OFFICIAL HISTORY OF OPERATIONS ON THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER OF INDIA 1936-1937

In 1936, the simmering discontent of the warring tribesmen on the North-West Frontier with British rule once more burst into violence. The excuse was the ‘Islam Bibi’ case, over the custody of a Hindu girl who had eloped with a Muslim and allegedly converted to Islam. The discontent was skilfully exploited by a local Muslim religious leader, the Faquir of Ipi, who temporarily united the three main tribes – the Mahsuds, the Wazirs and the Bhitannis – in a campaign against the British. Raids were mounted, officers and officials murdered, and the whole area seemd on the brink of anarchy. The British responded firmly with Brigade-sized operations and the construction of roads to facilitate the movement of troops. After due warnings, the RAF was brought in to bomb recaltricent rebel areas. Although the Faquir remained at large, the discontent died down. This is the official history of one of the most violent upsurges against the Raj since the Indian Mutiny in a
wild part of the world that remains a religious hoitbed hostile to foreign interference to this day.