Mohmand

The Mohmand (Pashto: مومند‎) or Momand is one of the most prominent Pashtun tribes. 1rst Son of Daulatyar and 2nd son is Daudzai according to Pashtoon history books.They are mostly based in district Mohmand of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Western Pakistan, bordered with Afghanistan and in the eastern district of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.

Most of the Mohmand speak a northern variety of Pashto. Rahman Baba, one of the most popular Pashto poets, and Abdul Ahad Mohmand, the first Afghan astronaut, belonged to the Mohmand tribe.

History

The Momands Ghoryakhel originally lived in present-day Mohmand region, Kandahar, Ghazni, Ghor, and between the basins of the Tarnak river, Oxus river and Indus river for centuries along the present Pak-Afghan border.

The Momand are historically known for the resistance against outside forces. From 1672 to 1676, the Momand, under the leadership of Aimal Khan Momand, rebelled and fought deadly wars against the Mughal Army.[1] When Peshawar was annexed formally by the British, the area that comprises the present Mohmand agency was ruled by the local tribesmen and was under the influence of Khan of Lalpura (currently Khan Aimal Zaman Mohmand) based in the Lal Pur District. The Safis were under the control of Khans of Bajaur and the Utmankhels were independent of any Khanate.[2]

The Momands fought many times against the British India and other foreign invasion. The area of the Mohmands may be defined roughly as bounded on the East by Charsadda, and Peshawar Dist in present Pakistan. On the North by Bajour Agency; on the West by Nangarhar (Afghanistan) and on the South by the Khyber Agency; The area of Mohmand is about 1200 sq. m. The Durand line boundary line now runs through the Mohmand area. The Emir of Afghanistan in 1893 gave assurances to the Burhan Khel, Dawezai, Halimzai, Isa Khel, Tarangzai and Utmanzai sections of the Mohmands that they will not suffer by the severance of their ancient connection with Afghanistan; and these are known as the Assured Clans. Mohmands live in Afghanistan, primarily in Nangarhar, Ghazni, Kunar, Logar and Kunduz, and in Pakistan as well. Many of them live in Mohmands village of Pul-e-Jogi of Braki Brak District. Pul-e-Jogi is 10 minutes drive from Wardak Province. Dr. Waheedullah Mohmand and Dr. Mohammad Habib Mohmand are famous people known by many people from Wardak Province. Likewise, Mohmand live in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan, particularly Mohmand Agency. Many people of cast Mohmand migrated to India. Among them were 12 brothers who formed a tribe known as Barabasti. The people of Barah Basti are known to Mohmands and their sub clan Daud Zai.[3]

In May 2018, Mohmand tribal elders condemned the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and were supporters of a separate province Qabailistan.[4]

Principal clans

The major tribes in Mohmand agency are:

  • Khwezai
  • Tarakzai
  • Baizai
  • Halimzai

The central bazaar of Mohmand is Gandhab and locally known as Ghandao Bazaar. The Tarakzai are concentrated in the lower Mohmand from Ekka Ghund to Michanai up to Daudzai. They are a well-educated tribe settled at the gate of the Mohmand Agency. The sub-tribes of the Tarak Zai are Morcha Khel, Dado Khel, Qasim Khel, Bran Khel and Issa Khel. [2]

Peshawar

Mohmands living in different villages in south of Peshawar. Their leaders are call by Malik or Arbab. Arbab residing in Landi Arbab Peshawar are known as Mohmand tribe and there villages from Badaber, Kagawala, Masrezai, Surizai, Sulimankhel, Bazidkhel, Mashokhel, Masho gagar, Sheikhan, Matani, Adezai, Pasani, Hazaar Khwanay, Bahadur Kalay, etc. and the surrounding area; the last village is Landi Arbab. There are five main sub divisions of the Momand tribe living an above villages of Peshawar. Rahman BaBa Shrine is in Bahadar Kalay Peshawar and he was Momand Ghoryakhel and that village is Momand tribe.

  • Isa Khel
  • Wand Khel
  • Bhai Khel
  • Surizai
  • yara khel


Rivers

The Kabul River and Swat River are the two rivers that pass through the area of the Lower Mohmand. The Kabul River forms the boundary between the Khyber and Mohmand agencies after entry into Pakistan territory. The flow of the water is from the west towards the east. On entry into Pakistan territory, the course of the Kabul River is through high mountains gorges till after it passes through the Warsak Dam, where after it starts running through the Peshawar valley area. The Swat river flows from the north towards south after entering the agency limits from the Malakand and passes through the area of Prang Ghar/Pindiali Tehsil. The course of this river is also through mountainous territory till it reaches the Munda Headworks wherefrom it starts running through the plains.

Climate

The climate in Mohmand agency is hot in summer season while cool in winter. The summer season commences from May and continues for 4 months till 31 August. The winter season starts from November and continue till February. The rainfall is scanty. Most of the rainfall is during winter season.

Occupations

The sources of income are very limited in general except agriculture and some trade/business. Most of the locals are earning their livelihood in the Gulf States.

Places of interest

Warsak Hydel Power station is situated on the river Kabul about 32.2 km from Peshawar. The construction of the project was started in 1955 and the power station was commissioned in 1960. Before commissioning of Mangla Power station, it was one of the major sources of power.

Mohmand dam is being constructed on Swat River to the east of the agency which is an ideal site for a hydro power station. The Prime Minister Imran Khan start work on Dam in May 2019.

Gandab valley

This historic valley is situated in the Mohmand agency and shoots forth in the north- west direction from Pir Killa, a village on the main Michni Shabqadar road, and 32 km to the north of Peshawar. It runs parallel to a dry bed of a nullah; it is inhabited by the Halim zai section of the Mohmand tribe.

Notable Mohmands
  • Rahman Baba Abdur Rahmān Mohmand (1632–1706) (Pashto: عبدالرحمان بابا), or Rahmān Bābā (Pashto: رحمان بابا), was a renowned Pashtun Sufi Dervish and poet
  • Ashfaq Ahmed, writer.
  • Zain Khan Sirhindi (Mohmand), made Governor (Subahdar) of Sirhind province, India by Ahmad Shah Durrani (Abdali). Died in the Battle of Sirhind (1764). He headed the Morcha Khel section of the Mohmands.
  • Mohammad Gul Khan Momand was in Afghans Army Officer in 1919
  • Abdul Ahad Mohmand, the first Afghan and the fourth Muslim to reach outer space.
  • Qalandar Momand, Pashto scholar, poet, critic, short story writer, journalist, linguist, lexicographer and academician.
  • Rustam Shah Mohmand, politician
  • Nisar Khan Mohmand, Politician ( MPA, KP Assembly from 2019 to 2023)
  • Jamshid Khan Mohmand, Politician ( MPA 2013 to 2023)
  • Shaheed Imran khan Mohmand, Politician

Mulla Abdul Wadood Momand Mulla Shahid Momand

References
  1. Momand, Ahmad Gul. The Bare Language of Khoshal’s Poetry. Nangarhar University. p. 13.
  2. http://waziristanhills.com/FATA/AgenciesFRs/MohmandAgency/tabid/78/language/en-GB/Default.as%5B%5D
  3. http://www.barahbasti.org/Shajrah_BarahBasti_Afghanan.pdf
  4. Mohmand, Mureeb (2018-05-29). "Aftermath: Mohmand tribe opposes Fata, K-P merger". The Express Tribune. Pakistan. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
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