The British Empire’s Military Campaign against the States of Hunza and Nagar (1891) - Part II

Author: Ashfaq Ahmed Adv
Translation: Ahmed Nayyar

At the end of the year (1891), orders were issued from Shimla (the summer capital of British India) to launch military campaign against Hunza-Nagar. In this context, all forces operating under British command established camp at Gilgit on 16 November 1891. According to E. F Knight, two thousand soldiers were encamped at Gilgit, awaiting further orders to launch an assault on Hunza–Nagar.

In the meantime, a political envoy from Hunza reached Nomal fort with a message for Colonel Durand. A Dogra major, the officer in charge of the fort, asked the envoy, “When they would face each other in war?” The envoy replied, “We, the people of Hunza are advocates of peace; we do not want to fight.” Upon hearing this, the Major responded, “you have made all preparations for war.” The Envoy answered, “you seem to speak sensibly.” The Major replied, “lets mount an offensive.” Mir Safdar Ali Khan’s political envoy communicated his territorial claims over Chaprot to Colonel Durand. He warned that the British should remain limited to their own territory, otherwise; they must be prepared for war. 

Chaprot was an independent small state. It had witnessed numerous conflicts and was successively conquered by different rulers. Following discussions with the envoy, Colonel Durand ordered his troops either camped or in passage to split into separate groups. Troops were directed to move along river Hunza towards Chaprot. E. F Knight records that during the advance to Chachar Pari, Gorkha forces were leading, followed by Maharaja’s troops and lastly Puniyal levies – who had guarded their frontiers for generations – were accompanied by their chief and allies Raja Akbar Khan and Raja of Astor. General Suram Chand, commander of the Dogra Brigade stationed in Gilgit, proceeded with his corps, accompanied by the Imperial Service Troops, who were taking part in campaign for the first time. One of the fourteen war experts, deployed from Shimla to support Hunza-Nagar campaign, was leading Kashmir regiment troops. Similarly, senior officers of Dogra army were accompanying the army. Some of the staff were deployed to guard check posts and forts between Gilgit to Chalt.
Knight mentions that during the night, they saw flames of burning fire everywhere on the mountains across the river and valleys – perhaps that indicates the intentions of tribesmen for war. Likewise, the people of Hunza-Nagar deliberately burned all the grass along the route to Nilt to deprive the enemy’s mules of fodder. Knight states that directions were received to move forward to frontiers on 1 December.

In his book “The Making of a Frontier”, Colonel Durand mentions that his army assembled in Chalt at the end of November with a substantial quantity of weapons, gunpowder, and two cannons. Furthermore, he describes his exhaustion from writing repeated letters in an effort to persuade the rulers of Hunza–Nagar to enter into negotiations and reach a peaceful settlement.
Earlier, in a letter wrote to Colonel Durand, Mir Safdar Ali Khan reiterated that he is not afraid of British because he had support from Russia. He threatened Durand, asserting that his warriors would decapitate him and present his head as a gift. 

In another letter, Mir Safdar expressed his willingness to fight, even if he had to use gold bullets against Durand. Moreover, he warned that any attempt to proceed further would require readiness to face three armies i.e. Hunza-Nagar, China and Russia. He cautioned Colonel Durand! We will decapitate you and inform the Government of India.  

Colonel Durand states that he ultimately sent a trusted representative to warn the rulers of Hunza-Nagar on his behalf. At that point, Safdar Ali Khan, Mir of Hunza, was positioned at Mayoon with his army. Similarly, Raja Uzur Khan of Nagar was stationed at Nilt, that was eight miles away from Durand’s camp. Durand shares that the old tham (ruler) of Nagar expressed a desire for peace; however, real authority rested with his son, Raja Uzur Khan, and the pro-war faction was sufficiently strong that the old tham was unable to oppose it.
The representative told Colonel Durand that during discussion he presented a clear stance conveying passage to British agents through their lands without any restriction. Moreover, he shared the plan of constructing military roads for accessibility based on British forward policy and building of check posts at frontiers of Hunza to stop any possible Russian aggression. However, there would be no interference in their system of government as long as they obey the directives of British government. Upon hearing this, the Prime Minister of Hunza drew his sword and threatened to kill anyone who agreed to these British demands.  

Colonel Durand gave them three days to consider the matter, however, the following day his representative came back on foot. The rulers of Hunza-Nagar not only humiliated him but had also taken his horse and sent him back on foot with threats of killing. The representative revealed that both thams had decided to fight. He also informed Durand that enemies have heavily fortified Chalt fort, having worked on it for the last two years. In addition, the Russians had promised the rulers of Hunza-Nagar to supply them with guns and cannons in support of the war.  

Colonel Durand notes that he was left with no alternative. Consequently, forces advanced through cliffs, crossed the Hunza River via a temporary bridge at Chalt, constructed by Captain Aylmer, and entered enemy’s territory on 1st December 1891. He states that attempts were made to negotiate a peaceful deal with tribesmen, but war was ultimately their decision. He claims that the only option that remained with them was to wage war with full force.
According to Knight, many tribesmen believed that London was merely a strong village, comparable to Hunza. From their perspectives, London was located at a considerable distance from Gilgit. Likewise, tribesmen anticipated Russian and Chinese support yet unfamiliar with the strength of British Empire. Knight mentions that the Hunza-Nagar force that fought against the British Empire was known as the “Field Force”.

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