Bangash tribe

Bangash was originally name of an extensive territory, and not of a specific tribe. The region of Bangash stretched from River Indus to Spin-Ghar. The present-day districts of Kohat and Hangu constituted the Lower Bangash while Kurram district along with the adjoining territory of Zazai tribe, constituted the Upper Bangash. The Lower and Upper Bangash were collectively referred to as 'Bangashast'. It includes some of the major passes, namely Khost, Kurram, Aryob, Paiwar, Shalozan, Ziran and Karman. The Pashtun tribes of the Bangash region are referred to as 'Afghans of Bangash' or 'Aqwam-i-Bangash' (tribes of Bangash) in Mughal sources. They, with very few exceptions, are Karlanris. With time, 'the tribes of Bangash' (Aqwam-i-Bangash) nomenclature morphed into 'the tribe of Bangash' (Qaum-i-Bangash). Only three among several tribes of the Bangashast, became the Bangash tribe. They are Baizai, Malik Miri and Kaghzai.

The Baizai, descendants of Bai, and the Malik-Miris or Miranzais, sprung from Malik Mir, were the parent tribes of the Afghans of Bangash, and to these were affiliated the Kaghzi, descended from Kakhai or Kaghai, daughter of Malik Mir, by a husband of an unknown tribe. The Malik-Miris, as Malik Mir's descendants in the male line, held the chieftainship, but it subsequently passed to the Baizais. The latter has several brandies, the Mardo, Azu, Lodi and Shahu Khels. The Miranzai khels are the Hassanzai, with the Badah, Khakhai, and Umar khels. A third branch the Shamilzai, apparently identical with the Kaghzi, produced the Landi, Hassan Khel, Musa Khel and Isa Khel.

Like the other Karlarni tribes,  the Afghans of Bangash were disciples of the Pir-i-Roshan, and their attachment to that heresy brought about their ruin, the Mughal government organizing constant expeditions against them. After the Khataks had moved towards the north-east from the Shawal range (in Waziristan), the Baizai, Malik-Miris and Kaghzis then settled in the Upper Bangash, invaded the Lower (Kohat) and, in alliance with the Khataks, drove the Orakzai who then held the Lower Bangash westwards into Tirah. This movement continued till the reign of Akbar.

The history of the Bangash tribes and the part they took in the Mughal operations against the Roshanias are obscure. Probably they were divided among themselves. But those of them who had remained in Kurram appear to have adhered to the Roshania doctrines.

After Aurangzeb's accession in 1659, we find Sher Muhammad Khan, of Kohat, chief of the Malik-Miris, in revolt against the Mughals. He was captured, but subsequently released and became an adherent of the Mughals. Khushhal Khan the Khatak gives a spirited account of his little wars with Sher Muhammad Khan which ended in his own defeat and the final establishment of the Bangash in their present seats.

A Bangash, 1827-1843. By Imam Bakhsh Lahori, Illustrations des Mémoires du général Claude-Auguste Court, Lahore. Source

Group of Buland Khels (Bangashs), 1907 (c). Postcard by Raphael Tuck & Sons.