Rani of Jhansi Lakshmibai had Pashtun gunners and bodyguards in her service

The famous Rani of Jhansi, one of the leading figures of the Indian war of Independence of 1857, had Pashtuns gunners and her personal bodyguards were a thousand Pashtuns who died defending her to the last man in the final battle in which the Rani fell. (Ref: "Rani of Jhansi" by Jaiwant Paul, page 99 and 100).

Those Pashtun soldiers in her service were referred to as "Walayatis" (Ref: Jhansi Gazetteer, 1965) which indicate that they were not Indianized Pathans but Pashto speaking migrants from Pakhtunkhwa/Afghanistan. Pashtuns used to refer to their country as Walayat or Wilayat and the Indians called them Walayatis. The terms Walayat and Walayati assumed the meanings of foreign country and foreigner respectively in India. Later the term Walayat was applied to England and Englishmen. 

Rani Lakshmibai, made in 1885 (c). Source

History of Killa Abdullah district of Balochistan

The district Killa Abdullah is named after a fort which was founded by Sardar Abdullah Khan Achakzai in early 19th century. The latter purchased Dehsora Karez from Kakars and Chasma Inzargai from Ashezai Achakzais and built a fort there and gave the place his own name. It was square shaped.

Abdullah Khan Achakzai's father Shadi Khan was an Arzbegi in the Durrani court (the arzbegi was responsible for dealing with claims against officials submitted by citizens). Around 1819, a quarrel took place between the two sons of Shadi Khan Arzbegi, in which Yar Muhammad Khan lost his life at the hands of Abdullah Khan, his younger brother. Quetta-Pishin Gazetteer (1907) records an anectode about the manner of death which Abdullah Khan inflicted on Yar Muhammad Khan :

"In order to get rid of his elder brother, who stood between him and the inheritance, he caused him to be seized and buried him up to the chin in the earth. A rope was then fastened round his neck and to the end of it was haltered a wild horse : the animal was then driven round in a circle untill the unhappy victim's head was twisted from his shoulders."

During First Anglo-Afghan war, Haji Sarbuland Khan (son of Yar Muhammad Khan) and Saleh Muhammad Khan (Yar Muhammad Khan's nephew) espoused the cause of Saddozais and supported the British while Abdullah Khan, supported by the whole of the Achakzai tribe, took the Barakzai side and bitterly oppossed the British advance in the area. He and his two sons were killed in the battle of the 23rd September of 1841, in Kabul. Haji Sarbuland Khan was wounded fighting on the British side. 

In 1907 Killa Abdullah was divided into three parts ; the village ; the railway station, the fort and serai; and the bazar. Its population in 1907 was 344 (males 182, females 162) and comprised 212 Achakzais, 40 Sayyids, 77 Kakars and 15 others. It possessed a mosque in charge of an Imam, who lived on zakat, and three rooms for students (talibs). The water supply to the village was from Dehsora karez the water being stored in a tank. The village possessed ten gardens, which covered an area of over 29 acres, the princapal fruits being grapes of the haita, sara kishmishi, and sahibi varieties, apricots, almonds and quinces. The Kandahari dealers bought the fruit and exported it to Quetta. It realized about Rs.2,000 per annum. Melons and water-melons were also grown. 

References:

1- 'History of the Pathans', Vol-1, by Haroon Rashid 

2- Quetta-Pishin Gazetteer (1907)

Troopers of the Auchukzye (Achakzai) horse, Fort of Killeh Abdooleh (Qillah Abdullah) in the background, 1843. By James Atkinson.

Haji Sarbuland Khan Achakzai (seated), Kandahar, 1878. Source

1937 ; Melons being unloaded from lorries at Qilla Abdullah station before being dispatched by rail to fruit markets in Lahore.

An Afridi tribesman, 1935 (c)

An Afridi tribesman, photographed by Dr. Reginald John Hands Cox (1880–1976).

This image was published in the December 1938 issue of the Church Mission Society periodical “The Mission Hospital” with the caption “An Afridi tribesman”. Dr. Cox worked with the Church Mission Society medical missions in Peshawar and Bannu from 1907 to 1939.

Source: Cadbury Research Library

Afridi tribesman, photograph circa 1930s.

Historic portrait of an Afridi tribesman, early 20th century.

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Collection: Church Missionary Society Unofficial Papers: Family papers of Dr Lilian Starr ('Stella') Underhill, CMS medical missionary to Pakistan. 

Source:  Cadbury Research Library

Pashtun nomad girl, NWFP, 1940 (c)

Pashtun nomad girl, NWFP, 1940 (c). 

Original caption: ‘Woman in Pushtoon dress’.

Collection: Church Missionary Society Unofficial Papers: Family papers of Dr Lilian Starr ('Stella') Underhill, CMS medical missionary to Pakistan 

Source:  Cadbury Research Library

A Pashtun mother and child, 1950 (c)

 

A Pashtun mother and child, 1950 (c).

Collection: Church Missionary Society Unofficial Papers: Family papers of Dr Lilian Starr ('Stella') Underhill, CMS medical missionary to Pakistan.

Source: Cadbury Research Library

Pathans of Awadh (U.P, India), 1861 (c)

 

Pathans of Awadh (U.P, India), 1861 (c).

 "The word Pathan, which signifies Afghan, is chiefly used, says Wilson, in Hindoostan to designate adventurers of the Afghan races or their descendants, who have colonized and settled in India, especially in Rohilcund. A full account of them will be found under the head of Bareilly, the capital of that province. It will suffice here to say that they ruled at Delhi before the Moguls, and that they still bear the traces of the qualities which formerly ensured them sovereignty, being proud, warlike, and energetic. They are found throughout Northern India, and many of them are in the service of native princes. His highness the Nizam, in particular, employs considerable numbers of them in the civil and military departments of his administration. A large colony of Pathans existed at Kurnool, in the Madras Presidency, which was an independent principality up to the year 1838, when the reigning Nawab was convicted of treasonable intrigues and imprisoned. His territory was afterwards annexed to the Presidency of Madras, and his numerous retainers were embodied in a corps of local irregular cavalry, called the Kurnool Horse, which still exists." [ "The people of India" by Watson and Kaye, volume 2, published in 1868].

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