Mandesh is the historical name by which the mountain region of Ghor was called. [1]
The region was governed under a Malik named Amir Suri [2] and the population [note 1] was not yet converted to Islam in the 10th century. [1]
His son Mohammad who was attacked by Mahmud Ghaznawi is also stated in the Rauzat al Safa to still been a pagan despite his name, and Al Otbi calls him a pagan. Mahmud took his stronghold in the year 400 (1009) and carried the chief into captivity, where he is said to have poisoned himself. His son Abu Ali was put in his place by Mahmud, no doubt had embraced Islam, and is said to have built Masjids. Nevertheless he was seized imprisoned by his nephew and Abbas after Massud had succeeded to the throne of Ghazana. [1]
"... there is no evidence for assuming that the inhabitants of Ghūr were originally Pashto-speaking (cf. Dames, in E I1). If we are to believe the Paṭa Khazāna (see below, iii), the legendary Amīr Karōṝ, grandson of Shansab, (8th century) was a Pashto poet, but this for various reasons is very improbable ..."