Author: Ashfaq Ahmed Adv
Translation: Ahmed Nayyar
E. F Knight, in his travel narrative Where
Three Empires Meet, provides a comprehensive account of Anglo-Burusho War.
He recounts that “the princely states of Hunza and Nagar were under the control
of absolute monarchs. The royal families of Hunza and Nagar are descended from
two brothers who lived in fifteenth century, but they traced their ancestry
further back, to a divine origin.” Generally, it was asserted that they were
descended from a supernatural deity of the Hindu Kush.
In his book Lords
of the Mountains, Harald Hauptmann mentions that “very limited information is
available about ancient history and origin of Burusho people. Their true origin
remains unclear, as the Brusho have neither written history nor oral traditions
that describe their ancient past. They refer to themselves as Brusho. It is
believed that either they are ancient indigenous inhabitants of these
mountainous regions or the descendants of early migrants who came from Central
Asia.”
In the past,
tribes of Hunza and Nagar pillage rich caravans enroute from India to Central
Asia near the neighborhood of Shahidullah. In Yarqand, the Thums (rulers)
have placed a spy who secretly informed them about the movement of trade caravans.
It is said that once they have seized valuable goods loaded on fifty camels and
five horses.
The Governments
of China and Kashmir were unable to stop these raiding activities due to limited
administrative capacity. As a result, Hunza and Nagar appear to have cultivated
power and dominance among neighboring states and were regarded as invincible. On a certain occasion, a wazir was asked in
Thum’s presence, ‘Who is the greatest king of the East?’ And another
flattering response followed, “Surely the Thum of Hunza; unless,
perhaps, it to be Khan of China; for these without doubt are the two greatest.”
Prior to Colonel
Durand’s campaign, there is no recorded mention of defeat in the entire history
of Hunza. Likewise, the people have sold a significant number of subjects of
Maharaja of Kashmir into slavery in the markets of Central Asia. During this
period, Hunza maintained friendly relations with China. The Chinese authorities
largely overlooked practices such as slave trading and caravan raiding; at one
point, they even permitted a stringent ruler of Hunza to levy taxes on Kirghiz
herders in the Taghdumbash Pamir.
Mir Safdar Ali Khan
of Hunza and Raja Uzr Khan of Nagar (the heir apparent) established close
relations with Russia in response to the expanding British influence in
Gilgit-Baltistan. This alignment may be interpreted as an effort to seek
protection against the Dogra’s expansion, who had already occupied Baltistan
and Gilgit.
It is significant
to note that there were thirteen princely states in Gilgit-Baltistan, prior to
1840. Some of these states were subjected to military campaigns by the Khalsa
Army during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Subsequently, the East India
Company defeated Ranjit Singh, leading to the collapse of Sikh empire. Following
the nonpayment of ransom money, the company sold some of the areas of his
empire to General Gulab Singh of Jammu under the agreement of Amritsar in 1846.
These territories were transferred in return for a payment of seventy-five lakh
rupees, thereby establishing the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Notably,
the treaty imposed several conditions on the Maharaja, including the provision
of military assistance to the British Empire during times of war.
Previously, Kashmir was consisted of two or
three small princely states. Under the Treaty of Amritsar, Gulab Singh became
the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, Kargil, Ladakh, along with present-day
Baltistan, and areas including Astore, Bunji, and Gilgit that were incorporated
following Khalsa military campaigns after 1840. Following the establishment of the
modern state of Jammu and Kashmir, the Dogra rulers undertook several military
expeditions against Hunza, Nagar, Yasin, Puniyal, Ghizer, and the tribal regions
of Diamer in an effort to expand their frontiers. These attempts, however, were
met with strong resistance and ultimately repelled. Therefore, ultimately,
British India entrusted Colonel Durand with the responsibility of subjugating
Hunza-Nagar.
Simultaneously,
British Empire and Tsarist Russia were involved in Great Game. The British
government was constantly threatened by Russian forces, fearing that the
Russians, traveling through the Pamirs and passing via Hunza-Nagar, Chitral,
and Gilgit, might first attack Kashmir and then endanger their monarchy in
India. So, they sought to secure the northern frontiers to prevent any
potential Russian hostility. For that reason, British India established
Imperial Service Regiment, commanded by British officers to defend its frontiers.
A company of which was also stationed in Gilgit garrison. In addition, the key objective of forming
Gilgit Agency was to stop Russian aggression and protection of British northern
frontiers. During the same period, a Russian captain, Gromcheovsky, visited
Hunza accompanied by a well-equipped expedition. This development caused major
concern within the British government in India, as Russian advances were
perceived as a potential strategic threat.
John Biddulph and Colonel Durand attempted
to negotiate with the rulers of Hunza and Nagar; however, these efforts proved
unsuccessful. For example, Captain Francis Younghusband, once asked Mir Safdar
Ali Khan of Hunza, why he did not visit India, he replied haughtily, “It is not
customary for great kings like myself and my ancestor Alexander to leave their
own dominions.” Safdar Ali claims that he was descendant of Alexander the
great.
It is a historical fact that relatively
small yet combatant states of Hunza and Nagar jointly defeated Maharaja Kashmir
forces on multiple fronts. They possessed strong confidence in their power and
bravery. For instance, in 1848, following the occupation of Gilgit, Colonel
Nathu Shah, led a military expedition against Hunza–Nagar. The forces of
Hunza–Nagar strongly resisted the invasion, resulting in the killing of Nathu
Shah and massacred his whole army. Likewise, again in 1866, the Dogra army of Jammu
and Kashmir launched a military expedition against Hunza–Nagar. However, the
force suffered a severe defeat and was compelled to retreat, fleeing back to
Gilgit. The forces of Hunza-Nagar captured Chalt fort and seized weapons of
Maharaja’s troops. E. F Knight deems that this captured weaponry might later be
used against them. He further notes that Kanjudis had fostered the impression
throughout the valley that Russia was prepared to offer support due to their
purportedly friendly relations.
It should be noted that in contemporary
times, the people of Hunza and Nagar often express surprise at the term Kanjudi
and, in fact, are mostly unfamiliar with it. In fact, the Chinese authorities
and the Uyghur population of Eastern Turkestan referred to the people of
Hunza–Nagar as Kanjud. Interestingly, their rivals also employed the
term Kanjudis, often in a mocking or derogatory manner. Similarly, the
British colonial writers have used Kanjudis to refer to the people of
Hunza-Nagar. Kanjudis were known for capturing their enemies and sold
them into slavery in the markets of Yarkand.
E. F Knight asserts
that Mir Safdar Ali Khan murdered his father and usurped the throne. Similarly,
in May 1891, Raja Uzur Khan murdered his two brothers on the allegation that
they had friendly relations with the British, whom he perceived as a threat to
his authority. He wrote an insolent letter to colonel Durand announcing what he
had done.
Meanwhile, reports
reached Gilgit that the people of Hunza and Nagar had kidnapped the inhabitants
of an area near Chalt and sold in slavery. According to E. F Knight, this
unfortunate incident triggered British authorities to change the policy of
friendship to hostility. In mid-May, both rulers gathered their forces and
advances to capture Chalt fort. After
receiving intelligence, Colonel Durand marched with 200 cavalrymen and one
British officer toward Chalt to reinforce the garrison. This prompt action thwarted
the advance of tribesmen and forced them to withdrawal to their own
country.
However, it seems impossible for Colonel
Durand to apprehend rebellious Mir Safdar Ali Khan, who claims to be descendant
of Alexander the Great. He only had Dogra Imperial army, which had very
recently been organized. It appears that they could not be entirely reliable in
the event of war. Specially trained troops were required to fight in these regions, as
they needed to be well versed in military strategy suited to diverse terrain,
including valleys, gorges, and the Hunza River area. Six thousand troops of the
Maharaja were stationed at Gilgit; however, they were not in a condition to
fight.
Against this backdrop, Colonel Durand wrote
a letter to British authorities in Shimla to seek assistance. Responding to his
request, authorities in Shimla dispatched two hundred Gurkha soldiers and two
hill-guns to Gilgit. Similarly, fourteen highly skilled officers with extensive
experience in warfare were appointed in Gilgit Agency. In the same way, the
Punyal levies extended their support to British because the Rajas of Astor and
Punyal were allies with the Empire.
In this
connection, a detailed report was presented in the British parliament to get
approval for war against Hunza and Nagar. The report incorporates treaty of
1889 between Thums of Hunza-Nagar and Colonel Durand. Under the treaty
they undertook to put an end to the raiding on the Yarkand road and promised to
allow properly accredited British officers to travel through their territories
when necessary. On the other hand, the British government in India agreed to
grant small yearly allowances to both Thums. However, it was not long
before the Thums broke the treaty. The
Thum of Hunza told Captain Younghusband that unless a larger subsidy was
allowed him, he would resume his caravan raids, as that was his legitimate
source of income; later on, at a critical time, he would not allow letters to
be carried through his territories to Captain Younghusband, then on the Pamirs.
In view of possible attack from
Hunza-Nagar, a new fort was constructed at Chalt and a rope bridge was
constructed on river Indus at Bunji to facilitate supplies and transportation
in winters. Supplies were transported from Kashmir to Astore and then to Gilgit
via Bunji. Moreover, an extensive road network was developed from Kashmir to
Gilgit and further to Hunza–Nagar and the Hindu Kush passes, employing around
30,000 porters. Nearly 200 personnel engaged in road construction were armed with
weapons for self-defense, if necessary. In fact, common citizens became part of
the war. Seizure of all roads was the immediate plan, and if the Rajas
resisted, the troops would enter their territories. According to E. F Knight,
“we should find them a foe not to be despised. 'So far unconquered, they had,
on several occasions inflicted defeat on armies composed of some of the best
fighting-men in India.”
On the other
hand, it was commonly believed among countrymen between Astor and Gilgit that
the British force would be annihilated. In such scenario, news spread in Gilgit
that Hunza-Nagar had sent their women and children into the mountains. Similarly,
a strong force had been assembled at Nilt fort and meditated an immediate
attack on Chalt fort. There were also rumors that the tribesmen of Chilas might
come to their support. Therefore, the British government cautiously stored
supplies in Bunji fort and sent some provisions back to Astor. According to
Knight, the local population was undaunted and appeared largely unconcerned
with the ongoing conflict; however, many among them expressed sympathy for
Hunza and Nagar, a situation that caused deep concern among the British authorities.
E. F Knight
writes that “for our part we were still quite unprepared for an advance in
force from Gilgit. Nothing could be done until our commissariat arrangements
were complete. Not a tenth of the grain required for the winter supply of the
troops had reached Gilgit by the end of October; no greatcoats for the Imperial
Service sepoys had yet arrived; there was an insufficiency of boots; there was
no ghee; 1,200 coolie-loads of necessary stores were still beyond passes. Matters,
indeed, looked serious, and a well-informed and bold enemy might have made it
exceedingly uncomfortable for us about this time.”
Nevertheless,
instructions were received from Simla headquarters that war should be waged
against Hunza-Nagar at the end of the year. Finally, on 16 November 1891, all
the armies were camped at Gilgit. According
to Knight, at the time of the attack on Hunza-Nagar, 2,000 troops were at the disposal of Colonel Durand. Gilgit looked full of life, and the war was about to
begin.
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