BATTLE OF SHEIKH TAPUR

This battle was fought between the Ghwaria Khel (Mohmands, Khalils, Duadzais, etc.) and Khakhis and their associates. Khan Kaju, the Chief of

the Yusufzais, mustered an army of 10,000 strongmen taken from all Khakhi tribes and their allies, Mahmandzais, Utmankhel, Gadun etc. This battle is known by the name “Battle of Shaikh Tapur” resulting in the complete and final overthrow of the Ghwaria Khel. The date of the battle is uncertain but Raverty assigned it 1549 or 1550 AD. (956 or 957 H).
Jadoons, under the banner and name of Yusufzais, had actively and gallantly took part in all their battles, expeditions and encounters. Expeditions led by Khan Kaju, the chief of Yusufzai, upto Maragalah Pass, Upper and Lower Hazara, Upper Swat and other surrounding areas, were shared by them. In this respect, Raverty says:
“Khan Kaju extended his territory as far as Nilab, Gehep, Margalah Pass, Gakhar territory, Upper Swat, Pakhli and Dhamtaur. He was recognized and acknowledged from Nanghar to Margalah Pass, Lohori Kotal and Upper Swat to Gehep, and form Pakhli to Dhamtaur to Kala Bagh. The force of Khan Kaju comprised of 14000 strongmen taken from Yusufzai, Mandar, Gagiani and Tarkalarni Khakhis, Mohammadzai, Jadoon and Utmankhel allies, and many other tribes”.
Khan Kaju was a contemporary with Hamayun, and died in 1555 AD. In the time of Bhaku Khan, the Chief of Yusufzai, a conflict arose between Yusufzais

and Jadoons, which was soon amicably settled and so tension between both the tribes ended peacefully.
In the reign of Aurangzeb, the Pathan tribes revolted against the Mughal Rule and crossed the Indus in large numbers and divested the Chach Tract, cutting the line of communication between Delhi and Kabul. In the continuous fighting of three years, the Yusufzais gained a great reputation for valour and material powers. Their associate tribes like Jadoons, Utmankhels, Muhammadzais, etc, gallantly fought in all these battles. In those days, the Jadoons, in the name of their ancestor “Ghurghusht”, founded village Ghurghusty, situated in Chach. This also confirms their participation in the battles.
On the other hand, under the command of Sultan Mehmood Jadoon and Mulla Challak, Yusufzais and their allies had raided the Pakhli in Hazara and adjoining northern hilly tracts of the present districts of Kohistan and Mansehra and all infidels dewelling in these hilly areas embraced Islam through their efforts.
The unpleasant and critical situation on the northern border of the Mughal Empire was reported to Aurangzeb Alamgir. To settle the affairs at the frontiers of the Yusufzai country, he personally led his army to re-stablish his authority over these areas and encamped at Hassanabdal in 1666/67 AD. but unsatisfactory reports from Daccan compelled him to leave the mission unaccomplished. The struggle of Yusufzais and their allied tribes, Jadoons, etc, lasted upto 1675 AD. when finally the emperor was compelled for an agreement to the terms which left

Yusufzais and their allies practically independent. These events took place between 1666-1675 AD.
During the time of Aurangzeb and his successors, the grip of Mughals became loose on these territories. Though Delhi rulers had proclaimed these areas as part of their Kingdom, virtually, it was free from the yoke of Delhi rulers. Supremacy of Delhi rulers was restricted to the plains only.
In 1738 came the surrender of Peshawar to Nadir Shah and, in this way, the entire Mughal territory west of the Indus was ceded by Mughals to Nadir Shah. During this period, due to Nadir’s preoccupation in Khurasan, the Yusufzais, Khattaks and the hilly area tribes practically remained independent, while the Khalils, Muhmands, Daudzais, Muhammadzais and Gigianis were forced to pay tribute. After the death of Nadir Shah, the Saddozai Durrani dynasty established itself at Qandhar under Ahmad Shah Abdali. As he was himself a Pathan, the Afghan inhabitants of Peshawar valley acknowledged him as their king and, in this way, the entire valley went under his control.