Waziristan campaign (1936–1939)
Waziristan campaign | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
Belligerents | |||||
Italy[2] | |||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||
Mirzali Khan |
John Coleridge Thakur Mahadeo Singh | ||||
Strength | |||||
~4,000 fighters | ~60,000 troops | ||||
Casualties and losses | |||||
unknown | heavy |
The Waziristan campaign 1936–1939 comprised a number of operations conducted in
Background
In 1919–1920, the British had fought a campaign against the Wazir tribes. Minor skirmishes had continued into 1921, but after the establishment of a permanent garrison at Razmak there had been a period of relative peace in the region.[3] Throughout 1921–1924 the British undertook a road construction effort in the region that led to further conflict during the 1921–1924 campaign.[4] In 1936, trouble again flared up in Waziristan in the form of a political and religious agitation by Mirzali Khan. For some time, there had been growing unrest in the region, fueled by a perception of a weakening of British resolve to govern following a number of constitutional changes in India; however, following a trial of a Muslim student on a charge of abducting a Hindu girl, Mirzali Khan began spreading anti-British sentiment in earnest, claiming that the government was interfering in a religious matter.[5]
Operations
In late November 1936, in order to reassert the perception of control over the region, with the approval of the Tori Khel
The Razmak column,[7] known as Razcol, began the march without incident, but after three days came under fire while traversing a narrow valley about 10 miles (16 km) short of Bichhe Kashkai. Intense fighting ensued as the column had to fight its way through to the village, while the two Indian battalions that made up Tocol from Mirali ran into even tougher opposition and were delayed until the following day. The supply situation was desperate and casualties numbered around 100, so it was decided to withdraw both columns back to Mirali. This was achieved, but the picquets and rearguard were heavily engaged on numerous occasions before they arrived.[8]
The outcome of the expedition was the reverse of the desired outcome, as, instead of demonstrating government resolve and strength, it had in fact highlighted their weakness and Mirzali Khan's support rose dramatically. For the next year, trouble and insurrection spread throughout Waziristan, as
While the British attempted to stamp out the insurrection by drawing the tribesmen into decisive engagement, Mirzali Khan remained at large (and indeed was never caught), and on the main, the tribesmen managed to avoid being drawn into battle using guerrilla tactics of ambush in order to keep the initiative. In doing so, they inflicted considerable casualties upon the British and Indian troops. An example of this occurred in April 1937, when a convoy from Wanna was ambushed in the
By December 1937, the Mirzali Khan's support began to wane and following this, the decision was made to withdraw most of the additional brigades that had been brought up to bolster the garrisons at Razmak, Bannu and Wanna as it was decided that their presence would only serve to inflame the situation.[13]
Trouble flared up again in 1938–39, although to a much lesser extent. On 23 July 1938, a tribal force launched an attack on the town of Bannu, killing up to 200 civilians and damaging a considerable amount of property.[14] As a result of this, British prestige was again weakened and support for Mirzali Khan grew once again.[13]
Aftermath
After 1939, the North West Frontier quieted down, and remained reasonably peaceful. Apart from the occasional raid on a village or attack on a garrison, things would remain this way until the end of British rule in 1947 when
See also
- No. 31 Squadron RAF
- Waziristan campaign (1919–20)
- North-West Frontier– Geography, economy, political situation, etc.
- North-West Frontier (military history)
- Pashtun Nationalism
- Pashtunistan
- Waziristan rebellion of 1948-1954
Notes
- ISBN 9780674724600.
- ^ JSTOR One Man against the Empire: The Faqir of Ipi and the British in Central Asia on the Eve of and during the Second World War (1981) by Milan Hauner
- ^ Barthorp, p. 158.
- ^ Beattie, Chapter 7
- ^ Wilkinson-Latham, p. 28.
- ^ a b Barthorp, p. 170.
- ^ Consisting of the 1st Northamptonshire Regiment, 5th/12th Frontier Force Regiment, 6th/13th Frontier Force Rifles, 1st/9th Gurkhas and three mountain batteries
- ^ Barthorp, p. 171.
- ^ Barthorp, p. 172
- ^ a b Moreman, Tim. "Army in India and Frontier Warfare 1914–39". Kyber.org. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Barthorp, p. 173.
- ^ British airpower was again to prove a decisive asset in this campaign, as the use of aerial reconnaissance and close air support at the tactical level was refined and put to great effect. See Moreman for further information.
- ^ a b Barthorp, p. 175.
- ^ a b Wilkinson-Latham, p. 29.
References
- Barthorp, Michael. (2002). Afghan Wars and the North-West Frontier 1839–1947. Cassell: London. ISBN 0-304-36294-8.
- Beattie, Hugh (2019). "Chapter 7: British policy in Waziristan and the Razmak base". Empire and Tribe in the Afghan Frontier Region: Custom, Conflict and British Strategy in Waziristan until 1947. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-83860-085-3.
- Wilkinson-Latham, Robert. (1977). North West Frontier 1837–1947. Osprey Publishing: London. ISBN 0-85045-275-9.
Further reading
- Official History of Operations on the N. W. Frontier of India 1936–37. Naval & Military Press, and The Imperial War Museum, London. ISBN 1-84342-765-6
- Moreman, Tim. (1998) The Army in India and the Development of Frontier Warfare 1847–1947. Macmillan: London. ISBN 978-0-31221-703-7
- Wylly, H.C. (1912). From The Black Mountain To Waziristan. Macmillan: London. OCLC[https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/180831 180831