ISLAMABAD – The state of Swat, economically self-sustained with rice paddy fields at the town of Thana and wheat and corn producing fields en route to Matta, Kabal, Mingora, Madian, Bahrain, and ending at Walnut Heights of Kalam where trout is the most available all-season food, is home to the peaceful and docile Pashtuns.
The majority of these Pashtuns came into Swat from Dir and Bajour, others from Kailash and Chitral. Their ancestry, some historians claim, is Greek. To an extent Kailash-Chitral, neighboring Swat, gives credence to this claim.
Kailash is a rock-locked valley where one of the generals of Alexander the Great once lost his garrison. One can trace the semblance of Greek within the Kalasha language. Some scholars reject the claim of Greek ancestry, but when the present head of Kailash, Luxun Bibi, took up an invitation by the government of Greece, the meeting state officials discovered that there are many common words between Greek and Kalasha.
Swat always remained a self-sustained economy also for its valuable emeralds, extracted from Swat and from the Panjsheer Valley of Afghanistan. Even during the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, gemstone dealers from the Indian town of Jaipur would regularly camp at the Pearl Continental Hotel of Peshawar to buy emeralds that were cut and polished in Hong Kong or Belgium.
The majority of Swati people are proudly self-proclaimed “Blue Blood Pashtuns”, again raising the question of ancestry. Afridis and Shinwaris of the Khyber Agency claim to be the direct descendents of Alexander the Great, and some claim Pashtuns are Jews who converted when they came to Afghanistan.
The majority of Swati Pashtuns are gujars, or herdsmen, not belonging to Swat’s economic elite.
Before the people of Swat embraced Islam they were mostly influenced by Buddhism, which is reflected in relics and statues often extracted by archeologists from Dir and Swat. An old museum is located in Dir where statues are still kept, but there is no one there to guard them at present.
Swat was a princely state at the time of partition of the Indian subcontinent, when the Wali of Swat, the Ruler of Dir, and the Mehter of Chitral all opted to join Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s Pakistan voluntarily.
Swat had become a princely state before the partition under Mian Gul Shahzada Abdul Wadud, the son of a powerful Pashtun, Abdul Khaliq of the Akhund caste of Pashtuns. Abdul Khaliq died in 1892. His son Abdul Wadud was a saint who had many disciples and would often be invited to chair local jirgas, or grand assemblies, to settle local disputes.
Many Sikhs also settled in Swat after the conquests of Mahraja Ranjit Singh, a warrior from Punjab who conquered Afghanistan from Kabul to Kandahar. Sikhs still live in Swat and many are wealthy businessmen. In 2002, a descendent of the conqueror, Sardar Gayan Singh, became a member of the National Assembly, the lower house of Pakistan’s Parliament.
Saint Mian Gul Shahzada Abdul Wadud established Swat as a princely state when, during a jirga, he ordered two rival groups to surrender their arms to his disciples. Using this opportunity, Abdul Wadud established his personal rule in 1917 and declared himself Badshah, or King, of Swat.
Thereafter he set about consolidating his rule, annexing adjacent lands and establishing the rudiments of administration and government. After nine years of continuous progress, he approached the British Indian government for recognition and support. Until then, relations between the two had been uneasy and mutual suspicion prevailed on both sides. However, his straightforward character, sincerity in friendship, and demonstrated feat in disarming hitherto fractious tribesman, won the day.
Swat was recognized as a full-fledged princely state in 1926, with Abdul Wadud as “Wali of Swat” and, in 1933 his eldest son became “Wali Ahad”, or heir apparent. The little state progressed in leaps and bounds under their energetic and surprisingly modern-minded rule.
Revenue collection was regularized. Government departments and offices were established. Roads, hospitals, schools, and public works of all kinds began in earnest. For the first time in centuries, peace and prosperity reigned supreme and the beautiful valley slowly entered the twentieth century.
Abdul Wadud was himself a saint and a believer in Sufism, but since he was anxious to consolidate his power in the name of Islam, he introduced Fatawa-e-Wadudia in Swat.
“It was an Islamic legal system coupled with Pashtun customary laws known as Rawajnama Swat,” explained Mian Gul Aurangzeb in an interview with me for Foreign Policy Journal. At 81, he is the son of the last ruler of Swat, Mian Gul Jehanzeb, and son-in-law of Pakistan’s first military ruler, Field Marshal Ayub Khan.
While Abdul Wadud introduced Fatawa-e-Wadudia, he allowed officially sanctioned bars in the posh localities of Mingora, Saidu Sharif and Kalam. He lived in a white marble palace located near Mingora at Marghazar. Abdul Wadud also gave official permission for “dancing girls” to operate, but not in the main cities.
Having a self-sustained economy, Abdul Wadud promoted education and tourism. “He wanted to turn Swat into another Switzerland of Asia,” explained Riaz Naqvi, a former bureaucrat with an extensive knowledge of Swat. Naqvi is healthy at 74, and retired from his former position as Chairman of the Central Board of Revenue, now renamed as the Federal Bureau of Revenue.
“Certainly my grandfather wanted to modernize Swat state, and we promoted education in our state,” commented Prince Mian Gul Auarngzeb.
President of Pakistan from 1958 until 1969, Field Marshal Ayub Khan, whose daughter Begum Nasim was married to young Captain Mian Gul Auarngzeb while the prince was serving the president as his aide-de-camp (ADC), adopted three different policies for three princely states. He accepted Wali Jehanzeb as the Ruler of Swat but detained Khan of Dir and dethroned the Mehter of Chitral.
Until 1969, Swat remained a semi-autonomous state with its own police and a small army, the Swat Militia, with its own state emblem.
Field Marshal Ayub Khan had to step down in March 1969 and handed over Pakistan to his Commander-in-Chief of the Army, General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan, an Afghan of Qizilbash caste. It was General Yahya Khan who, after making Chief Marshal Law Administrator and President of Pakistan, disapproved Swat’s semi-autonomous status and merged it under Pakistani rule.
Mr.Azhar,
Your views about Taliban are biased.It is a kind of revolution to present corrupt system.Just see what they did in Afghanistan,peace prevailed,poppy crop finished.They are against drugs.They need to be understood by us.
Army can not fight them and can illiminate all of them.They have mastery in GW,Gurilla Warfare, a specialised field.They are highly motivated and can live off the ground.I have served in the Army for a quarter of a century and have served in elite Armoured Corps and SSG.I know both entities,Army and Taliban.You are welcome for any further clarifications.Thanks
Taliban are not criminal.They are kind hearted.You may contact that British Journalist lady,Yvonne Ridley who embraced Islam after remaining in the custody of Taliban for twenty days.She delivers lecture all over the world for Taliban.
Taliban are better than these clean shaved, well dressed civil servants who ask money to do a ligitimate job.Thier agenda is same as those who started long march from Lahore to restore CJ.Are they Taliban?This kind of movement is also gaining momentum in Sind.All so called dacoits in interior Sind Province are mostly the victoms of brutalities of vederas,mostly thier servants and haries.The real threat to Pakistan is from corrupt politicians,vederas,Sardars of Balochistan,ANP in NWFP whos mind is in India and heart in Afghnistan.
Please do not defame Taliban without knowing them much.They are our strategic asset.They should not be cornered so much that they turn your enemies after the departure of NATO Forces from Afghanistan.NATO will announce thier exit strategy before 2011.We have to show calm,maturity and long term approach in our policies.Can we illiminate all Taliban present all along our borders,Wazirtan, Parachinar,and all agencies.
Talks and negotiations is the only solutions.I am available for further clarifications.Thanks
There is a big difference between the Afghan Taliban and their Pakistani counterparts. The former are the original ones who fought against the Russians and were funded by the Americans and Saudis. The latter are inspired by their Afghan brethren but lack the discipline and skills that is the hallmark of Taliban in Afghanistan.
During their reign from 1996-2001, Taliban in Afghanistan were not involved in criminal activities at all. Smuggling and drug trafficking declined to record levels. The Afghan Taliban, despite US-Nato operation still operate effectively in Afghanistan and are known for their discipline and unity among ranks. Their tactics against perceived spies, women and girls is questionable though.
On the other hand, the so-called Pakistani Taliban are sectarian in nature and many of the fighters have been involved in sectarian terror attacks. They’re funded by smugglers and drug traffickers based in the tribal areas. There are internal divisions between the several pro-Taliban groups and lack of a central leadership has led to bloody clashes and heavy death toll. Take the fued between Lashkar-e-Islam and Ansar-ul-Islam for example.
Most Pakistanis are moderate Muslims who would not like to be drawn in the sectarian quagmire. They believe that the country has already seen plenty of bloodshed and further would lead to an eventual breakup.
I semi agree with Mr.Muhammad Khalid and not totally disagree.He is referring to Talibans of Afghanistan.Way back in 1997 I being the incharge of Peshawar TV News had to visit Kabul for an assignment.Myself and my cameraman Mr.Sohrab Khan went for dinner before Maghrib.We offered Maghrib prayers at a mosque and went to see food shops.Suddely few Talibans with Kalashinkoves appeared on the scene and asked us in PUSHTO ,”have you offered your Maghrib.We replied “YES”..They disagreed and commanded us to another mosque and were forced to offer Maghrib twice.
Islam was never preached like this.
How many other examples should I cite here.
What about Bhudda’s towering statue at Bamian.
I think this is quite an informative article.But fact remains what all the religions and civilisations have taught us over the years…An easy access to Justice….In Pakistan Justice remained a problem.Today its the iliterate people of Swat who were misled perhaps for Justice and Islamic justice.Tomorrow simililar demands would be raised by the people of Baluchistan or even of Punjab…
Why British ruled India so longf.Their courts delivered justice.
In Pakistan there remained military rules which denied justice to people.
Basic Human Right were denied.Constitution was never implemented for years and years.
We are winessing two similar movements in Pakistan.Talibans’ militant struggle with mixed agenda and challenge to state authority.
Lawyers’ movement which has crossed two phases but this movement will also continue.
Democracies donot developm overnight.Ther do take time.
We the Pakistanis must learn leasons from mature democracies of Europe,USA,Canada,India and Japan.Strong democracies are real strength of nations’ power and strong economies.
Unfortunately Talibans are not struggling for democracy …They want to suppress people’s rights.
So like afghanistan majority in Pakistan too will reject Talibanisation.
Hizbut Towhid (HuT), which was established in Bangladesh’s Tangail district under the leadership of Mr. Bayeejid Khan Ponni @ Selim Ponni has secretlt established its branch in a number of countries in recent years with the aim of establishing branches of this ultra religious terrorist group in those countries.The international Head Quarters of Hizbut Towhid although is located in Dhaka (Bangladesh), the group has established a huge office at Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur, where a Bangladeshi terrorist named Tanzil Chowdhury is given the responsibility of liaising with other terror groups like Al Qaida from Kuala Lumpur and collect fund for this organization from international donors.Hizbut Towhid purchased a luxurious apartment in the name of Tanzil Chowdhury at Apartment no. A-8-5, 1 Desa Residence, Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur 58100, Malaysia.Hizbut Towhid purchased this apartment in the name of Tanzil Chowdhury, two years back at the cost of US$ 3 hundred thousand. They also purchased a Mercedez Benz and a Hammar Jeep for the Malaysia office of HuT.
Tanzil Chowdhury was a pimp of Tareq Rahman, Gias Uddin Al Mamun and many others in Hawa Bhaban. Mamun established a car sales center at Dhaka’s Kala Bagan area named ‘Trenz’, where Tanzil was given the responsibility as the manager. During this time, Tanzil Chowdhury came into contact with Hizbut Towhid.
Moreover, Hawa Bhaban men established a ‘Comfort House’ at Dhaka’s Uttara area which was operated by Tanzil Chowdhury and his wife named Sigma. Gias Uddin Al Mamun, Tareq Rahman, Opu Siraj, Harris Chowdhury and many other Hawa Bhaban men were regularly visiting this house spending hours with hired women or Tanzil’s wife Sigma. This ‘Comfort House’ at Uttara became one of the secret but most effective ‘Tadbir’ center during BNP rule.
When caretaker government came in power, Tanzil fled the country along with his wife. Meantime, using his previous contact with Hizbut Towhid, Tanzil managed to get their support in opening a huge branch of this group in Kuala Lumpur. Through this branch, every year, a couple of millions of dollars is collected for Hizbut Towhid.
Tanzil also is doing manpower and ‘Hawala’ (money laundering) business in Kuala Lumpur. Most of the fleeing BNP or Hawa Bhaban men are seen at the above mentioned apartment at Taman Desa during late hours. It is even learnt that, Al Qaida’s threat fax to American Embassy and other embassies in Bangladesh was originated from this house of Tanzil Chowdhury.
Tanzil Chowdhury is also involved in various types of criminal activities. In Bangladesh Tanzil was continuing fraudulent activities with the help of his wife as well he was maintaining close relations with local terrorist groups. He was a close friend of ‘Pichchi Hannan’.
I know the Tanzil Chowdhury and Sigma Chowdhury couple for years. They were known in Dhaka city as the close aide of Hawa Bhaban men. Sigma Chowdhury was one of the concubines of Giasuddin Al Mamun and other men in Hawa Bhaban. She was seen with Shahjahan Siraj’s son Opu Siraj, who now is in Malaysia under Tanzil’s care was once a boyfriend of Sigma Chowdhury. They both were seen here and there in Dhaka city mostly kissing in public. Sigma Chowdhury also had a number of boy friends such as Kawsar, Asif, Zia, Murad etc. She is mostly known in Dhaka city as a society girl. Tanzil was basically a pimp for his own wife. This couple also engaged a number of females in this profession and were running a discreet brothel at Dhaka’s Uttara area for years.
Tanzil Chowdhury’s own brother Tanvir Chowdhury is a known playboy in Dhaka city. He traps females in love ring and swindles millions of Taka from them.
What is not said in this report is, Tanzil Chowdhury was one of the friends of Joseph of Mohammedpur. It is also known that, he is taking care of a number of secret bank accounts of tareq Rahman (son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia).
Tanzil Chowdhury and Opu Siraj were the masterminds in sending threat fax mails to a number of diplomatic missions in Bangladesh. Sigma Chowdhury is also aware of these facts.
Sigma Chowdhury runs an event management company in Dhaka. She regularly sleeps with men for getting business orders.
Sigma’s elder sister Tarana who lives in United States was also known as a top ranking hooker in Dhaka city.
Tanzil Chowdhury has married a Malaysian girl few months back and will be father of her child. He also keeps close links with several influential females in Malaysia by showing his fake posh life.
Main business of Tanzil Chowdhury is collecting fund for Hizbut Towhid as well as cheating innocent people. He also is organizing a notorious terrorist gang in Malaysia with the help of several fleeing Bangladeshi terrorists as well as some top ranking religious terrorists.
Sigma Chowdhury also maintains links for Hizbut Towhid in the Middle East. She visits Saudi Arabia very frequently for this purpose in the name of performing Umrah.
Intelligence agencies in Bangladesh and Malaysia are keeping eyes on the activities of Tanzil Chowdhury and Sigma Chowdhury. But, this couple is so clever, they manage to cheat the eyes of intelligence agencies. Moreover, Sigma Chowdhury gets patronization and help from one of the most influential ministers in Bangladesh.
Counter-terrorist and counter-fraud institutions in Malaysia and in the world should immediately look into this matter. It should also make sure that, Tanzil Chowdhury is not able to bring Bangladeshi terrorists to Malaysia in the name of workers.
Rubbish! Who is engaging in spreading such dirty contents about respectable people? Everything here are without any base and are surely manufactured with ulterior intention. Cyber police must find out the culprit behind such activities. Sick!
What the Malaysian authorities are doing? Are they sleeping? What would be the fate of that country’s law and order situation once this man named Tanzil Chowdhury successfully brings in thousands of Bangladeshi and Pakistani terrorists under the garb of workers? I saw in a website that, Tanzil Chowdhury claims himself to be a businessman from Pakistan. How a Bangladeshi national can be a businessman from Pakistan? Is he working for Pakistani ISI? Or is there any link between Tanzil Chowdhury and Pakistan based Al Qaeda or Mafia Don Dawood Ibrahim?
No one mentioned here that, Tanzil Chowdhury was arrested in Dhaka with illegal pistol. But, due to his close connection with HAWA BHABAN, he was released by Dhanmondi Police.
Sigma Chowdhury was a student with Dhaka’s North South University (NSU). During her student life, Sigma was known as a naughty woman. She was dating with dozens of her classmates. Finally she ended up in the hands of Tanzil Chowdhury.
Malaysian government should immediately take up this matter for investigation.
The army onslaught in Swat valley – like in Waziristan and in the past in Balochistan – is part of US policy to dismember the only Muslim country with nuclear arsenal – which could poses a threat to Israel in the future. Israel’s first prime minister, Ben Gurion is on record of saying: ““It is essential that we strike and crush Pakistanis, enemies of Jews and Zionism, by all disguised and secret plans,”……
http://rehmat1.wordpress.com/2009/01/23/eretz-balochistan/
GAME PLAN WAS BAITULLAH MEHSUD HAD PROMISED GOVERNORSHIP OF SWAT AND OTHER PARTS OF MALAKAND DIVISION TO SUFI MUHAMMAD’S SON-IN-LAW MAULANA FAZALULLAH.LOOK AT THE TIMINGS WHEN SWAT WAS UNDER THE HEELS OF TTP OR TALIBANS…WAZIRISTAN REMAINED SILENT…..BAITULLAH MEHSUD HAS POWER AND HE HAS PROMISED GOVERNORSHIPS TO MANY MILITANTS OF BAJOUR,MOHMAND ,KHYBER ,ORAKZAI AND WAZIRISTAN.
HE HAD EVEN CULTIVATED SOME AFGHAN TALIBANS AND OFFERED TO THEM PROVINCES LIKE KUNHAR AND PAKTIA……IT IS GENERALLY BELIEVED BAITULLAH IS NOT A RELIGIOUS FANATIC.HE HAS LUST FOR POWER.HE HAD EVEN GOT HIS OWN BROTHER KILLED IN ZHOB TO TAKE OVER LEADERSHIP
I belong to Dir District of Malakand Division.
Its very interesting article by Mr.Azhar Masood.What problem is.
General Musharraf in order to get himself being in power as president and also in uniform as Chief of Army Staff got 17th Constitutional passed through his ‘ENGINEERED’ National Assembly.He got support from extremist Islamic parties alliance of Muttehida Majlise Amal.The MMA got provincial government in NWFP.Here started all the problems.MMA Mullah’s clerics in their style wanted to bring in HASBA Ordinence.Which it could not bring in.The MMA played double role with Musharraf it supported Talibans and militants.On turn Musharraf played double with United States.He promoted Mullahs and blackmailed the United States.The menace of militants is a left over of Musharraf.
The tunnels and ammonution depts were built in Swat during last 6 years where Talibans were hiding.
Now the military has exposed them but none has exposed MMA Chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman.
Finally Maulana Fazalur Rehman confessed in Peshawar that he wanted a Sharia government in Malkand division.Meaning a Deobandi styled Islam.Majority of Pakistanis donot approve secretarianism
3yVTV5 thanx women