Yaghistan

Yaghistan (land of rebels) were the territories of the former Frontier Province Northwest refuge where the guerrillas (mujahidun) spread out against the British in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Basically corresponds to Mohmand Agency, Buner, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Hazara and Chamarkand. In fact even before the British era these areas were called as Yaghistan al-Kadima. The rebels took refuge near fertile valleys, lakes or rivers where they were self-sufficient in food and could take refuge after guerrilla actions.

Muslims revolted against the Sikhs of the Punjab and Kashmir and later against the British; rebels from different places gathered at Yaghistan. The first head of the rebels was Sayyid Ahmad Brelwi but the rebels were defeated seriously in Balakot 6 May 1831, Brelwi and his lieutenants were killed by the Sikhs. During first Anglo-Afghan War (1839-1842) the head of Yaghi (rebels) was Mawlana Nasir al-Din who support Dost Muhammad; then reach Mawlana direction Wilayat Ali (died 1852) followed his brother Mawlana Inayat Ali. Although the jihad centers in Yaghistan were destroyed by the British in the second half of the nineteenth century, the rebels were reconstructed or new strength and maintained; New leaders emerged as Nadjm Hadda Din al-Mulla (died 1902) and Sad Allah Mulla Khan Mastan (Mad Mullah) died in 1916. In 1902, the rebel leader Abd al-Karim ibn Wilayat Ali settled in the Buner Asmast near the river Swat; during World War I, another rebel center (rival) settled in Chamarkand in Afghan territory under Malwlana Muhammad Ali Kasuri, Mawlana Abd al-Karin Kannawdji (died 1922); Mawlawi Muhammad Bashir (died 1934) Hajji Tarangzai m (died 1937) and Mawlawi Fadl Ilahi Wazirabadi (died 1951) who fought the British in several smaller battles. The mujahidun often allied to other anti-colonial movements like Hizb Allah Djunud Rabbaniyya, Hukumat and Muwakkata-yi-Hind and the Jamiat al-Ansar.

After the 1947 original jihad movement lost importance; many rebels took part in the fighting in Kashmir against India (1948). the participation of the local people was also important in the fight in Afghanistan against the progressive government introduced in April 1978.

Memorandum for Partnership and Development

You great entity and the Honorable and valuable guests, I have honor and pleasure of welcoming you all here at this very historical palace in the heart of Hunza. It became proverbial that “Sino-Pak relations are higher than the Karakorum’s and deeper than the Arabian Sea”. We Hunzukuz (People of Hunza) expect that the moment which we were waiting since long has been over and we believe your blissful visit will set a foundation for lasting development ahead. This place witnessed the foundation of relations between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (IRP) however Sino-Hunza relations backed to 19^th century when Mir Safdar Ali Khan build a firm relations with the PRC.  Respected chief guest, we deem it suitable to make this gathering fruitful and making the event historical one with consistent practical results by your kind presence. Here we rightly mention some points solving these direct development and stronger relations with the common men and women of Hunza desires and anticipates.

Your majesty, no one knows better than you that the fertile land of Hunza produces dynamic talent yet they face severe economic crisis in accomplishing their educational journey. We request your honor to facilitate the scholarships to our emerging intellectual youth who are waiting to take admission in Chinese Universities who ultimately would become cultural ambassadors of peace and development between the two countries.

His Excellency, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has not only shown personal interest but practically signed an MOU with PRC government to establish an economic corridor between the countries through the land of Hunza. We request your honor to chalk out plan to benefit us by giving special concession declaring Hunza as a free trade zone in this regard.

It is a sound reality that PRC has surpassed all the world economies by a miracle speed. It has many leading tourist resorts; annually it receives highest number of tourists around the world. We the people of Hunza request your government to extend the access to Hunza through Khunjrav Top and assure their transit to Hunza on easy terms so that Hunza too would prosper.

As your kind honor is well aware of the fact that language is not only a source of identity but it assures the stronger ties between different people having different linguistic backgrounds. We wish you may lead us in establishing a Sino-Hunza language and cultural centre.

At last but not least the biggest issue the country of Pakistan confronts these days is electricity but Hunza suffers the most. The people of Hunza believes that if the government of your country the super power of all would take personal interest by all means of support the problem will be curbed within a year. We are looking forward to your government to shake hand with Mir of Hunza regarding the settlement of electricity crisis.

Finally we thank you all our distinguished guests to see you here in Hunza, we hope that your majesties will give us the same opportunity to welcome you here again.

Presented to

His Excellency, Ambassador of PRC in Islamabad, Pakistan

Deputy Secretary Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region