanis and Rind Balochs, Umar Khan Mirwani, the chief got killed. His widow, with her minor son, named Bajaru Khan took refuge in Mastung with the Pathans. Subsequently Bajaru Khan married the daughter of a local Pathan notable. With the help of the Raisanis, Bajaru Khan defeated and killed Mandu Baloch and occupied Kalat. Bajaru Khan granted some land to the Siahi clan of Raisanis, which is still held by them. With the passage of time the Siahis merged with the Mengal Balochs and gradually lost their identity as Tarin Pathans and moved over to Jhalawan. Later, Mir Bajaru abandoned Kalat and became a recluse. The Mughals, who were waiting in the wings, occupied Kalat; however, the Raisanis along with the nneighbouring Baloch clans, drove away the Mughals, and Mir Hasan Khan Ahmadzai Qambrani Brahui was proclaimed as the ruler of Kalat. The Brahuis from all over Balochistan concentrated in and around Kalat and established a powerful Khanate in the area.

The Raisani Pathans remained their strong allies throughout their subsequent adventures. However, it were the Panni Afghans who subsequently fought major battles with the Brahui Chiefs. During the time of Mirza Khan Pannaey, the Afghan Chief of Sibi (1666-1699 AD) eighteen battles were fought between the Panni Confederacy and the Brahuis of Kalat in the neighbourhood of Sibi or Dhadar (Major H.G. Raverty does not make a mention of these but other historians belonging to the opposite sides namely, Mullah Fazil and Akhund Muhammad Sidique Akhbar-ul-Abrar 1854 mentioned these). In one of such battles Bahar Khan Kurak Pannaey wounded Mir Ahmad Qambrani, the Chief of Kalat. The Brahuis left the battlefield; the Afghans collected the booty, consisting of silken belts and horses of Turki and Tazi breed. Mir Ahmad Qambrani's sister named Bibo gallantly attacked the Pannis. Attired in male garments she fought valiantly and got killed at the hand of Jalal Khan Kurak (A. Aziz Luni Afghans of Frontier Passes Vol-I, p-185). Soon the Brahuis avenged themselves on the Pannis and defeated Rahim Khan Pirang who led the Pannis in the absence of Mirza Khan Pannaey.

Mullah Fazil writes: Mir Ahmad got off his horse to inspect the bodies of some of the Afghan nobles famous for their bravery in the battlefield. He smeared his moustaches with the fat of Syed Abdul Nabi and drank the blood of Shanbay Pirani (Mulla Fazil Nasab Nam-i-Barozi or History of Siwi, 1825 AD).

In 1695 AD, peace prevailed between the two tribes, which was sealed by a happy marriage of Princes Mahnaz the daughter of Mir Ahmad Qambrani with Said Khan Barozaey Panni, the brother of Mirza Khan Pannaey. According to G.B. Malleson, (History of Afghans p-233) Mir Vais Ghalzaey after having captured Kandahar sought and enlisted the support of the Balochs and Tarins of Kalat and Quetta region.

However, this Baloch-Afghan cooperation broke down during the lifetime of Shah Hussain Ghalzaey when Khan of Kalat began encroachments on the Afghan area of Shal, Pishin and Shorawak. According to Mir Gul Khan Nasir, ("Tarikh-i-Balochistan" p.32) soon after that in 1730 AD Mir Abdullah Khan, the Chief of Kalat fought a battle and defeated Ashraf Shah Ghalzaey (according to some he was killed by Ibrahim, a slave of Shah Hussain Safavi). He beheaded him with his own hands, because many Baloch warriors had fallen on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, in 1708 AD the Panni estate of Sibi had been almost taken over by the Kalhoras. Around 1730 AD, Mian Nur Muhammad Kalhora alias Khudayar Khan Abbasi, Sabit-i-Jang appointed Murad Kaleri alias Ganja the Governor of Sibi. According to Ghulam Rasul Mehr (Tarikh-i-Sind) the new governor crushed the semi-independent feudal lords of Kachhi. Mir Abdullah of Kalat felt apprehensive of this new development. He, perhaps, to develop relationship with the Kalhoras offered two of his daughters to the two sons of Mian Nur Muhammad Kalhoras. The peace did not last long. In 1731 AD, the Mir attacked Kachhi. Mir Abdullah Khan, the eagle of the mountains, was killed during the fight. According to Tahfat-ul-Karram this reverse broke the backbone of the Brahuis.

To recover the territories earlier occupied by the Brahuis Shah Hussain Ghalzaey, in July 1733, crossed Khojak Pass and reached Pishin. Not finding the Brahuis there he followed them to Shal. The latter had taken position within a fort (on a mound or Kawatah) and sallied out under their leader Salar Khan, however, he was defeated. During the darkness of the night they vacated the place and made for Mastung and Kalat. Sher Dil Khan Babuzaey occupied the fort and Shah Hussain pushed on to Mastung. Prior to his arrival the Baloch had left Mastung. They divided themselves into two groups; one headed to Kalat and the other towards Gandawah Kachhi. The fugitives were overtaken at the boundary of Kalat district.

Major H.G. Raverty on page 611 and 612 of his Notes on Balochistan writes that the men took to the hills, leaving their families, cattle, and other property. The Afghans under Asadullah Khan Ishaqzaey Hotak took over every thing, and left the women and children unmolested. The Brahui Chief tendered allegiance. A treaty was concluded and out of the five clauses of this treaty one was that the Brahuis would return the cattle brought from Pishin and Shorawak. In 1737, the Baloch came in contact with Nadir Shah Afshar As the stories of the success of Nadir Shah Afshar spread, the Brahui Khans of Kalat abandoned the Afghans and went over to the side of the Persian despot. Major H.G. Raverty on page 613 of his Notes writes that on 22nd April 1737 AD, the sons of Mir Abdullah Khan of Kalat, namely, Mir Mohabat Khan, Mir Iltaz and Mir Nasir Khan visited Nadir Shah at Kandahar. According to Nadir Nama the latter confirmed Mohabat Khan as ruler of Kalat. The younger two brothers with their stepmother named Bibi Mariam remained behind with Nadir Shah who granted them the revenue of Shal/Quetta district, which belonged to the Kasi Afghans. Subsequently he cancelled this grant as Mir Nasir had killed his brother Mir Iltaz. However, subsequently Nadir Shah further allotted a portion of Kachh-Gandawah tract that also belonged to the Panni Afghans.

On assassination of Nadir Shah Afshar, Ahmad Khan Abdali and Mir Nasir Khan of Kalat returned to their respective homelands. They had become acquainted with each other during the long period of their service with Nadir Shah. The assassination of Nadir Shah was a landmark in the process of the commencement and evaluation of Afghan as well as Baloch nationalism.

Mir Nasir Khan of Kalat did not stay at Kalat any longer and soon went over to Kandahar. He was present at the time of the coronation ceremony of Ahmad Shah Abdali. However, the latter confirmed Mohabat Khan as ruler of Kalat. According to G.P. Tate, in Appendices to his �Memoirs On Kalat� Mohabat Khan killed Muhammad Talib Kansi on whom Ahmad Shah had conferred the office of �Arbab�. The King replaced him with Mir Nasir Khan.

Sir Olaf Caroe (The Pathans, p-372) writes:-Ahmad Shah, on setting up his new kingdom in that city in 1747, enforced the submission of the Brahuis,and regarded his empire as extending almost to the sea. If any doubt were held to exist upon the point,it would be resolved by the fact that, in order, to fix his new dependant's loyalty, Ahmad Shah proceeded to the unprecedented lengths of bestowing upon him an Afghan district, the valley of Shal, in which Quetta is situated. The settlement of Brahuis in the villages just south of Quetta, dates from that time.

Qazi Nur Muhammad in Jang Nama 1764 AD says that Shal was granted to Mir Nasir Khan by Ahmad Shah as a reward for his jihad against the Sikhs. However, Akhund does not make mention of this grant while Pottinger (Travels in Balochistan and Sindh) says that Shal was given to Nasir Khan for his bravery in the battle of Mashhad.

S. Fida Yunas, a knowledgeable scholar on the Afghanistan affairs, in Afghanistan, A Political
History Vol-I, on page 105, states, With a difficult situation for the Afghans in India (1758 AD), Nasir Khan, a formally loyal Brahui Chieftain, also availed of the opportunity and declared his independence. A Brahui Baloch confederation, centered in Kalat state, threatened Ahmad Shah Abdali, Nasir Khan was defeated but was allowed to rule locally in return for the right to ask for troops to serve in time of War. Nasir Khan gave a cousin in marriage to Ahmad Shah, with Quetta and Mastung as wedding gifts. Ahmad Shah in this venture wanted to save his strength for the Mahrattas threat in India.

Soon after in 1759 AD, Ahmad Shah, joined by Nasir Khan Brahui of Kalat, reached Punjab via Balochistan with a view to stem the westward expansion of the Mahrattas. Throughout his stay in Hind the Brahui Chief remained his most trusted aide. The latter was also present with Ahmad Shah in January 1764-65 AD to fight against the Sikhs who had wrought devastation in the Punjab. After routing the Sikhs, Ahmad Shah offered the territories of Chenab, Jhang, Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan to Nasir Khan as a parting gift. However, the latter declined to accept the control over the areas offered.

From an objective perusal of the above quoted narrations on Afghan-Baloch relationship from various authoritative history books the following hence crystallise:-
1. The Afghans facilitated the establishment of the Brahuis State of Kalat.
2. Nadir Shah Afshar acted more favourably towards the Khan of Kalat by not only confirming his rule in Kalat but also bestowing on him the tracts of Kachh-Gandawah, which belonged to the Panni Afghans. He had also granted the Shal tract to Mir Nasir Khan and his stepmother; although this grant was later cancelled. Subsequently, Ahmad Shah Abdali did the same and granted the tract of Shal/Quetta to Mir Nasir Khan of Kalat, which belonged to Kasi Pathans.
3. Matrimonial alliances had been a common practise in the feudal society of the 18th century to mitigate, if not completely eliminate, animosity between two rival tribes or races. If Ahmad Shah Abdali took a Brahui wife from the royal family it was not by force, but to establish amiable relations rather, which the Brahuis did earlier in case of the Kalhoras as well. Generally, the tribal blood-battles did not end with political negotiations. They ended only when one or the other side was annihilated or there was a cause for face-saving. No tribal war has ever ended tamely. Inter-tribal marriages acted as balm on the wounds of those who lost their near and dear ones in such conflicts and provided a cause for face-saving and upholding ones honour, so important to the Balochs and Pathans alike.

4. Had Ahmad Shah Abdali mercilessly plundered the Balochs and Brahuis of Kalat, Mir Nasir Khan the Khan of Kalat would not have accompanied him to Hind soon after his chastisement. The offer of a grant of vast tract in Punjab by Ahmad Shah to the latter reflects their amiable mutual relations.

5. Killing, smearing of moustaches with the fat and drinking of blood of the dead enemy, lifting of cattle of the defeated adversary were part of inter-tribal battles and fights and were practised by both sides. Violence in a tribal war expanded in ever widening cycles of raids and counter raids and forays. Tribal issues gradually merged with personal issues and the entire tribe got involved.

6. Leaving aside his first invasion of Punjab what motive one could give to Ahmad Shah's subsequent invasions of Hind where he invariably fought the Sikhs and Mahrattas? I have dealt with it in much detail in my previous article. I leave it now to the discretion of the reader.

Naming of the training companies in the Pak army training centres and weapon systems after Ahmad Shah Abdali to inspire the defenders of Pakistan is a befitting recognition of Abdali's deeds and achievements by whole of the Pakistani nation. It would be appreciated that the Pathan land has always remained the launching pad of Islam. Syed Ahmad Shah Brelvi, out of whole of Hind, chose this region and people for his 'Mujahideen Movement'. One only finds the Pathans from Afghanistan and N.W.F.P who came to the rescue of the Muslims of Kashmir in 1947; hundreds of miles away from their home and hearth. A large number of them gave their lives during this campaign. The Pathans have the privilege of having sent maximum numbers of saints and sufia to Hind for preachingIslam. (For more detail on this subject see B. Dorn,History of the Afghans, London, 1829).

7. History is not created from fiction, legends, ballads or folklores. These are more often than not the exaggerated versions of an event or incident.

8. Except two (of whom one is from Balochistan), all historians quoted in the afore-mentioned discussion are either non-Pathans or have written their works much before the creation of Pakistan. Hence, they cannot be labelled as the official state-sponsored historians.

10. I have not been able to comprehend how it is humanly possible for a common person to even know the name of his forefather from a thousand years past, what to talk of him being killed by Mahmud of Ghazni and furthermore, he should feel humiliated by seeing the missile systems named after Ghaznavi, like Dr Dashtihas suggested in his discourse.

The synonymity of Pathan and Baloch codes of conduct and identity of views on many matters bear out the fact that we find the Pathans in the past ever arrayed against other non-Pathan Indians and despising them, evincing an antagonism which is not merely practical and political but one of ideals and sentiments. On the other hand, although, the Pathans had some local blood feuds with the Balochs, yet in the times of peace, they displayed a marked similarity of sentiments, ideals and aims. The Pathans mental characteristics also approximate much more closely to the Balochs than those of any other race that is why both the races co-exist peacefully and amicably in Balochistan since centuries, and would always continue do so if the seeds of imaginary misgivings are not sown betweenthem.

Haroon Rashid

The writer is a retired brigadier and author of a
ten-volume book ' History of the Pathans' published in 2002

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Mir Muhabbat Khan offered his daughter to Ahmad Shah Abdali but he refused and invaded Kalat. His younger brother Mir Naseer Khan revolted in 1758 but was defeated and treated with kindness. Mir Naseer Khan offered his cousin to Abdali and Sbdali married her. Refer to the following article of retired brigidiar from Pak army.

Pashtun-Baloch relationship in History
This is with reference to the article entitled "Ahmed Shah Abdali was not a Saint" by Dr Naseer Dashti
(Dawn, Encounter Aug 23).

The Afghan-Baloch relationship is a very delicate and sensitive affair. For its analysis immensely reliable and more informative sources other than the fireside stories and folklore are desired. Yet for clarity and objectivity an analysis of such writings which is undistorted by tribal prejudices and bitterness over an un-recallable past is required which should be illuminating and thought provoking for those who want to discern whether the Afghan monarch was a man of dual personality or not?

To avoid digression from the subject and restrict the arguments within the perimeters, we identify the salient points of Dr Naseer Dashti's essay as under:
1. Ahmad Shah Abdali attacked Kalat, defeated the Brahuis and married a daughter of the Khan. He was a
merciless plunderer and murderer of Baloch people just like his master and mentor Nadir Shah Afshar.
2. For his assumptions, Dr Dashti's sources are the fireside stories told by their forefathers and Balochi folklore on Afghan intrusions and acts of murders, lootings, and cattle lifting on Baloch soil.
3. He calls the authors of the Pathan history official historians, academicians and makes the media solely responsible for projection of Ahmad Shah Abdali to please Afghanistan or words to that effect.

To avoid impulsive, passion-carried conclusions and preconceived irrational deductions a brief resume of Baloch-Pathan interaction is worthwhile. Relying on the history book Tarikh Nama-i-Herat compiled by Saifi Haravi, (A. Aziz Luni Afghans of Frontier Passes Vol-I, p-59), by 1250 AD some of the Pathan tribes had reached the territory of the present day Balochistan and interaction between the two races had started since then; the main Afghan tribes being the Pannis, Tarins, Kakars and Sheranis. According to Rai Hatu Ram who remained associated with the political affairs of Balochistan for a very long time and served with Sir R. Sandeman, the Raisani Afghans (Tarins P-172 and-570) came from Kandahar via Pishin and occupied the Thal-Chotiali area. Rais Khan Tarin, with a band of his clan, occupied Kalat, while Mastung with adjoining area was then occupied by the other Afghan tribes and there was no trace of the Brahuis or Balochs in the area (Rai Hatu Ram, Tarikh-i-Balochistan, p-172).

Siwa, a Hindu raja and the first ruler of Kalat, is mentioned in the pages of history. After him, Kalat changed hands to the Mughals, Mirwanis and Baloch Rinds successively. In the battle between the Mirwanis and Rind Balochs, Umar Khan Mirwani, the chief got killed. His widow, with her minor son, named Bajaru Khan took refuge in Mastung with the Pathans. Subsequently Bajaru Khan married the daughter of a local Pathan notable. With the help of the Raisanis, Bajaru Khan defeated and killed Mandu Baloch and occupied Kalat. Bajaru Khan granted some land to the Siahi clan of Raisanis, which is still held by them. With the passage of time the Siahis merged with the Mengal Balochs and gradually lost their identity as Tarin Pathans and moved over to Jhalawan. Later, Mir Bajaru abandoned Kalat and became a recluse. The Mughals, who were waiting in the wings, occupied Kalat; however, the Raisanis along with the nneighbouring Baloch clans, drove away the Mughals, and Mir Hasan Khan Ahmadzai Qambrani Brahui was proclaimed as the ruler of Kalat. The Brahuis from all over Balochistan concentrated in and around Kalat and established a powerful Khanate in the area.

The Raisani Pathans remained their strong allies throughout their subsequent adventures. However, it were the Panni Afghans who subsequently fought major battles with the Brahui Chiefs. During the time of Mirza Khan Pannaey, the Afghan Chief of Sibi (1666-1699 AD) eighteen battles were fought between the Panni Confederacy and the Brahuis of Kalat in the neighbourhood of Sibi or Dhadar (Major H.G. Raverty does not make a mention of these but other historians belonging to the opposite sides namely, Mullah Fazil and Akhund Muhammad Sidique Akhbar-ul-Abrar 1854 mentioned these). In one of such battles Bahar Khan Kurak Pannaey wounded Mir Ahmad Qambrani, the Chief of Kalat. The Brahuis left the battlefield; the Afghans collected the booty, consisting of silken belts and horses of Turki and Tazi breed. Mir Ahmad Qambrani's sister named Bibo gallantly attacked the Pannis. Attired in male garments she fought valiantly and got killed at the hand of Jalal Khan Kurak (A. Aziz Luni Afghans of Frontier Passes Vol-I, p-185). Soon the Brahuis avenged themselves on the Pannis and defeated Rahim Khan Pirang who led the Pannis in the absence of Mirza Khan Pannaey.

Mullah Fazil writes: Mir Ahmad got off his horse to inspect the bodies of some of the Afghan nobles famous for their bravery in the battlefield. He smeared his moustaches with the fat of Syed Abdul Nabi and drank the blood of Shanbay Pirani (Mulla Fazil Nasab Nam-i-Barozi or History of Siwi, 1825 AD).

In 1695 AD, peace prevailed between the two tribes, which was sealed by a happy marriage of Princes Mahnaz the daughter of Mir Ahmad Qambrani with Said Khan Barozaey Panni, the brother of Mirza Khan Pannaey. According to G.B. Malleson, (History of Afghans p-233) Mir Vais Ghalzaey after having captured Kandahar sought and enlisted the support of the Balochs and Tarins of Kalat and Quetta region.

However, this Baloch-Afghan cooperation broke down during the lifetime of Shah Hussain Ghalzaey when Khan of Kalat began encroachments on the Afghan area of Shal, Pishin and Shorawak. According to Mir Gul Khan Nasir, ("Tarikh-i-Balochistan" p.32) soon after that in 1730 AD Mir Abdullah Khan, the Chief of Kalat fought a battle and defeated Ashraf Shah Ghalzaey (according to some he was killed by Ibrahim, a slave of Shah Hussain Safavi). He beheaded him with his own hands, because many Baloch warriors had fallen on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, in 1708 AD the Panni estate of Sibi had been almost taken over by the Kalhoras. Around 1730 AD, Mian Nur Muhammad Kalhora alias Khudayar Khan Abbasi, Sabit-i-Jang appointed Murad Kaleri alias Ganja the Governor of Sibi. According to Ghulam Rasul Mehr (Tarikh-i-Sind) the new governor crushed the semi-independent feudal lords of Kachhi. Mir Abdullah of Kalat felt apprehensive of this new development. He, perhaps, to develop relationship with the Kalhoras offered two of his daughters to the two sons of Mian Nur Muhammad Kalhoras. The peace did not last long. In 1731 AD, the Mir attacked Kachhi. Mir Abdullah Khan, the eagle of the mountains, was killed during the fight. According to Tahfat-ul-Karram this reverse broke the backbone of the Brahuis.

To recover the territories earlier occupied by the Brahuis Shah Hussain Ghalzaey, in July 1733, crossed Khojak Pass and reached Pishin. Not finding the Brahuis there he followed them to Shal. The latter had taken position within a fort (on a mound or Kawatah) and sallied out under their leader Salar Khan, however, he was defeated. During the darkness of the night they vacated the place and made for Mastung and Kalat. Sher Dil Khan Babuzaey occupied the fort and Shah Hussain pushed on to Mastung. Prior to his arrival the Baloch had left Mastung. They divided themselves into two groups; one headed to Kalat and the other towards Gandawah Kachhi. The fugitives were overtaken at the boundary of Kalat district.

Major H.G. Raverty on page 611 and 612 of his Notes on Balochistan writes that the men took to the hills, leaving their families, cattle, and other property. The Afghans under Asadullah Khan Ishaqzaey Hotak took over every thing, and left the women and children unmolested. The Brahui Chief tendered allegiance. A treaty was concluded and out of the five clauses of this treaty one was that the Brahuis would return the cattle brought from Pishin and Shorawak. In 1737, the Baloch came in contact with Nadir Shah Afshar As the stories of the success of Nadir Shah Afshar spread, the Brahui Khans of Kalat abandoned the Afghans and went over to the side of the Persian despot. Major H.G. Raverty on page 613 of his Notes writes that on 22nd April 1737 AD, the sons of Mir Abdullah Khan of Kalat, namely, Mir Mohabat Khan, Mir Iltaz and Mir Nasir Khan visited Nadir Shah at Kandahar. According to Nadir Nama the latter confirmed Mohabat Khan as ruler of Kalat. The younger two brothers with their stepmother named Bibi Mariam remained behind with Nadir Shah who granted them the revenue of Shal/Quetta district, which belonged to the Kasi Afghans. Subsequently he cancelled this grant as Mir Nasir had killed his brother Mir Iltaz. However, subsequently Nadir Shah further allotted a portion of Kachh-Gandawah tract that also belonged to the Panni Afghans.

On assassination of Nadir Shah Afshar, Ahmad Khan Abdali and Mir Nasir Khan of Kalat returned to their respective homelands. They had become acquainted with each other during the long period of their service with Nadir Shah. The assassination of Nadir Shah was a landmark in the process of the commencement and evaluation of Afghan as well as Baloch nationalism.

Mir Nasir Khan of Kalat did not stay at Kalat any longer and soon went over to Kandahar. He was present at the time of the coronation ceremony of Ahmad Shah Abdali. However, the latter confirmed Mohabat Khan as ruler of Kalat. According to G.P. Tate, in Appendices to his �Memoirs On Kalat� Mohabat Khan killed Muhammad Talib Kansi on whom Ahmad Shah had conferred the office of �Arbab�. The King replaced him with Mir Nasir Khan.

Sir Olaf Caroe (The Pathans, p-372) writes:-Ahmad Shah, on setting up his new kingdom in that city in 1747, enforced the submission of the Brahuis,and regarded his empire as extending almost to the sea. If any doubt were held to exist upon the point,it would be resolved by the fact that, in order, to fix his new dependant's loyalty, Ahmad Shah proceeded to the unprecedented lengths of bestowing upon him an Afghan district, the valley of Shal, in which Quetta is situated. The settlement of Brahuis in the villages just south of Quetta, dates from that time.

Qazi Nur Muhammad in Jang Nama 1764 AD says that Shal was granted to Mir Nasir Khan by Ahmad Shah as a reward for his jihad against the Sikhs. However, Akhund does not make mention of this grant while Pottinger (Travels in Balochistan and Sindh) says that Shal was given to Nasir Khan for his bravery in the battle of Mashhad.

S. Fida Yunas, a knowledgeable scholar on the Afghanistan affairs, in Afghanistan, A Political
History Vol-I, on page 105, states, With a difficult situation for the Afghans in India (1758 AD), Nasir Khan, a formally loyal Brahui Chieftain, also availed of the opportunity and declared his independence. A Brahui Baloch confederation, centered in Kalat state, threatened Ahmad Shah Abdali, Nasir Khan was defeated but was allowed to rule locally in return for the right to ask for troops to serve in time of War. Nasir Khan gave a cousin in marriage to Ahmad Shah, with Quetta and Mastung as wedding gifts. Ahmad Shah in this venture wanted to save his strength for the Mahrattas threat in India.

Soon after in 1759 AD, Ahmad Shah, joined by Nasir Khan Brahui of Kalat, reached Punjab via Balochistan with a view to stem the westward expansion of the Mahrattas. Throughout his stay in Hind the Brahui Chief remained his most trusted aide. The latter was also present with Ahmad Shah in January 1764-65 AD to fight against the Sikhs who had wrought devastation in the Punjab. After routing the Sikhs, Ahmad Shah offered the territories of Chenab, Jhang, Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan to Nasir Khan as a parting gift. However, the latter declined to accept the control over the areas offered.

From an objective perusal of the above quoted narrations on Afghan-Baloch relationship from various authoritative history books the following hence crystallise:-
1. The Afghans facilitated the establishment of the Brahuis State of Kalat.
2. Nadir Shah Afshar acted more favourably towards the Khan of Kalat by not only confirming his rule in Kalat but also bestowing on him the tracts of Kachh-Gandawah, which belonged to the Panni Afghans. He had also granted the Shal tract to Mir Nasir Khan and his stepmother; although this grant was later cancelled. Subsequently, Ahmad Shah Abdali did the same and granted the tract of Shal/Quetta to Mir Nasir Khan of Kalat, which belonged to Kasi Pathans.
3. Matrimonial alliances had been a common practise in the feudal society of the 18th century to mitigate, if not completely eliminate, animosity between two rival tribes or races. If Ahmad Shah Abdali took a Brahui wife from the royal family it was not by force, but to establish amiable relations rather, which the Brahuis did earlier in case of the Kalhoras as well. Generally, the tribal blood-battles did not end with political negotiations. They ended only when one or the other side was annihilated or there was a cause for face-saving. No tribal war has ever ended tamely. Inter-tribal marriages acted as balm on the wounds of those who lost their near and dear ones in such conflicts and provided a cause for face-saving and upholding ones honour, so important to the Balochs and Pathans alike.

4. Had Ahmad Shah Abdali mercilessly plundered the Balochs and Brahuis of Kalat, Mir Nasir Khan the Khan of Kalat would not have accompanied him to Hind soon after his chastisement. The offer of a grant of vast tract in Punjab by Ahmad Shah to the latter reflects their amiable mutual relations.

5. Killing, smearing of moustaches with the fat and drinking of blood of the dead enemy, lifting of cattle of the defeated adversary were part of inter-tribal battles and fights and were practised by both sides. Violence in a tribal war expanded in ever widening cycles of raids and counter raids and forays. Tribal issues gradually merged with personal issues and the entire tribe got involved.

6. Leaving aside his first invasion of Punjab what motive one could give to Ahmad Shah's subsequent invasions of Hind where he invariably fought the Sikhs and Mahrattas? I have dealt with it in much detail in my previous article. I leave it now to the discretion of the reader.

Naming of the training companies in the Pak army training centres and weapon systems after Ahmad Shah Abdali to inspire the defenders of Pakistan is a befitting recognition of Abdali's deeds and achievements by whole of the Pakistani nation. It would be appreciated that the Pathan land has always remained the launching pad of Islam. Syed Ahmad Shah Brelvi, out of whole of Hind, chose this region and people for his 'Mujahideen Movement'. One only finds the Pathans from Afghanistan and N.W.F.P who came to the rescue of the Muslims of Kashmir in 1947; hundreds of miles away from their home and hearth. A large number of them gave their lives during this campaign. The Pathans have the privilege of having sent maximum numbers of saints and sufia to Hind for preachingIslam. (For more detail on this subject see B. Dorn,History of the Afghans, London, 1829).

7. History is not created from fiction, legends, ballads or folklores. These are more often than not the exaggerated versions of an event or incident.

8. Except two (of whom one is from Balochistan), all historians quoted in the afore-mentioned discussion are either non-Pathans or have written their works much before the creation of Pakistan. Hence, they cannot be labelled as the official state-sponsored historians.

10. I have not been able to comprehend how it is humanly possible for a common person to even know the name of his forefather from a thousand years past, what to talk of him being killed by Mahmud of Ghazni and furthermore, he should feel humiliated by seeing the missile systems named after Ghaznavi, like Dr Dashtihas suggested in his discourse.

The synonymity of Pathan and Baloch codes of conduct and identity of views on many matters bear out the fact that we find the Pathans in the past ever arrayed against other non-Pathan Indians and despising them, evincing an antagonism which is not merely practical and political but one of ideals and sentiments. On the other hand, although, the Pathans had some local blood feuds with the Balochs, yet in the times of peace, they displayed a marked similarity of sentiments, ideals and aims. The Pathans mental characteristics also approximate much more closely to the Balochs than those of any other race that is why both the races co-exist peacefully and amicably in Balochistan since centuries, and would always continue do so if the seeds of imaginary misgivings are not sown betweenthem.

Haroon Rashid

The writer is a retired brigadier and author of a
ten-volume book ' History of the Pathans' published in 2002

The Treaty between Kalat and Qandahar:

http://www.uob.edu.pk/journals/TREATY OF KALAT 1758 BETWEEN QANDHAR AND KALAT AND ITS IMPACTS.pdf

 

[Chakar The Great]

I am sorry I know its an old article.

But this post is full of historical inaccuracies. Thread was started as a copy past from a website which quotes some paragraphs of a book on an entirely different topics. The writer initially claimed that Mir Chakar Rind was a dacoit but later corrects himself by saying he was an ordinary sub ordinate to a Niazi.

Copied from,
http://www.barmazid.com/2014/10/fact-and-fiction-about-mir-chakar-rind.html


I am aware that most people are not aware of Baloch history. But once I get time I ll write more on that as I have read Baloch history in great detail. Chakar was a great Baloch hero, indigenous to this soil. The only reason why Baloch people couldnt rule subcontinent/Delhi was internal rift among different Baloch tribes and poor war strategies. However they did help Mughals to rule the land ( Humayaun).

 

[Sugarcane]

I am sorry I know its an old article.

But this post is full of historical inaccuracies. Thread was started as a copy past from a website which quotes some paragraphs of a book on an entirely different topics. The writer initially claimed that Mir Chakar Rind was a dacoit but later corrects himself by saying he was an ordinary sub ordinate to a Niazi.

Copied from,
http://www.barmazid.com/2014/10/fact-and-fiction-about-mir-chakar-rind.html


I am aware that most people are not aware of Baloch history. But once I get time I ll write more on that as I have read Baloch history in great detail. Chakar was a great Baloch hero, indigenous to this soil. The only reason why Baloch people couldnt rule subcontinent/Delhi was internal rift among different Baloch tribes and poor war strategies. However they did help Mughals to rule the land ( Humayaun).

OP is/was Afghan, he used to make these kind of posts to start ethnic mud slinging. So, no need to resurface his threads