An Afridi father of eleven sons, Jamrud, May 12, 1941

An Afridi father of eleven sons, Jamrud, May 12, 1941. 

From Life magazine. 

Caption: "The father of eleven sons (daughters dont count among Pathans) poses with three sons. Youngest is 2 ; eldest is 62. He is a chief of the Afridi tribe. The fort in rear is at the entrance to Khyber Pass."

"daughters dont count among Pathans". It is considered inappropriate among Pashtuns to tell the number and names of the womenfolk of their houshold to strangers.

I am informed that his name was Malik Mirak Khan Kukikhel.

Wazir Khassadars, Waziristan, 1920 (c)

Wazir Khassadars, Waziristan, 1920 (c). Photo by Randolph Bezzant Holmes.

The Khassadars were local tribal policemen who wore no uniform and provided their own rifles. They had no British officers and were controlled by their own Maliks. They were employed on road protection tasks, police work amongst the frontier tribes and customs and revenue duties. In return the Maliks received payment from the British Government. During the 3rd Afghan War (1919) and Revolt in Waziristan (1919-1920), many Khassadars threw in their lot with their tribal cousins and joined the uprising.

Khassadars, Waziristan, 1939.

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Pashtuns at the bazaaer, Peshawar, 1948

Pashtuns at the bazaaer, Peshawar, 1948. 

Photo by Henri Cartier-Bresson.

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Kurram Militia of the Frontier Corps

Daffadar (a Turi Pashtun) of the Kurram Militia of Frontier Corps, circa 1930s/1940s. Watercolour painting by Captain R C Loadsman. Source

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