Dilazak
Encyclopedia
The Dilazak are a Pashtun
tribe of the Afghan Karlani branch, found in Pakistan
and India
.
into the valley of Peshawar
during the time of the Samanid Dynasty, between 750 and 850 CE. They expelled or subdued local people of the Swati, Degan and Tirahi
castes. By the time of Mahmud Ghaznavi (around 1000 AD), they had reached the Sindh River
(then called Abaseen or Neelaab). They participated in Mahmood Ghaznavi's campaigns in large numbers under their leader, Malik Yahya Khan. In the 500 years that followed, they extended up to Hassan Abdal (near Taxila
) and towards the north up to Abbottabad
. According to the Ain-i-Akbari
(written around 1590 CE), they were the only Pashtun tribe possessing lands in Hazara Qarlagh.
Around 1520, another Afghan tribe, the Yusufzai, was expelled from Kabul
by Mirza Ulugh Beg, the uncle of Mughal Emperor Zaheeruddin Muhammad Babur. The Yusufzai migrated to the Peshawar valley, where they sought and received help from the Dilazak. Later, the relationship between the two tribes deteriorated and a long war ensued. After 20 years, the Yusufzai, along with some other tribes (including the Utmanzai
, cousins of the Dilazak), were able to push the Dilazak east of the Sindh river
under their leader, Malik Ahmed Khan, at battle of Katlang
.
left his large army under the command of Zaffar Khan Koka, son of Zain Khan Koka, and ordered him to wipe out the Dilazak and arrest the leaders of the Khattar
tribe. Zaffar Khan Koka complied with the orders and deported one hundred thousand families of the Dilazak to Lahore
for onward dispersal throughout India. Only a few families of the Dilazak survived.
in their old homes. One of them was Saleh Khan who, along with his family settled in Sara-e-Saleh and Tir in Haripur District
.
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
tribe of the Afghan Karlani branch, found in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
History
The Dilazak descended from the Suleman RangeSulaiman Mountains
The Sulaiman Mountains are a major geological feature of southeastern Afghanistan and northern Balochistan province of Pakistan. In Pakistan, it forms the eastern edge of the Iranian plateau where the Indus River separates it from the Asian Subcontient...
into the valley of Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
during the time of the Samanid Dynasty, between 750 and 850 CE. They expelled or subdued local people of the Swati, Degan and Tirahi
Tirahi
Tirahi are a people who were the original inhabitants of Swat and Kohat, North West Frontier Province, Pakistan.- History :According to Denzil Ibbetson's census report of 1892, "the Orakzai have several foreign sections Eg the Sheikhan and several aboriginal or Tirahi sections..."According to...
castes. By the time of Mahmud Ghaznavi (around 1000 AD), they had reached the Sindh River
Sindh River
The Sindh River, a tributary of the Yamuna River, flows through the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.-Course:The Sindh originates on the Malwa Plateau in Vidisha district, and flows north-northeast through the districts of Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Datia, Gwalior and Bhind in...
(then called Abaseen or Neelaab). They participated in Mahmood Ghaznavi's campaigns in large numbers under their leader, Malik Yahya Khan. In the 500 years that followed, they extended up to Hassan Abdal (near Taxila
Taxila
Taxila is a Tehsil in the Rawalpindi District of Punjab province of Pakistan. It is an important archaeological site.Taxila is situated about northwest of Islamabad Capital Territory and Rawalpindi in Panjab; just off the Grand Trunk Road...
) and towards the north up to Abbottabad
Abbottabad
Abbottabad is a city located in the Hazara region of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in Pakistan. The city is situated in the Orash Valley, northeast of the capital Islamabad and east of Peshawar at an altitude of and is the capital of the Abbottabad District...
. According to the Ain-i-Akbari
Ain-i-Akbari
The Ain-i-Akbari or the "Institutes of Akbar", is a 16th century, detailed document recording the administration of emperor Akbar's empire, written by his vizier, Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak...
(written around 1590 CE), they were the only Pashtun tribe possessing lands in Hazara Qarlagh.
Around 1520, another Afghan tribe, the Yusufzai, was expelled from Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
by Mirza Ulugh Beg, the uncle of Mughal Emperor Zaheeruddin Muhammad Babur. The Yusufzai migrated to the Peshawar valley, where they sought and received help from the Dilazak. Later, the relationship between the two tribes deteriorated and a long war ensued. After 20 years, the Yusufzai, along with some other tribes (including the Utmanzai
Utmanzai
Utmanzai is a town in Charsadda District in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. It is located at 34°22'24N 71°45'33E with an altitude of 390 metres and lies to the north of Charsadda city. Utmanzai is famous for being the birth place of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan....
, cousins of the Dilazak), were able to push the Dilazak east of the Sindh river
Sindh River
The Sindh River, a tributary of the Yamuna River, flows through the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.-Course:The Sindh originates on the Malwa Plateau in Vidisha district, and flows north-northeast through the districts of Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Datia, Gwalior and Bhind in...
under their leader, Malik Ahmed Khan, at battle of Katlang
Katlang
Katlang is a Tehsil in Mardan Districtof Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is situated about 19 Kilometers north of the Mardan city. It is surrounded by canals in west and north. Katlang has busy market with most of the facilities available. Katlang fare, held on Friday, is very popular among the...
.
Dispersal by the Mughals
The Mughals had fluctuating relations with the Afghans. The Dilazak were on the eastern side of the Sindh River and thus vulnerable to the Mughal army. Around 1607, on his way to Kabul, Mughal emperor JahangirJahangir
Jahangir was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1605 until his death. The name Jahangir is from Persian جهانگیر,meaning "Conqueror of the World"...
left his large army under the command of Zaffar Khan Koka, son of Zain Khan Koka, and ordered him to wipe out the Dilazak and arrest the leaders of the Khattar
Khattar
Khattar , is an upper caste Pushtun tribe in Afghanistan and Punjabi, in Punjab, it is variously classified asJatt and Khatri caste in India.-Origins:...
tribe. Zaffar Khan Koka complied with the orders and deported one hundred thousand families of the Dilazak to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
for onward dispersal throughout India. Only a few families of the Dilazak survived.
Return under Shahjahan
Most of the Dilazaks returned during the reign of the Mughal king Shahjahan, and settled in parts of North West Frontier Province (renamed Khyber Pakhtoon Khawa in 2010) and PunjabPunjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
in their old homes. One of them was Saleh Khan who, along with his family settled in Sara-e-Saleh and Tir in Haripur District
Haripur District
Haripur is a district in the Hazara region of Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa, province of Pakistan with an altitude of around above sea level. Haripur District has the highest Human Development Index of all the districts in the Hazara....
.