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Dir campaign refers to a conflict that took place in Dir state, originally an insurrection by locals against the rule of Nawab Jahan Khan that lead to the death of 200 soldiers of Nawab and unknown number of locals. This insurrection antagonized Pakistani government and it tried to negotiate the resignation of Nawab but no settlement was reached. This was followed by an invasion of the state by Pakistani SSG and overthrow of Nawab. It was the first deployment of SSG in a conflict.
| Dir campaign | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Dir conflict and Pakistan-Afghanistan skirmishes | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Pakistan Dir oppositionSupported by:  Swat state |
Dir state Supported by:  Afghanistan | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Maj.M.A Beg Maj. Aslam Beg Lt Col. A O Mitha Maj. Nishat Ahmed Capt. S.M. Naeem Lt. Fakhre Alam Sharrif Khan Khosru Khan Rakhman Gul |
Nawab Jahan Khan Khan of Jandool | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
Shariff Force Rakhman Gul Force |
Dir Levies Afghan tribesmen  Afghan army (Alleged) | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | 200+ soldiers killed | ||||||
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Background
editOn 8 Feb 1948, Dir acceded to the newly created Muslim dominion of Pakistan, initially continuing as one of the surviving princely states of Pakistan. The politics of the late Nawabs are described as reactionary and harsh.[1][2]
State violence and underdevelopment
editIt was reported by Fosco Maraini in 1959 during an expedition towards Hindu-Kush, reported the opinion of the people that the Nawab Jahan Khan (who was about 64 years old at that time) was a tyrannical leader, denying his subjects any freedom of speech and instruction, governing the land with a number of henchmen, and seizing for his harem any girl or woman he wanted. Maraini also noticed the lack of schools, sewers, and paved roads, and the presence of just a rudimentary newly built hospital. The Nawab was negatively compared to the Wali of Swat, whose liberal politics allowed his state to enter into the modern era.[3]
Civilian uprising
editAs a consequence, uprisings began eventually to explode. A repressed revolt in 1959 was reported by Maraini's.[3] Another insurrection in 1960 led to the death of 200 soldiers and put the Nawab in a bad light in the view of the press. Pakistani government put heavy pressure on the Nawab Jahan Khan to resign but no diplomatic success was reached.
Afghan infiltration
editIn September 1960, Afghan tribesmen and some regular troops under civilian cover entered the area of Dir as part of the wider Bajaur Campaign to help Nawab Jahan khan against the Pakistan -backed opposition.[4][5] The Afghan lashkars were forced to withdraw and this proved to be the casus belli for the Pakistani government to launch the operation for the overthrow of Nawab.[4][5][6]
Pakistan military operation
editIn October 1960, Two companies of the SSG covertly in Scouts uniform launched an operation to overthrow the Nawab Jahan Khan and his son Khan of Jandool.[7][8][9]
First SSG company operated from Chitral under the command of Mirza Aslam Beg Commanded SSG alongside Shariff Force commanded by Brig M. Shariff.[7] They launched an assault on the town of Dir with the aim of overthinking Nawab Jahan Khan. Maj. Nishat Ahmed, Capt. S.M. Naeem and Lt. Fakhre Alam also participated in this operation. The overthrow was bloodless.[7]
The second SSG company, commanded by Maj. Aslam Beg, operated in the area of Munda Killa alongside Rakhman Gul Force . Its aim was to capture Khan of Jandool. Lt Col. A O Mitha were part of this company.[7] They transported the Nawab and his son in to Risalpur via air.[7]
All the weapons of nawab were confiscated and constitutional government was established. Nawab shah Khesrao khan was recognised as the Nawab of Dir.[10] The SSG personnel remained in the area for a month.[7][9][8]
Exile of Nawab
editGeneral Yahya decided to exile Jahan Khan, who would die in 1968. His throne passed in October 1961 to his eldest son, Mohammad Shah Khosru Khan, educated in India and a serving Major General of the Pakistan Army. However, the effective rule of Dir was taken by the Pakistani government's Political Agent.
Aftermath
editA few years later, on 28 July 1969, the Dir state was incorporated into Pakistan, ceasing its political existence.[1] The royal status of the Nawabs was abolished in 1972, at the same time as most other princes of Pakistan.[citation needed] [10]
References
edit- ^ a b Syed Ziafat Ali. "Welcome To Dir State". Retrieved 2013-08-13.
- ^ Jinnah Papers The states: Historical and Policy Perspectives and Accession to Pakistan, First series volume VIII, Editor: Z.H.Zaidi, Quaid-i-Azam Papers Project, Government of Pakistan 2003 Pg xvii.
- ^ a b Maraini, Fosco (1965). Where four worlds meet: Hindu Kush, 1959. London: Hamish Hamilton.
- ^ a b Qassem, Ahmad Shayeq (16 March 2016). Afghan infiltration into Dir. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-18459-1.
- ^ a b Hussain, Arif (1966). Pakistan,it's ideology,it's foreign policy.
- ^ Events in 1960-61. 1962.
- ^ a b c d e f Amin, A.H. (February 2002). "Remembering Our Warriors: Brig. Shamim Yasin Manto". www.defencejournal.com. Karachi: Defence Journal Shamim. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ a b Baily, John (September 2016). War, Exile and the Music of Afghanistan. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-315-46692-7.
- ^ a b Fighting to the End, Pakistan army's way of fighting.
- ^ a b "Dir Royal Family[Akhun khel]: History".