By: Sami Malik
The remote and mountainous region of the Hindu Kush in northwest Pakistan and northeast Afghanistan has always remained a high zone of conflict and disaster both natural and manmade. The area being historically dominated by tribes and has been difficult for any central governments to govern. In the recent past, Osama Bin Laden, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban have used the area as a base of operations due to its inaccessibility. The British were interested in these remote areas because of their “Great Game” to prevent Russia and China from accessing India. However, the area had little national interest to Britain beyond this strategic objective. During 1895 Chitral Uprising, a small force of British soldiers and allies were besieged in an old fort in the region for 48 days, while the British mounted two separate relief efforts to save them. It was a story offering great challenges of dealing with a remote and volatile region like the Hindu Kush and the historical context of foreign powers’ interest in the area.
Chitral is a region in the far northwest border of Pakistan, which was then part of British India. It is located just east of the far northeast border of Afghanistan, in the remote and mountainous Hindu Kush region. The area was geographically significant as it was near the point where the British, Russian, and Chinese empires of the period met. The difficulties of traveling in the area, with periodic torrential rivers and precarious rope bridges being the only means of crossing. The region was also difficult to live in, let alone fight in, as it was desolate and tucked into majestic mountain peaks. The people in the area did not conform to British ideas, adding to the challenges of the British military’s attempts to gain control over the region. British Military Officers had varied descriptions of the native peoples of the Chitral region. The impression includes the people’s treachery, the ambitions of tribal leaders, their tendency to engage in power struggles and assassinations, and their willingness to make temporary alliances through bribes. However, they also described the kindness of the people and their love for music and dancing. These descriptions reveal the complexity of the native peoples in the eyes of the British military officers. While they acknowledged the people’s negative traits and the difficulties of dealing with them, they also recognized positive qualities and cultural traditions. The descriptions also suggest that the British had a certain level of cultural bias and did not fully understand the native peoples of the region. Overall, the descriptions provide insight into the attitudes and perceptions of the British military officers towards the native peoples of the Chitral region.
During the 1880s and 90s, the British came into increased contact with the tribes of the Chitral area as they explored passes through the mountains. During this time, they also encountered Russian Cossack troops who were doing the same thing. It proved an important moment in the “Victorian era cold war” between the British and Russian empires. The British believed that the Russians were interested in gaining access to India through Chitral, which led them to become more interested in the area. The British used bribes with money and weapons to gain an unsteady foothold in the region, and they encountered ongoing inter and intra-tribal conflicts that made their presence there even more challenging. British interest in Chitral was driven by their desire to prevent Russian expansion and protect their own interests in the region. Their interactions with the tribes in the area were complicated by cultural differences, inter-tribal conflicts, and the challenges of navigating the rugged terrain.
After the death of a strong Mehtar of Chitral Nizam ul-Mulk who was a British ally, a bloody conflict for accession began in Chitral in 1895. The British initially did not want to get involved, but eventually recognized one son, who gained the capital and agreed to his father’s terms. However, the new Mehtar was weak and not respected by the locals, and the fleeing leaders looted the treasury and armory before he took over. This left him in a difficult situation as he did not have the money to bribe or the arms to intimidate others. This power vacuum created an opportunity for various groups, including Chitralis, Pathans, and others, to challenge the new Mehtar’s rule. The British found themselves committed to supporting a weak leader in a volatile region. During the time, instability and complexity increased in Chitral’s political landscape, with various groups vying for power and influence. The British found themselves caught up in these struggles, which had implications for their own strategic interests in the region.
Chitrali rebel factions and Pathan allies killed the new Mehtar, installed a puppet Mehtar, and the Pathans moved an army towards Chitral. A small force of 83 the British, under the political control of Surgeon General Robertson and the military control of Captain Townshend, already in Chitral, were forced to hole up in the town’s fort. The besiegers tried to entreat with the besieged, all the while moving their entrenchments closer and closer. The two relief attempts both ended in disaster, leaving the defenders in the fort to fend for themselves. The situation was dire, with dwindling supplies and ammunition, and the enemy closing in. It was a test of endurance and courage for the besieged British force, who had to hold out until reinforcements arrived. The second, the Koragh disaster, was an expedition of a force of Sikh troops, led by a British officer, to help the force in Reshun. The officer ignored the warnings of locals and marched directly into a trap. His force was destroyed, and he was killed. Only a few escaped to tell the story. This left the defenders of the fort on their own.
In Chitral, the conglomeration of tribes settled down to besiege the beleaguered defenders. The British defenders were amazed that their enemies did not overwhelm them, believing they could have been overrun at any time. The fort was defended by around 400 Sikh, Kashmiri, and Chitrali soldiers, as well as a small number of British soldiers. They were besieged by several thousand tribesmen, who tried to coax the defenders out with promises and agreements while looking for a weak point in the fort’s walls. Despite the overwhelming numbers of the besiegers, they did not overwhelm the defenders due to their respect for the might of the British Empire. The British were sending reinforcements to try to break the siege. The besiegers and defenders during this intense and prolonged conflict were waiting for the British supplies.
Lieutenant Colonel Kelly led a force of around 500 men and two pieces of artillery through a barren and mountainous region to reach Chitral from Gilgit. Despite the difficult terrain and challenging weather conditions, including heavy snow, snow blindness, and frostbite, Kelly and his men were able to make their way towards Chitral, using their artillery to blast the enemy out of entrenched positions along the way. Finally, on April 20, 1895, after a journey of 350 grueling miles in 35 days, Kelly and his men were able to relieve the besieged fort. This relief expedition was a significant event in the history of British colonialism in South Asia and is often studied as an example of the British military’s ability to project power over long distances and challenging terrain.
A much larger force led by Major General Low that came from the south from the direction of Dir district. This force consisted of over 15,000 soldiers and over 20,000 porters and animals carrying supplies and was intended to send a message to the tribes in the region and possibly Russia. However, the march was through extremely difficult terrain and hostile territory, including the Swat Valley, where numerous Pathan tribes opposed them. Despite the heavy resistance, General Low and his forces pressed on, with the British artillery again playing a key role in displacing entrenched enemies. The British force also performed numerous engineering feats, such as improving roads and building bridges, as they made their way towards Chitral. As the force approached Chitral, the British officer hostages were released, and the Pathan and Chitrali leaders who had not fled from Kelly’s force wanted to come to terms. This successful relief expedition was a significant achievement for the British, as it demonstrated their ability to project power and maintain control over remote regions in South Asia.
In 1890’s, the Indian authorities built a road and outposts through the Swat Valley, fearing Russian intervention and seeking better access to Chitral. However, two years later, the Pathans, who were resentful of the occupying forces, rose up in rebellion. Although many Pathans had fought against General Low, they did not rebel because they had been told that the British only wanted to pass through Swat and not occupy it. The British eventually put down the rebellion at a high cost in terms of money and lives, and afterwards, they abandoned the Swat outposts. The conflict had significant implications, even though those who fought it saw it as a series of minor skirmishes.
There were enormous challenges involved to pacify and control mountainous areas such as Chitral. The reviewer notes that during the conflict, many soldiers, tribesmen, and civilians lost their lives or livelihoods, and survival in this desolate terrain was difficult. The conflict and attempted pacification in the region were largely driven by the “Great Game” between the Victorian British and Russian empires. It is overall concluded that controlling the Hindu Kush region remains a challenge in modern times, with many modern forces, including the USSR and the United States, having attempted it with little success. This event was significant in the history of British colonialism in South Asia and is often studied as an example of the challenges and complexities of maintaining control over remote and often restive regions.
The writer is MS in political Science and a PhD Scholar of Middle East History at Islamic International University, Islamabad – Pakistan
