A brilliant Yusufzai

[Bengal_Tiger]

Khushal Baba was a Mughal servant in his early career and was assigned the task of subduing the Yousafzai's and other tribes. In his poetry during that period he has used a much harsh and abusive language for Yousafzai's and other enemies but later when he was put behind the bars by Mughal Emperor and also orders were carried out to arrest his family and bring them to mughal Court. The same Yousafzai's (who have killed Shahbaz Khan(Khushal's father) and of whom heads Khushal and his Mughal army had made a Minaret in Mardan as a revenge), went for his help and give asylum to his family and fought on his side. After that incident Khushal Baba has praised Yousafzais in his poetry and has described this incident cursing himself of siding with the Mughals and killing Yousafzai (I don't remember those verses right now, will look for it and post it here later)

1. Yusufzais are a noble tribe of Pakhtoons. In my conversation with Pashtuns, Yusufzais are one of, if not the, most respected tribe in Pakhtunkhwa and generally seen as honest and decent people. Amazing given most Pashtun tribes hate each other and say nothing but bad about each other.

2. Sher Khan was a brave Pakhtun and I believe was a Yusufzai. Though I do not approve of the Pakistan army and think ultimately his life was not given for a true cause, he displayed immense courage.

[hk1992]

yusufzais are by far and away the most hospitable and welcoming of any of the pashtun tribes when 2.1 million refugees fled swat only 300000 became idps in UN AID camps the other 1.8million people where housed by the local yusufzais of mardan and the surrounding regions. When the afghans fled the soviets the yusufzai gave them free access to their lands while the rest of pakistan banned afghans from entering their provinces incidentally when the people of swat left swat the ministers of sindh and punjab at that time refused to open relief camps for swatis in either of there provinces. However at the same time Barakzai abdali is correct the yusufzai have become a shadow of there former selves, for a people who fought alexander and genghis khan the yusufzai are today almost like cattle and they will not do anything even when directly threatened by others if anything the irrigation system of mardan is a curse and not a blessing it removes us from our harsh and noble roots towards the soft and meek lives of farmers.(btw i am yusufzai).

[Bengal_Tiger]

yusufzais are by far and away the most hospitable and welcoming of any of the pashtun tribes when 2.1 million refugees fled swat only 300000 became idps in UN AID camps the other 1.8million people where housed by the local yusufzais of mardan and the surrounding regions. When the afghans fled the soviets the yusufzai gave them free access to their lands while the rest of pakistan banned afghans from entering their provinces incidentally when the people of swat left swat the ministers of sindh and punjab at that time refused to open relief camps for swatis in either of there provinces. However at the same time Barakzai abdali is correct the yusufzai have become a shadow of there former selves, for a people who fought alexander and genghis khan the yusufzai are today almost like cattle and they will not do anything even when directly threatened by others if anything the irrigation system of mardan is a curse and not a blessing it removes us from our harsh and noble roots towards the soft and meek lives of farmers.(btw i am yusufzai).

Yusufzais are seen as "soft-hearted" Pashtuns by others in comparison to more militant tribes like Mohmands, Afridis and others, with Waziris (i.e. Waziris and Mehsuds both) being seen as the toughest.

I had a Mian friend from Pekhawar and he spoke highly of Yusufzais.

However Yusufzais are still tough when they need to be. Sher Khan is just one example but there are others. Trust me a Punjabi going to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will not get far if he tries to mess with a Yusufzai.

Yusufzais as a tribe decided early on to reject the TTP and made jirgas where they decided they would fight them if they came to Yusufzai territory.

The Yususfzai tribe by itself, if it mobilized can destroy the Pakistan army and cross the Margala hills and take Islamabad.

[MENTION=1234]Smarty[/MENTION] has also previously mentioned some of the more aggressive tribal Yusufzais that still exist in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The current leader of the TTP is a Yusufzai, "Maulana" Fazlullah, though most Yusufzais would definitely not find that a source of pride and reject him.

[Smarty]

yusufzais are by far and away the most hospitable and welcoming of any of the pashtun tribes when 2.1 million refugees fled swat only 300000 became idps in UN AID camps the other 1.8million people where housed by the local yusufzais of mardan and the surrounding regions. When the afghans fled the soviets the yusufzai gave them free access to their lands while the rest of pakistan banned afghans from entering their provinces incidentally when the people of swat left swat the ministers of sindh and punjab at that time refused to open relief camps for swatis in either of there provinces. However at the same time Barakzai abdali is correct the yusufzai have become a shadow of there former selves, for a people who fought alexander and genghis khan the yusufzai are today almost like cattle and they will not do anything even when directly threatened by others if anything the irrigation system of mardan is a curse and not a blessing it removes us from our harsh and noble roots towards the soft and meek lives of farmers.(btw i am yusufzai).

Afghan refugees were welcomed every where in pakhtunkhwa, not just by yousafzais. IDPs of swat preferred to adjust themeselves in nearest districts.
Terrain of mardan, swab, swat etc was never harsh, yet they maintained martial character in mughal times. Yousafzai of mardan has lost sense of tribal identity and traditionalism, its pashtunwali has diminished and is becoming urbanized. There is no community and social cohesiveness that you see in other tribes. Mardanis try to compensate this by doing politics of pakhtun nationalism, ANP, but it is not working

[Toramana]

In Tawarikh-i-Hafiz Rahmat Khani, there is a narration of Yousafzais rivalry with Gigyanis who also were Khakhi Khels like Yousafzais. Actually, Gigyanis had conspired with Alagh Beg to kill Yousafzais elders. Actually, Alag Beg was concerned about Yousafzai's power and considered it a threat to his rule. When Yousafzais migrated to Peshawar Valley along other Khakhi Khels (Turklanris, Uthman Khels, Gadoons/Jaddons, Mohammadzais, etc.), Gigyanis followed them and soon gained power in the outskirt of Peshawar. Soon the old rivalry of Yousafzais with Gigyanis were re-ignited and Yousafzais formed an alliance with Dalazaks to punish Gigyanis (and probably to avenge the massacre of their elders).

This episode shows how politics of alliances, "balance of power", and Pashtunwali played into Pashtun tribal warfare. After the defeat of Gigyanis, Yousafazis realized that although Gigyanis had harmed Yousafzais but still were Khakhi Khel cousins and that Dalazaks being not Khakhi Khels had treated the defeated Gigyanis badly. Probably, they also did not want Dalazaks to take advantage of the defeat of Gigyanis and gain power. So next they turned against Dalazaks and fought wars with them.

[Toramana]

Hmmm, I remember a verse in Khushal Khan's poetry where he calls some subgrouping of Yusufzai "castrated donkeys" -

I assume the Yusufzai you speak of were the ancestors of Manzerah -

Whereas the Paracha-Yusufzai subclan Khushal Khan Baba is writing about was probably trying to advocate the sort of behavior you advocate for these days - bending over and servitude under the guise of development and riches to be gained?

Actually, Khushal Khan was trying to advise Mughals on their campaign of subduing the Yousafzais. So he told Mughals that "subduing Yousafazis is like castrating a donkey" (i.e., implying, the mission is very difficult).

[Bengal_Tiger]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xpsozk6LYk