Makh Afghan, a Pashtun king of 14th century Deccan

A century before Bahlul Lodi became king, a Pashtun by name of Malik Makh Afghan became king of a large sultanate in Deccan in 1346 AD and sat on throne for twelve months. He was leader of the rebels who had revolted against Muhammad bin Tughlaq. He assumed the title of Sultan Nasir-ud-din Ismail Shah.

Sultan Nasir-ud-din Ismail Shah voluntarily abdicated in favour of Hasan Gangu (the founder of Bahmani dynasty) on September 1347 AD. The Pashtuns thus lost an opportunity to establish an independent kingdom in Deccan.

Malik Makh Afghan held the office of Amir al-Umara (commander-in-chief of the army) under the new king for some time. But later Hasan Gangu (now Sultan Bahman Shah) got rid of Makh Afghan by accusing him of plotting against the king. Sultan Bahman Shah struck Makh Afghan with his own sword and killed him immediately. This was the first execution of its kind in open court in the Deccan.

For details read "The Bahmanis of the Deccan" by Haroon Khan Sherwani.

Description of Panjshir valley by Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta (1304-1369) informs us that there used to be a fine and populous city on the bank of river Panjshir in the Panjshir valley. It was destroyed by Genghis Khan of the Mongols, and it was still in ruins and uninhabited when Ibn Batutta was writing.

Panjshir was known as Panjhir پنجهیر in medieval times. Or Banjhir in Arabic (since there is no "پ" in that language). According to Ibn Batutta, Panj-hir means five mountains.

Ibn Battuta also mentions the presence of a mausoleum of a saint by name of Shaikh Said al-Makki in that ruined city. That saint was greatly venerated by Panjshiris. In the mountains of Panjshir were found rubies which were called "Balkhash" (بلخش) by the people.

The people of Panjshir and Andarab were tributary to Siah Posh Kafirs (of present-day Nuristan) in medieval times

In 14th century the people of Panjshir and Andarab were raided and bullied by Siah Posh (black-clad) people of "Kafiristan" (present-day Nuristan). Siah-Posh "Kafirs" exacted annual tribute from the Muslims of these regions. Upon failure to pay the tribute, the Siah Poshan would slay the men, and enslave their women and children.

When Amir Timur arrived at Andarab, the chiefs of that country came and cast themselves at his feet, asking him to deliver them from the oppression of Siah-Posh Kafirs. This is reported by Zafarnama of Sharf al-Din Yazdi. 

The people of Panjshir (known as Panjhir پنجهیر in medieval times) were under the thumbs of Siah-Posh Kafirs even in the times of Mughal king Babur. The latter writes: " Panjhir is another tuman; it lies close to Kafiristan, along the Panjhir road, and is the thoroughfare of Kafir highway-men who also, being so near, take tax of it. They have gone through it, killing a mass of persons, and doing very evil deeds, since I came this last time and conquered Hindustan."

This drawing of a Siah Posh Kafir is from "The Illustrated London News", published on September 26, 1874.

Panjshir calley

"Awghan" (اوغان) is not a derogatory distortion of the word Afghan

Some Pashtuns of Afghanistan (particularly the diaspora) get offended when Uzbeks, Tajiks and Hazaras refer to them as Awghan (اوغان), thinking it is a derogatory distortion of the word Afghan. 

But there is plenty of evidence to suggest that it is Awghan which is original while Afghan might be its Arabic or Persian modification of later times. 

 

In ancient Bactrian documents, Pashtuns are mentioned as "αβαγανο" i.e., Abagano or Awagano (since "b" is interchangeable with "w"). 

Source: "Bactrian Documents from Northern Afghanistan II: Letters and Buddist Texts", by Nicholas Sims-Williams, p-144

 

Source: "Bactrian Documents from Northern Afghanistan II: Letters and Buddist Texts", by Nicholas Sims-Williams, p-144

Indian astronomer Varāha Mihira mentioned them as Avagāṇa in his Bṛhat-saṃhitā in 6th century A.D.

Source:  Encyclopedia Iranic

Hsuen Tsang, in 629 A.D, refers to the people living between Bannu and Ghazni as " O-Po-Kien". According to Alexander Cunningham, O-Po-Kien is rendering of Avaghan in Chinese. 

The original spelling Awghan occasionally occur in the medieval Persian sources of the last millennium. From Tarikh Nama-i-Herat (written in circa 1320 A.D) :-

Dr. Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah Kakakhel thinks that there are no Afghans (Pashtuns) settled on the Sulieman mountains range

 Dr. Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah Kakakhel of Qaid-i-Azam University who has PhD in history from the University of Oxford, thinks that there are no Afghans (Pashtuns) settled on the Sulieman mountains range ! 

The snippet is from his article "Origin of the Afghans : Myths and reality", published in 'Journal of Asian civilizations'. 

The learned historian should be informed that the highest peak of the Sulieman mountain range is located in the region inhabited by the Sherani tribe of Pashtuns [1].

Ibn-i-Batuta ( 1304 – 1368) associates the Suliman mountain range with Afghans (Pashtuns). He writes :

"Their (Afghans') principal mountain is called Koh Suleiman. It is related that the Prophet of God Suleiman (peace be upon him) climbed this mountain and looked out over the land of India, which was [then] covered with darkness, but returned without entering it, so the mountain was named after him. It is in this mountain that the king of Afghan resides". 

The distance between Ziarat Kaka Sahib in Nowshera district (Wiqar Ali Shah's place of origin) and Takht-i-Sulaiman peak is 314 km. He could have reached the Suleiman mountains in a day by car to see for himself if there are any Pashtuns dwelling there.

He also believes that Panini (Indian grammarian) was a Pakhtun !

Kakakhel also erroneously believes that Sher Shah Sur did not know Pashto. 

Sher Shah actually did know Pashto. Kakakhel should check Tarikh-i-Shershahi (written in circa 1580 AD). [Tarikh-SherShahi, English translation by H.M.Elliot, p-135].