Mahsud
is a famous Pashtun tribe in Waziristan, Pakistan. Mahsud tribe lives in the very centre of Waziristan being hemmed by in on three sides by the Darwaish Khel Wazirs, and being shut off by the Bhittanis on the east from the Derajat and Bannu districts. Two Pashtoon tribes, Ahmadzai Wazir and Mahsud, inhabit and dominate South Waziristan. There are also some Burkis, a small ethnic group that has been living in between mahsud tribes and speaks there special language "burki". The Waziris live on both sides of the Durand Line that serves as a border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Usually they pronounce their name "Mahsid". They are divided into three great clans namely Alizai, Bahlolzai and Shaman Khel. Mahsud tribe is that tribe who can never even think of submitting to a foreign power that stepped on their land. These are the words of Sir Olaf Caroe who acted as the former governor of the Frontier. From 1860 to 1937, the English forces constantly attacked Mahsood positions in order to subdue them but never got a foothold in the area. It was 1860 when 3000 Mahsud tribesmen attacked the British regiment base in Tank (Present South Waziristan). The British had a tough time handling them.
After the end of the 1st world war in 1919, the British again headed towards Waziristan. This time, they built roads and forts throughout the land. It was during this time that the name of Powenda Mullah emerged. He would later on bask in fame and glory the likes of which no other tribesman of the area will experience.
Powenda means nomad in Pashto. Soon in 1897 AD Mujahed tribesmen again stood up against the British all the way from Chitral to Quetta and the British were again given a serious head ache of dealing with them.
Day after day, Mullah Powenda became even more popular and famous. He had attained a legendary figure status among the people from far and wide. There even was a time when he was considered as the sole leader of all the Waziristan country by the British.
His followers would kill an English officer sometimes here sometimes there. And the British would not be able to nab them because the attackers would swoop back to their mountain hideouts like eagles. Many things were tried to stop such acts but to no avail.
In 1907 AD, the Wazir and Mahsud tribesmen were blocked from entry into any government controlled territory. Economic sanctions were placed on them so that even basic amenities of life like food and medicine could be blocked from going into their hands.
The English commander of that time, Timothy Blockaded the areas of Makin and Kaniguram. Various areas were searched to arrest Powenda Mullah But to no avail.
The English thought that the tribesmen were receiving weapons from the Indian ocean at the south by the Balochistan lands. For this, they affixed check posts far and wide but again, no benefit was obtained.
When the First World War started in 1919 AD, the English were concerned that they would be engaged in battle on more than one fronts which was not a good omen for their safety and their economy; hence they decided to close those fronts of less significance. For this, they abandoned their ‘Forward Policy’ for the time being and sent a message of friendship and peace to the tribes. The Tribes did not trust the British and that was the reason that they rejected any such peace proposals. Instead, the Mahsuds put in place a Lashkar to attack the British. By this time, the British had established an Air Force in the sub continent. Their Air force would bombard the whole countryside of Waziristan thus killing and maiming thousands of Tribesmen. All this was an open message of hatred on behalf of the British to the Tribes. The tribes got this message and their hatred for the British grew as well. Due to their sufferings, they were bent upon taking revenge and hence their moral increased. A series of attacks were made by the Mahsuds inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. One attack was that on the Marhatta Regiment in which hundreds of sepoys and 5 British Officers were killed. Another was that on the Punjab regiment in which the Ghazis slaughtered everyone. The aerial bombardments had inflicted staggering losses on the tribesmen but they were content that they were also doing well and had killed around 250 of the enemy forces.
The sophistication acquired by the British (air force) helped create a secure atmosphere for the ground troops because they would constantly patrol the sky’s. With this sense of security, the British Army constructed a metalled road from Jandola to Ladha. At Razmak, they constructed a cantonment for their army officers and soldiers.
By 1922-23, all the British Army had moved from Wana to Razmak. They had also constructed an airport in Razmak. Instead of flying all the way from India, their aircraft would fly from Razmak Airport and bombard the countryside. Because of this, the countryside of Makin was totally devastated. The Mahsuds deemed it appropriate at this time to agree to a ceasefire because this new tactic adopted by the British was inflicting wide scale losses on their side. The ceasefire would also enable them to devise a strategy of how to counter the latest British advances.
Mulla Powenda died in 1913 AD. It can be said without doubt that he was the crown-less emperor of one of the most fierce some of Pashtoon Tribes; the Mahsuds. Upon his death, his son Shah Fazal Din was given leadership whereas his Son in Law Mulla Abdul Hakeem was appointed adviser. Mahsud tribe is divided in three subtribes, Mahsud's usually call it as dray maseed. Each tribe has his own KHAN i.e ELDER, GEE KHAN LANGERKHEL is one of the most prominent personality of the Mahsud tribe.
Historically, the Wazirs and Mahsuds have always looked toward Afghanistan as their real home, and throughout the British Colonial period, they supported Afghan kings in their wars against the British.
‘They are poor but brave… and although turbulent and difficult to deal with, still have a great love of their country and cherish their independence, possessing qualities that we admire ourselves, and which deserve consideration and respect’.
John Ayde describes Mahsud in above words.
Mahsud are very good marksmen and have the reputation of trustworthy. Mahsud is the most independent of all the tribes. Even their own maliks have a very limited control over these independent spirits. However, since independence, Mahsuds have been increasingly integrated with the Pakistani society.
Since independence, many social, economic and demographic changes have occurred in Waziristan. The large number of Mahsuds has joined the mainstream Pakistani society. When the Hindu traders of Tank left after the partition in 1947, most of their shops were taken over by Mahsuds. Now Mahsuds are employed in militia and regular army, state bureaucracy and involved in business all around the country. Many of them are now living far away from their native lands.
Immediately after independence, Mahsuds raise tribal lashkar which entered Kashmir. They quickly reached the outskirts of Srinagar defeating the Maharaja’s troops. The home of Mahusd is an inhospitable mountainous terrain bordering between Afghanistan and Pakistan. This location has given them the flexibility to maintain some independence from central authorities of both countries. Like all other tribes, Mahsud cherish their independence and are fully conscious of their reputation of ‘honour’ and ‘bravery’. They use these qualities to convey their ethnic superiority. Mahsud efforts to resist any penetration of their enclave was due to their intense independent spirit which almost borders on anarchy. In this ‘the Mahsud effort was inspired by a deep-seated instinct which drove the tribe at all costs to resist subjection and to preserve their own peculiar way of life’. Every Mahsud considers himself as an equal to other Mahsud. The sentiment was well expressed by a Mahsud leader GEE KHAN LANGERKHEL who told Evelyn Howell that ‘Let it be field’. Blow us all up with cannon, or make all eighteen housand of us Nawabs’ suggesting that all were equal. Gradual change has occurred in Waziristan due to increased interaction of tribes with government and settled districts adjoining them. The most significant experiment of British was raising of Militias (later called Scouts) from the area. It gave the tribesman an alternative to boring life of tending the fields. The system has all the incentives which a tribesman can enjoy. He is clothed, fed and given cash. He is given a good rifle, the prized possession and he lives in his own hills with opportunities to use his rifle. In last fifty years, the region has seen a dramatic change where the tribal society is increasingly attached to the settled area both economically and socially. This has limited some of the independence which the tribesman’s forefathers enjoyed. If he chooses to challenge the central authority, he has to suffer more than his forefathers. On the other hand the government’s authority to punish the whole tribe is also restricted to some extent due to increased integration of tribesmen into settled districts. In modern times, a more imaginative policy is needed to handle this delicate situation.
‘They fight for the love of fighting, and though at the moment they are contented and peaceful, they say openly that they must soon relieve the monotony by having a rising’. Wife of Viceroy Lord Minto after the visit to the frontier tribes April
Mamund
The Mamund are a Pashtun tribe of around 12,000 people and are one of the four clans of Tarkanis. The tribe is located principally in the Watelai valley, but also own villages on both sides of the Durand Line.
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