The Mujahidin At Chamarkand

The Jihad Movement In South Asia (Volume No. 3) Pages: 165 Category: Politics Books, English Books This book series makes an important contribution to the study of Islamically inspired militant activism in the Pashtun Borderland from 1820s to 1940s. The editor is to be congratulated for identifying emerging academic talent among his students and supporting them in the early stages of their academic careers by providing broader exposure to their work. The contributions in this series offer a timely counter-narrative to the tendency of attributing current militancy in the Borderland solely to external actors, by uncovering historically rooted militant sentiments within certain segments of Borderland society. Gulzar Ali, in particular, brings to light hitherto unstudied primary sources that significantly enhance our understanding of religio-political activism in the Frontier region of British India after 1900. This book compellingly demonstrates the impressive calibre of scholarship emanating from public universities in Pakistan. It is to be hoped that both the book and its author will receive the recognition they deserve. — Dr. Jan-Peter Hartung Research Associate, FAU Research Centre Islam and Law in Europe (FAU EZIRE) and author of The Pashtun Borderland: A Religious and Cultural History of the Taliban The book offers a groundbreaking contribution to the historical understanding of religious mobilisation in the region. This richly documented volume sheds new light on the lesser-known yet crucial later phase of the Mujahidin movement, situating it within both local dynamics and wider geopolitical currents. By foregrounding indigenous voices and drawing on vernacular sources, it challenges reductive colonial and statist narratives. The study unearths internal contestations, transregional alliances, and the intellectual currents that shaped the movement’s trajectory. In an academic landscape often silent on the complexities of Pukhtunkhwa’s past, this work fills a long-standing void. A testament to rigorous scholarship and local insight, it sets a new benchmark for future research on the region — Dr. Fouzia Farooq Ahmed Associate Professor of History, Quaid e Azam University Islamabad and TORCH Global Visiting Professor 2024 – 25 at All Souls College, Oxford Gulzar Ali’s meticulous study of the Mujahidin colony at Chamarkand sheds light on an under-studied anti-colonial movement in the borderlands between present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. Through a careful study of multiple sources including writings of those affiliated with the Mujahidin movement, British archives, and various academic sources, the author provides a holistic and nuanced picture of a key anti-colonial resistance movement during the early 20th century. This study is the first of its kind to delve into the dynamics of the Mujahidin movement in the Chamarkand colony during a period of extreme historical flux and provides insights into the present-day dynamics of a region that remains a battle-ground between multiple competing regional and international powers. — Dr. Nida Yasmeen Kirmani Associate Professor of Sociology, LUMS The concluding volume of the series presents a comprehensive account of the final phases of the Mujahidin movement. It delves into the strategic and ideological challenges the Mujahidin faced in Chamarkand, along with their complex interactions with local communities and the Afghan government. The book also highlights Chamarkand’s contributions to literature and journalism. One of the volume’s key strengths is its use of indigenous sources alongside British archives and other materials. At several points, the study challenges prevailing narratives of the jihad movement. — Prof. Dr. Naumana Kiran University of the Punjab