History Afridi

afridi fighters photographed john burke in 1878.



the khyber rifles in 1895 comprising all-afridi personnel.

the british connection adam khel afridis commenced after annexation of peshawar , kohat districts. following example of theprevious rulers, british agreed pay tribe subsidy protect pass. however, in 1850, 100p afridis attacked body of british sappers engaged in making road, killing 12 , wounding 6. supposed disliked construction of road. expedition of 3200 british troops despatched, traversed country , punished them.

when afridis of kohat pass resisted, jowaki afridis offered use of route instead; turned out more aggressive others, , in 1853, force of 1700 british traversed country , destroyed stronghold @ bori.

in 1854, aka khels afridis, not finding admitted share of allowances of kohat pass, commenced series of raids on peshawar border , attacked british camp. expedition of 1500 troops entered country , inflicted severe punishment on tribe, made submission , paid fine.

in 1877, british government proposed reduce jowaki allowance guarding kohat pass, , tribesmen showed resentment of cutting telegraph wire , raiding british territory. force of 1500 troops penetrated country in 3 columns in jowaki expedition , did considerable damage way of punishment. however, attitude of jowakis continued same, , raids british territory went on. stronger force, therefore, of 7400 british troops, divided 3 columns, in 1877 , 1878, destroyed principal villages , occupied country time, until tribe submitted , accepted government terms. kohat pass afterwards practically undisturbed.

at time of british advance afghanistan in 1878, during second afghan war, zakka khel opposed british advance , attacked outposts. force of 2500 british troops traversed country, , tribesmen made submission. afridis of khyber pass continued cause british trouble during progress of second afghan war force of 3750 british troops traversed country, , after suffering loss tribesmen made submission.

in 1897, afridis rose, captured posts in khyber held own countrymen , attacked forts on samana range near city of peshawar. tirah expedition of british forces followed, , negotiations peace begun afridis, who, under threat of expedition tirah in spring 1898, @ length agreed pay fines , surrender rifles demanded.

in february 1908, restiveness of zakka khel again made british expedition necessary, campaign speedily ended.