Mahsud
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Mahsud (Urdu: محسود) is a Pashtun tribe in Waziristan, Pakistan. The Mahsud tribe lives in the very centre of Waziristan, being hemmed by in on three sides by the Darwesh Khel Waziris, 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 speak a unique language called Burki. Usually they pronounce their name "Mahseed". They are divided into three great clans namely Alizai, Bahlolzai and Shaman Khel.
The Mahsud tribe are a people who can never even think of submitting to a foreign power. 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 Mahsud positions in order to subdue them but never got a foothold in the area.
Mahsud tribe is divided into three subtribes. Mahsud's usually call them Dre Maseed, meaning Three Mahsud. Each tribe has his own Khan. Gee Khan Langerkhel is one of the most prominent personalities of the Mahsud tribe.
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[edit] History
In 1860, 3000 Mahsud tribesmen attacked the British regiment base in Tank (present South Waziristan). The British struggled to defeat them.[citation needed]
Soon in 1897 AD Mujahed tribesmen again stood up against the British all the way from Chitral to Quetta and the British experienced difficulty while engaging them. It was during this time that the name of Mullah Powindah emerged. Powindah comes from the Pashto language, meaning "nomad."
Day after day, Mullah Powindah grew more popular and famous. He emerged as a legendary figure among the people of the region and beyond. There even was a time when he was considered 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. All attempts to stop these attacks were unsuccessful.
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 blockaded the areas of Makin and Kaniguram. Various areas were searched to arrest Mullah Powindah but to no avail. The English thought that the tribesmen were receiving weapons from the Indian ocean near Balochistan and responded by creating check posts, but no weapons were confiscated.
Mullah Powindah died in 1913. It could be said that he was the crown-less emperor of one of the most fiercesome of the Pashtoon Tribes; the Mahsuds. Upon his death, his son Shah Fazal Din was given leadership and his son-in-law, Mulla Abdul Hakeem, was appointed his adviser.
When the First World War started in 1915 AD, the English were concerned that they would be engaged in battle on more than one front. This was a threat to their safety and economy so they decided to close those fronts of lesser significance. 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 rejected these peace proposals. Instead, the Mahsuds put in place a Lashkar to attack the British.
By this time, the British had established an airforce in the subcontinent which was used to harass the tribesmen and as a result the tribe's hatred of the British increased. Due to their sufferings, they were bent upon taking revenge and hence their morale increased. A series of attacks were made by the Mahsuds inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. The attack on the Marhatta Regiment resulted in the deaths of hundreds of sepoys and 5 British Officers. In the attack on the Punjab Regiment the Ghazis slaughtered everyone. The aerial bombardments had inflicted significant losses on the tribesmen but they were content that they were also doing well and had killed around 250 of the enemy forces.
After the end of the First World War, the British returned to Waziristan. This time, they built roads and forts throughout the land. The sophistication acquired by the British air force helped create a secure atmosphere for the ground troops because of their constant patrols. 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 bomb 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.
In 1925, the Royal Air Force successfully put down a Mahsud rebellion by strafing the tribes' mountain strongholds. The action, which came to be known as Pink's War led to the tribal leaders seeking peace terms.[1]
[edit] Recent history
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. On many occasions the Afghan throne was saved with the help of the Mahsuds and Wazirs from Wazirstan. Of those who fought during this time, most of them came back to their homeland, but those who stayed were given high ranks of office such as Faiz Muhammad Mahsud who later became equivalant to the title of prime minister during the 1970's. The majority are still in the province of Logar with the title of Waziri, but by caste, they are Mahsuds. The majority of these are Manzai with a sub-caste of Dramankel, Faridi, etc. When the Soviet-Afghan War started, some of these families came back to Wazirstan but could not stay there, so they moved to cities like Peshawar and Karachi.
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. Mahsud are very good marksmen and have the reputation of trustworthiness. Mahsud is the most independent of all the tribes. Even their own maliks have a very limited control over them. However, Mahsuds have been increasingly integrated with the Pakistani society since independence. - John Ayde describes the Mahsud
Since independence, many social, economic and demographic changes have occurred in Waziristan. A large number of Mahsuds have joined mainstream Pakistani society. When the Hindu traders of Tank left after the Partition of India in 1947, most of their shops were taken over by Mahsuds. Now Mahsuds are employed in the 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 raised a tribal lashkar which entered Kashmir. They quickly reached the outskirts of Srinagar defeating the Maharaja’s troops.
== Kashmir War Interview with Lashkar Commander Lt Col. (R) Gaideen Khan Abdullai Mahsud (2005) == Prof Farakh A.Khan
Kursheed Anwar Commander of the Muslim League National Guards was made in-charge of the Lashkars for Kashmir by Abdul Qayum Khan. Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan was the over all in-charge of operations in Kashmir. There was a clear understanding with the Lashkar that when they captured Srinagar they would be allowed to loot the treasury and the palace in lieu of payment. This was the accepted mode of warfare of not only for Tribal Pathans but all unpaid armies in the world since times immoral. In 1929 when the British against usurper in Kabul launched Nadir Shah he was allowed to recruit Wazir tribe from FATA. The Wazir tribes were allowed to loot the king's palace in Kabul in lieu of payment for their efforts. In case of Kashmir jihad in 1947 the Pakistan government was not responsible for their death or injury and only supplied some ammunition and rudimentary transport. Food and accommodation was also arranged by the Lashkar. This was called 'living off the land'. Despite all the drawbacks the Lashkars brushed aside the Dogra forces within the first week.
The Lashkar was launched from Muzaffarabad on October 23, 1947. When the Lashkar reached Baramulla and captured the town (October 26th) after a stiff action they realized that they were now fighting the Indian regular army and hence knew that Indian reinforcements had reached the Valley. The Indian Commanding Officer was killed and one person from the Lashkar took off his jacket and wore it. Anwar addressed the Lashkar at Baramullah and told them that there was a change of plan and the treasury and the palace was not to be looted. The leaders of various Lashkars had earlier pleaded with him not to say this and matter could be resolved once they captured Srinagar. The Lashkars were enraged and showed their displeasure with Lashkar leaders, which was embarrassing for the leaders. Nevertheless some elements reached outskirts of Srinagar on October 29th. Here Commander Gadeen Khan and his small group faced determined resistance. They overran opposition after a firefight but realised that they were now facing Indian armoured cars, artillery, air force and regular Indian ground troops. The Lashkar had no anti tank or anti air craft weapons. Small bands of the Lashkar when opposed by full Indian army in the open in sight of Srinagar did not stand a chance. The Lashkar started to disperse very rapidly. Of the 5000 tribesmen only 25 remained with Commander Gadeen Khan the rest went on a looting spree in the Valley and then headed home. The few remaining Pathans fought a rearguard action till some units of Pakistan army and volunteers arrived and stabilised the position at Chakoti.
According to Gen Akbar Khan (1970) by November 5th the lashkar had retreated to Uri 65 miles from Srinagar and small parties were pulling out of Kashmir altogether. The retreating lashkar mainly of Mahsud from South Waziristan and Afridi from Tirah were met by Gen Akbar Khan at Uri and was bombarded with questions such as:
“Who was I? I told them. Had the Pakistan Government sent me? No. Were any troops coming to help? No. Had I brought any weapons or ammunition? No. Did Pakistan want Kashmir or not? Yes.”
Soon the apologetic tribesmen started negotiations for re-entering the fight for Kashmir. Large numbers again joined the battle. In April 1948 India launched its summer offensive. Facing Uri on the Muzaffarabad Srinagar road we had one regular battalion, Frontier Scouts, tribesmen and Azad units to stop the might of the Indian army supported by tanks, armoured cars, artillery and air cover. This rag tag force was able to stop the Indian army. The finest moment of the tribesmen was in the capture of Pandu and Chakoti where they distinguished themselves. We must remember that tribal volunteers were not a trained modern army. The natural ability of the tribesmen to use guerrilla tactics especially ambush was very affective. This second action by the FATA tribesmen is not remembered. On December 31, 1948 at midnight guns on both sides fell silent with the cease-fire (Khan, Akbar. 1970).
The Pathan 'volunteers' came at the call of Pir of Wana, South Waziristan Pir Ghulam Dastigir and Malik Akhya Jan (Izzatullah, Shaikh. Kashmir-Plebiscite: Part 1. Iqbal Company Ltd. Lahore). The people of FATA were encouraged to join the Lashkar by the Chief Minister of NWFP Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan despite- objections from the NWFP Governor Sir George Cunningham (Hussain, Ijaz. Kashmir dispute: an international law perspective. National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Islamabad. 1998). Sulemankhel tribesmen from Afghanistan also joined the fight as part of jihad (Khan, Sardar M Ibrahim. The Kashmir saga. Ripon Printing Press, Lahore. 1965). Sardar Mohammad Abdul Qayyum Khan called these 'volunteers' as Mujahideen/Tribal Volunteers (The Kashmir case. Published by Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Rawalpindi. 1970). Sheikh Izzatullah called the Pathans as 'raiders' working for Army of Liberation. Gen Akbar Khan also refers to them as 'raiders' . For the Indian side the Pathan Lashkar were invaders/raiders (Khalifa, Abdul Mannan. Kashmir story. ABKO, Lahore. 1970).
In the first wave of attack on the road to Srinagar the Lashkar had an incentive i.e. to loot the Rajgarh palace and the treasury in Srinagar. However there were people amongst the Lashkar who opted to stay on and fight without material reward. Later the Lashkar rallied back for the Pando action and took valuable territory without material reward. I do hope we now have a balanced view of the contribution of people of Waziristan and other parts of FATA who put their life on line for Pakistan. Again the Taliban were launched into Afghanistan from FATA during the Russian occupation. A lot of people of FATA lost their lives in this action.
The home of the Mahsud is inhospitable mountainous terrain on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. This location has given them the flexibility to maintain some independence from central authorities of both countries. Like all other tribes, the 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 filed: Blow us all up with cannon, or make all eighteen thousand of us Nawabs’ suggesting that all Mahsud were equal.
Gradual change has occurred in Waziristan due to increased interaction of tribes with the government and the settled districts adjoining their land. The most significant experiment of the British was the raising of Militias (later called Scouts) from the area. It gave the tribesman an alternative to a life of tending the fields. The system has all the incentives which a tribesman might enjoy. He is clothed, fed and given cash. He is given a good rifle, a prized possession, and he lives in his own hills with opportunities to use his rifle. In the last fifty years, the region has seen a dramatic change in which 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 they choose to challenge the central authority, they would suffer more than their 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.
[edit] Transport and business
Mahsud along with the neighbouring Wazir have come to dominate the transport industry of Pakistan. They have earned a good reputation in assuring the safe arrival of shipments, often through long and perilously dangerous routes (eg. Karakorum highway) to their point of destination. Due to the inhospitability and limited resources of their native regions, many Mahsuds have established colonies throughout Pakistan, particularly in the urban centres of Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot, Islamabad/Rawalpindi and Bannu. Many Mahsud have established themselves as successful businessman which has helped them to improve conditions for their families and relatives living in Waziristan.
[edit] Education
The literacy rate in the region has gradually been improving since the joining to Pakistan, and Mahsuds encourage their children to take full benefits of attending government-run local schools with many going on to more prosperous professions such as medicine, dentistry, anthropology and military service. Schools throughout Pakistan have several seats reserved for Pakistanis living in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and this has helped many inhabitants living in peripheral and distant regions of the country to have access to federal facilities. The Mahsud also have reserved federal seats in order for them to improve their literacy rate and better integrate them into Pakistan's mainstream. The improving education, social infrastructure, integration with Pakistan, and rising literacy rate has transformed these former tribesman known for their violent blood feuds into some of the most successful professionals, sportsmen and businessmen in the country.
[edit] Famous personalities
- Mullah Powindah Masood
- Gee Khan Langerkhel (Chief Khan of Gidikhel Manzai Mahsud)
- Lt Col(R) Gaideen Khan Abdullai Mahsud(Founding Father of Pakistan Special Services Group)
- Major rt Mohammad Zaman Khan Mahsud
- Col Shah pasand Langer Khel
- Amir Hamza Langer Khel DIG police
- Kamran Langer Khel Architect
- Imran Khan Langer Khel Textile Engineer
- Abdullah Mahsud
- Baitullah Mahsud
- Nazeer Sahaar(langer khil) (Journalist,poet and writer of 13 pashto books){www.tolafghan.com/sahaar}
- Musa Khan Mahsud (Honorary General of Afghan Army in late 19 century)
- Faiz Mohamad Mahsud (Interior minister of Afghanistan during the reign of Mohamad Dawood khan 1973-1978 and Minister of tribal& borders afairs in the Karmal communist reign)
- Ehsanullah Masood(Governor of province loogar, during Hekmatiar era)
- Alam jan Mahsud (famous general of Pakistan Army)
- Alam Khan Mahsud (famous poet and writer of various books including;Da Sahar Baang)
- ali khan Masood( writer)
- Sailab Mahsud(Journalist)
- Ishtiaq Mahsud(Journalist)
- Muntazer Maseed(Engineer,poet, writer)[[1]]
- Mehardil Kaka (The chief of Alizai subtribe who attacked Jawahar Lal Nehro in Razamak 1946)
- turkistan slemikhel (chief of three mahsud tribes)
- Kamal Mahsud (Renaissance singer of tribe in keeping the the culture vocal art alive)
[edit] References
- ^ Royal Air Force History - RAF History Timeline 1918 to 1929 (HTML). Royal Air Force (2003). Retrieved on 2007-09-08.
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