Akazai is a Pakhtoon (or Pashtoon; Pashtun) tribe hailing from northern Pakistan. Specifically, it is a subdivision of the Isazai clan within the larger Yousafzai tribe. The Yousafzai tribe is widely recognized as one of the most influential, renowned, and esteemed Pashtoon tribes. [1] Military historian Colonel Harold Carmichael Wylly offers a personal perspective on the vast Yousafzai tribe, stating:
"The Yousafzai is an agriculturist, generally a fine, well-limbed man of a good physique and appearance with great deal of race-pride, well dressed and cheery, while his hospitality is proverbial". [2]
The Akazais are considered to be a tribe among The Black Mountain (Tor Ghar) Tribes, a division of the Isazai clan of the Yousafzai tribe. [3] They are the descendants of Aka, the son of Isa (Isazai), and the grandson of Yusuf/Yousaf/Yousafzai. [4] The Akazais are further divided into four sections with each section having two or more sub-sections. [5]
Sub Clan | Section | Sub-section (Khel) |
Akazai | Aziz Khel | Darja Khel, Sain Khel, Kala Khel and Rasul Khel |
Barat Khel | Biba Khel, Chamba Khel, Khan Khel and Shahi Khel | |
Painda Khel | Awal Khel, Jogi Khel and Lal Khel | |
Tasan Khel | Akozai, Ghazi Khan and Mamuzai | |
The Akazai tribe (approximately 35,000) occupies the western slopes of a mountainous region known as Tor Ghar (meaning "Black Mountain"). Akazais also inhabit a portion of the crest of Tor Ghar on the northern side of Hassanzais. On their eastern side is part of Agror, to the north are Chagharzais (Nasrat Khel and Basi Khel) while to the west is the famous Indus River. The southern face of Machai Sar ("Peak"), which is the highest peak (9817 feet) of Tor Ghar, belongs to the Akazais. The main Akazai villages are Kand (Upper and Lower), Bimbal and Bilianrey. Other villages are Darbanrey, Kanar, Bakrey, Laid, Lashora, Bakianra, Moraata, Torum, and Larey. During the period of Sikh rule and up to 1868, Akazais held the village of Shatut in Agror valley (Tehsil Oghi). [6] For better prospects of life, Akazais migrated to adjoining area and cities within Pakistan.Those Akazais who migrated from Tor Ghar are now living in Tehsil Oghi (adjoining Tor Ghar), Pakhal Valley and Konsh Valley - Chinarkot Mansehra district, Malikpura - Abbottabad, Khalabat Township, Nara gandgar, Haripur, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Burhan in District Attock. [ citation needed ]
During the British Rule 1858 to 1947, Tor Ghar had never been under its administration. The Akazais, along with the Hassanzais, were very active in fighting against the British. [7]
The fighting character and bravery of the tribe was described by Sir William Wilson Hunter as follows: [8]
The Campaign of 1863 taught us to our cost that an expedition against the Fanatical Encampment may mean a war with a coalition of 53,000 fighting men of the bravest races in the world. The inaccessible character of the country renders the temper and the internal relations of the tribes a matter of uncertainty with our Frontier officers; and whenever the Rebel Settlement suffers a defeat, it has merely to fall back deeper into the recesses of the Mahában.
The Indian-British government sent five major expeditions to Tor Ghar to suppress The Black Mountain (Tor Ghar) Tribes at different times: [6]
After the creation of Pakistan on 14 August 1947, Tor Ghar was given the status of Tribal Area under the administration of the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North West Frontier Province).
Like all other Pashtuns, Akazais have maintained their cultural identity. They strictly follow the code of ethics of Pashtunwali, which comprises Manliness, Goodness, Gallantry, Loyalty and Modesty. Akazais have also maintained the Pashtoon customs of Jarga or Jirga (consultative assembly), Badal (justice or revenge) Nanawati (delegation pleading guilty), Hujhra (large drawing room) and Melmastya (hospitality). [12]
Pushto is the basic language of Akazais. Having less interaction with other people/languages due rugged nature terrain and less roads; the Akazais of Tor Ghar speak the purest form of Pushto. Akazais who migrated to other areas have adopted local languages like; Hindko in Hazara Division.
On 28 January 2011, Tor Ghar became the 25th District of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa. [13] Judba is the district headquarters of this newly created district with following tehsils:
Most of the Akazai areas come under the Kandar Hassanzai tehsil.
The Yusufzai or Yousafzai, also referred to as the Esapzai, or Yusufzai Afghans historically, are one of the largest tribes of Pashtuns. They are natively based in the northern part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to which they migrated from Kabul during the 16th century, but they are also present in parts of Afghanistan, including Kunar, Kabul, Kandahar and Farah. Outside of these countries, they can be found in Ghoriwala District Bannu, Balochistan Sibi (Akazai), Chagai (Hassanzai) and Rohilkandh.
The Tarkani or Tarkalani are a Pashtun tribe mainly settled in Bajaur District, Lower Dir district, Barawal upper dir and in Kabal and Matta tehsil of district Swat Pakistan but originally hailed from the Laghman province of modern-day Afghanistan. They are settled in large parts of Kunar province of Afghanistan and other parts of Afghanistan. In Kunar they stretch all the way up to Naray district of Afghanistan, and are majority in Dangam, Asmar, half of Gehazi Abad, Marah wara, half of Barkani district etc, all districts in Kunar, Afghanistan. they are cousins of the Yousafzai with whom fought battles against Dalzak and Mughals.
Amb or the State of Amb historically namely before 19th century ""Riasat-i-Mulk-e-Tanol"" was a princely state in the present day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan. Together with Phulra, it was known as Feudal Tanawal ruled by Tanoli tribe. A Royal Tenure start from Timurid Empire and end on Last Nawab Muhammad Farid Khan Tanoli. Amb was only powerful state incorporated in Pakistan with armed civilized military of 12,000 men, 300 Howitzer with their own manufacturing arms factory, today part of the Pakistan Army. Amb had a influence control roots in Swat, Dir and Chitral. A gaining of powerful roots of Amb military start from Second Anglo-Sikh War when East India Company provide military equipment to Jehandad Khan Tanoli to fight against Sikh, and then next British Empire in Second anglo-Afghan War. At the end of December 1947, the Nawab of Amb state acceded to Pakistan while retaining internal self-government. Amb continued as a princely state of Pakistan until 1969, when it was incorporated into the North West Frontier Province.
Torghar District formerly known as Kala Dhaka is a district in the Hazara Division of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It was officially separated from Mansehra District in 2011 under Article 246 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The valley of Agror is located in the Hazara region of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of northern Pakistan. Its territory makes up Oghi Tehsil, an administrative unit of Mansehra District. Khans of Agror belonging to Begal subsection of Mitravi Swatis are ruling this area since 1703 conquest of Pakhli. Agror is the Pashto speaking area where Swatis speak pashto as their mother tongue.
The Hassanzai is a sub-clan of Yousafzai, which is a Pakhtoon/Pashtoon/Pathan tribe. It is one of the divisions of the Isazai clan of the Yousafzai tribe. Yousafzai tribe is regarded as one of the most powerful, famous, and respected tribes of Pashtoons. Colonel H. C. Wylly (1858–1932) described these people in the following words:
The Yousafzai is an agriculturist, generally fine, well-limbed man, of a good physique and appearance with great deal of race-pride, well dressed and cheery, while his hospitality is proverbial.
The Chagharzais or Chagarzais are a division of the Malaizai clan of the Yousafzai tribe. Colonel Harold Carmichael Wylly, 1858–1932, a British military historian described these people in the following words:
The Yousafzai is an agriculturist, generally fine, well-limbed man, of a good physique and appearance with great deal of race-pride, well dressed and cheery, while his hospitality is proverbial.
Konsh valley is located on the northern borders of the Mansehra district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The town of Battal is the headquarters of the valley. The Silk Route, also known as the Karakoram highway, passes through it leading to Gilgit. Towns, like Battal, and structures in the area, were severely damaged by the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. The altitude varies from 1067 meters at Ichhrian to 2911 meters at Bahishti Sar. The valley is inhabited by more than 76,000 people, made up of three main tribes: Sayyed, Swati, Gujars, And For better prospects of life, Akazais migrated to adjoining area and cities within Pakistan. Aziz Khel, section of Akazai, People who migrated from Tor Ghar are now living in Konsh Valley village Chinarkot UC Ichrian Tehsil Baffa, Mansehra district.
Oghi is a tehsil in Mansehra District, in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Its territory largely coincides with the Agror Valley, and its headquarters is the town of Oghi. Oghi Tehsil in Mansehra District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, was established in 1986. Prior to that, this area was part of Mansehra Tehsil. A decision was made by the government to reorganize tehsils and create new administrative units, and as a result, Oghi Tehsil was formed in this manner.
The Madakhel is a Pakhtoon/Pashtoon/Pathan tribe. It is a division of the Isazai clan of the Yousafzai tribe.
Oghi (اوگی) is a town in District Mansehra of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Situated in the Agror Valley, it is the headquarters of the eponymous tehsil.
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The Hazara Expedition of 1888, also known as the Black Mountain Expedition or the First Hazara Expedition, was a military campaign by the British against Swati and Yousafzai tribes of Kala Dhaka and Battagram District in the Hazara region of what is now Pakistan.
Hazarewal or Hazarawals refer to the multi-ethnic community inhabitants of the Hazara region in Northern Pakistan. This region is known for its multi-ethnic population, comprising various ethnic groups with diverse origins.
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The Black Mountain (Tor Ghar), is located in the Hazara division of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Tor Ghar is a Pashto phrase which means Black (Tor) Mountain (Ghar). It is also called Kala Dhaka, which means the same as its Pushto name; in Hindko a local language spoken by the people of Tanawal and Agror which are located on eastern side of Tor Ghar. Tor Ghar lies to the east of the River Indus from Thakot to Darband. The total length of this mountain is about twenty five to thirty miles and its average height about 8,000 feet (2,400 m) feet above sea level. Machai Sar is the highest peak, which is 9,817 ft (2,992 m) above sea level. It ascends from the River Indus basin at its southern end near the village of Kiara and goes up to its watershed near the village Baradar; then it runs north-east by north to the point on the crest known as Chitabat. From here the range runs due north, finally descending to the Indus by two large spurs, at the foot of the easternmost of which lies Thakot. The Indus, after passing Thakot, turns westward along the northern foot of the mountain until it washes the western of the two aforementioned spurs, when it takes a sharp bend to the south, and runs below and parallel to the western foot of this mountain range.
Utmanzai Pokhtoon koor is a Pashtun sub-tribe of the larger Yusufzai Mandanr clan in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
John Weston Parsons Peters, DSO, OBE (1864-1924) was a soldier of the British Army who fought in India, the Boer War, and the First World War. During the Boer War he served as Assistant Military Governor of Pretoria from 1900 to 1902 under the command of General John Maxwell.
The Second Black Mountain Expedition was a punitive expedition by the British Army against the Black Mountain tribes in the North-West Frontier Province of British India.