Operations in Waziristan
| Operations in Waziristan | ||
|---|---|---|
| Part of North West Frontier Campaigns | ||
| Date: | November 1936 - December 1937 | |
| Location: | Waziristan, NWF | |
| Presidency: | Bengal | |
| Co-ordinates: | 33.542357°N 70.326721°E | |
| Result: | Submission of tribesmen | |
| Combatants | ||
| British & Indians | Waziri tribesmen | |
| Commanders | ||
| Gen Sir John Coleridge | Fakir of Ipi | |
| Strength | ||
| Up to 60,000 regular and irregular troops | 4,000 tribesmen | |
| Casualties | ||
Summary[1]
Tori Khel tribesmen of North Waziristan led by the Fakir of Ipi were enraged at the outcome of the case of Islam Bibi, a Hindu girl who converted to Islam but was handed back to the Hindu community, and rose in revolt. The British decided to sent an expedition into the Khaisora Valley to reassert control. Columns from Razmak and Mir Ali met fierce opposition and were compelled to withdraw to Mir Ali. The insurrection spread through Waziristan and the British had to reinforce their garrisons. It proved impossible to engage the tribesmen in pitched battles and guerilla actions cost considerable casualties. Support for the Fakir began to wane and most of the additional forces were withdrawn towards the end of 1937. Trouble flared again in 1938 when a lashkar attacked Bannu. The Fakir was never caught but caused trouble to the Pakistan government until his commander, Mehar Dil, surrendered in 1954. The Fakir died in 1960.
Related articles
External links
Waziristan campaign (1936–1939) Wikipedia
Waziristan 1937-1939 (9 page pdf) by Lieut Colonel H E M Newman The Royal Engineer Journal Volume 95, number 2, 1984
Historical books online
- Waziristan 1936-1937 : The problems of the North-West Frontiers of India and their Solutions by Lieut.-Colonel C. E. Bruce 1938 Archive.org
References
- ↑ The most detailed account of this campaign is to be found in Official history of operations on the N.W. frontier of India, 1936-37 ISBN 1 84342 765 6. Available at the British Library.