11/10/2026
Karlugh Turks
The Karlugh Turks are a prominent Karluk Turkic tribe that resides mainly in the Hazara region of current Pakistan. These Karlugh Turks formed a Turki Shahi dynasty and ruled the state of Pakhli Sarkar for over 200 years from 1472 to 1703.
Etymology
Karlugh is a Persian/Pushto/Hindko variation of the word Qarluk.
History
Arrival
At the end of Timur's invasion of India in 1398-99, Timur left behind a legion of Qarluk Turks as the rulers of the Hazara region of India (now part of the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan). The locals called these Turks the Karlugh Turks and the legion Hazara-i-Karlugh.
Establishment of Pakhli Sarkar
The Karlugh Turks, who claim descent from Timur, became the ruling class of Hazara and maintain this status until the early 18th century (1703). They formed a Turki Shahi state with the arrival of Sultan Shahab-ud-Din from Kabul who established his rule in the entire Pakhli (Hazara) region. This state came to be known as Pakhli Sarkar with Guli Bagh as its capital.Locals always called them Rajas but they continued to use the title of Sultan till end of their rule in Hazara.However,later-on,when their rule came to an end they assumed the title of Raja----A name given totheir ancesstors by the locals.
Karlugh Turks and Mughal Empire
The Mughals began establishing their control in India with Babur's victory in the First battle of Panipat in 1526. During the entire period of Mughal acsendancy in Indian sub-continent, Mughals acknowledged Karlughs as the rulers of Pakhli sarkar. In addition, probably due to their common Central Asian origin and common claim of descendancy from Timur, Mughals never levied taxes on the state of Pakhli Sarkar.
The relations between Pakhli Sarkar and Mughal Empire took a tumble during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar. The then Karlugh Turk ruler Sultan Hussain Khan revolted against the Mughals citing increased interference on the part of Mughal Empire. This revolt was successfully put down by Akbar who eventually pardoned and restored Sultan Hussain Khan as the ruler of Pakhli Sarkar.
Decline and fall of Karlugh Turks
The last Karlugh Turk ruler of Pakhli Sarkar was Sultan Mehmud Khurd. One of his brothers, Sultan Qyas-ud-din, was Wali-e-Tanawal (Lower), and the Wali-e-Tanawal (Upper) was Sultan Sahwaj. His brother Sultan Muqarrab was Wali-e-Dhamtor,i.e. Rush areas of present Abbottabad. Pakhli Sarkar had two other important governorships. One in the areas between Battagram and Thakot ruled by Shamsher Khan and other of Kashmir governed by Sultan Kamal. Both of these governors were close relatives of Turk rulers of Pakhli Sarkar. At that time Kashmir was part of Hazara (Pakhli Sarkar).
Revolt of Sultan Maqarrab
Sultan Maqarrab revolted against his own brother Sultan Mehmud Khurd, but was defeated by the Sultan due to intervention from the Delhi Sultanate. But this incident weakened the Turks permanently and they could never restore their previous strength. Karlal tribe gained strength and Jadun tribe came from across the river Indus to hasten the overthrow of the Turks. Ultimately, Jadoons from Swabi subjugated the Rush areas.
Loss of Rush
Around 1713 Sultan Mehmud Khurd went to Delhi never to return and his whereabouts from them unknown. His sons were too young to run the affairs of Pakhli Sarkar. The Karlugh Turk rule of Pakhli Sarkar came to an end when, in Sultan's absence, his son-in-law, Syed Jalal Baba hatched a conspiracy and invited Quraish Khankhails, Swatis and Syeds to attack Pakhli Sarkar.
Shamsher Khan, a loyal general of Sultan Mehmud Khurd, fought with great valour and put up a very strong resistance at Jhanjal fort of Thakot. After a siege of several months Swatis finally defeated Shamsher Khan, who was martyred in battle. However, after the fall of Jhanjer Fort, there was no one to put up resistance in the Rush areas. Swatis entered the Rush area of Hazara without any notable resistance.
After the Karlugh Turks were overthrown, the tribes Quraish Khankhails, Swatis and Syeds established their rule in the plains of Pakhli and mountains of Kaghan valley. These areas were then divided between the above mentioned tribes. Region of Mansehra to Sum Elai-Mang was handed over to the Quraish Khankhails. Kaghan valley was given to Syeds and Ogi and Swat was delivered to the Swatis.
The Turks were then made to settle in various parts of Hazara and Kashmir. However, the Turks retained small jageers everywhere, like Manakrai (Haripur), Mohar (Mansehra), Behali (Mansehra), Geerwal (Mansehra), Bayan (Abbottabad), Richbehn (Abbottabad) and some other villages and were never fully eliminated.
Loss of Tanawal
Immediately after the collapse of Pakhli, Upper Tanawl fell into the hands of Tanolis. Tanolis advanced towards Lower Tannawal and partially succeeded in confining Sultan Qyas-ud-din in his headquarter, Sherwan. Sultan Qyas-ud-din, younger brother of Sultan Mehmud, was Waali (Governor) of Tanawal. In Tanawal areas, Karlugh Turks retained their power for another 90 years. But ultimately, they were restricted to a small area of lower Tanawal from Sherwan (Abbottabad) to Behali (Mansehra).
Turks Resistance
Turks continued their rule in the areas between Sherwan and Mangal till the arrival of the Sikhs in 1817-18. They were deprived of further areas during the 1872 settlement. Under the settlement, they continued to possess about thirty thousand (30000) kanals, equivalent to convert|7500|acre|km2 of lands between Richhbehn (Abbottabad) and Bahali (Mansehra).
Sultan Qyas-ud-din, son of Raja Habib Khan,continued to live in Sherwan, struggling against successive Tanolis attacks and controlling areas between Sherwan to Mangal including Behali. This was an era of turmoil for the Turks and they continuously struggled against Tanolis and then Sikhs till 1817.
Raja Anayat Khan, son of Raja Habib Khan, also continued the struggle. He could not sustain Tanolis attacks and left Sherwan. He had been shuttling between Behali and Richhbehn, keeping his permanent centre at Kakot. The grave of Raja Anayat Khan is in Kakot. During his rule, the Turks constructed a fort between Kakot and Mochikot, called the Mochikot fort. This fort proved to be a very strong place of resistance for Turks because of its brilliant location. It was on a hilltop which was surrounded by water (Mangal) on three sides. To the south was a narrow path which barely allowed passage of only one horse at a time. Presently, only one wall of the MOchikot fort still exists. The Turks kept shifting from Kakot to Fort of Mochikot off and on, during attacks from adversaries.
Rehabilitation
Raja Asalat Khan was the first person who settled in Behali in around 1795. However, the Turks were dislodged from Behali by Sikhs in 1817. These Behali Turks migrated to Kashmir and stayed with their relatives in Thangar Shawai Turkan. After General Hari Singh Nalwa invited them back to resettle in Behali, they finally returned around one and a half years later. Disputes developed again with the Sikhs and the Behali Turks took asylum in the Mochikot fort. Raja Asalat Khan passed his last days in Richhbehn. He is buried in Sohlan Bala near Kot-reen graveyard.
Raja Asalat Khan had seven sons. Raja Ikhtiar Khan, Raja Zulfiqar Khan, Raja Mahal Khan, Raja Paras Khan, Raja Malak Khan, Raja Maazullah Khan and Raja Muttawalli Khan. Raja Ikhtiar Khan settled in Hassan Abdal. Raja Zulfiqar Khan in Richbehn. It may be clarified that in Richhbehn two branches of Turks reside. Later on Raja Sher Khan, the grand son of Raja Paras Khan, settled in Richhbehn. The descendants of Raja Sher Khan played a pivotal role in the area. Due to unknown reasons, the descendants of Raja Zulfiqar Khan were deprived of their possessions and did not influence the events in the area.
Raja Paras Khan, with the help of his brother Raja Maazullah Khan (both sons of Raja Asalat Khan), established control over the jageer on strong footing and started residing permanently in Behali. Sikh rule was generally miserable for the Turks of Behali. Turks of Behali joined British forces to overthrow Sikhs like all tribes of Hazara. Their valour and bravery was acknowledged by General Abbott—then Major Abbott and deputy commissioner of Hazara—in his letters addressed to Raja Mohibullah Khan, son of Raja Paras Khan, and to Raja Ghulam Khan, son of Raja Mohibbullah Khan. Raja Maazulla Khan was murdered under mysterious conditions. His dead body, tied to the horse, was brought back to Behali by his horse. Raja Paras Khan was now alone to fight against adversaries. He rose to prominence and succeeded in regaining his lost authority and finally the Turks got permanent control in a sizeable area between Behali and Richhbehn (about 24 villages, or 45 thousand kanals). Areas between Richhbehn and Behali remained in the control of these Turks till the creation of Pakistan.
Khaksar Movement and Turks
In the 1930s, all Turks of Behali joined Allama Inayatullah Khan Mashraqi's Khaksar movement.They actively participated in the Khaksar movement until the creation of Pakistan, and even after that for quite a long time.
Establishment of Modern Schooling
The Turks of Bahali helped the British in the establishment of a school at Behali in 1872. This was the era when Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was trying to covince Indian Muslims to get an education. The Primary School in Bahali was amongst a first few schools established by Britishers in Hazara. Among all these schools, Bahali was the only one which was established on the request of the Rajas of Bahali. The other schools were established due to government initiatives.
Current Status
From 1947 onward, either due to land reforms introduced by Khan Abdul Qayum Khan, then-Chief Minister NWFP, or due to selling out of lands on large scale, they lost a major portion of jageer between Richhbehn and Bahali. Particularly, Rajas of Richhbehn ruthlessly plundered the hard-earned ancestral land in a very short span of time and sold out their property, so much so that they did not spare their houses even. The same was done by Raja Dilawer Bahadur Jang Shahzada Khan, of Behali, who lived a prince life, but sold out all his property within a few years. However, the Turks of Behali are still in possession of about thirteen thousand kanals of land.
The Other sons of Raja Asalat were issueless. Raja Paras Khan had four sons. Raja Nadir Khan, Raja Saadullah Khan ,Raja Mohibbullah Khan and Raja Mir Ahmad Khan. Raja Nadir's son Raja Sher khan shifted to Richhbehn and others stayed at Behali. A comfortable period started for Turks. They held a sizable land and their influence in the area grew with the passage of time.
Karlugh Turk Settlements
The descendants of the Karlugh Turks continue to live in the Hazara area of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, mostly in the mountainous regions. They had continued to maintain a very secluded and exclusive lifestyle until the late 19th and early 20th century. According to the Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 13, p. 79, published in 1909, some 2000 persons returned themselves as Turks, descendants of the Turkomans who came with Timur in 1398. It is more probable, given the fact that most Turk villages were in the inaccessible mountainous regions at the time of 1901 census, that the actual number could be as high as around 10,000.
Currently, some of the main Karlugh Turkish villages in Hazara Division are Manakrai and Bayan in Haripur District, Behali and Mohar in Mansehra District and RichhBehn in Abbottabad District.
Haji Raja Qalander khan migrated to a nearby village known as Rehar. A small family of Turks resides in this village.They also enjoy respect and influence in local politics.
Language
Currently, the Karlugh Turks speak local languages such as Hindko, Pushto and Urdu rather than Turki. Accounts of original descendants speaking Turki are abundant but considering the presence of Karlugh Turks in sub-continent since 1400 A.D., the loss of Turki language could be potentially reasoned due to similar causes as those associated with the eventual replacement of Turki with Persian and eventually with other local languages as the prominent language in Mughal court and empire.
Prominent Karlugh Turks
* Sultan Shahab-ud-Din - Founder of Pakhli Sarkar
* Sultan Mehmud Khurd - Last Ruler of Pakhli Sarkar
* Raja Paras khan who re-established his jagir in Behali
* Raja Aman-ullah-Khan -former Speaker NWFP Assembly.
* Raja Inayat Khan of Manakrai who rehabilitated Turks in Manakrai.
References
* Imperial Gazetteer of India, volume 13
* Ain-e-Akbari
* Tareekh e Farishta
* Tareekh e Hazara by Raja Irshad
* Bahali aur Turk by Raja Muhammed.
Edited by Rashid Khan.....
پکھلی ، پکھل ترک امیر در عہد تیمور
Based on the provided pages from Frontier Archaeology (Volume 5, 2007, Published in 2015), here is a clear, structured summary of the core historical facts regarding the Pakhli State and its Turk rulers:
Executive Summary: The Pakhli State
The Pakhli state was built and ruled by the Karlugh (Qarluq) Turks from AD 1480 to 1713.
Capital City: Guli Bagh, located approximately 23 km northwest of modern-day Mansehra city, Pakistan. Today, it remains a living town, though the original capital exists only in ruins and dilapidated monuments.
Geographical Scope: Historically situated between the territories of the Yousaf Zai (Yousafzai) and Kashmir. According to Abu al-Fazl (Ain-i-Akbari), it comprised the hill territory between Kashmir to the east and the Indus River to the west, including the lower Kishanganga valley.
Strategic Importance: It commanded one of the most vital ancient trade routes connecting China and Central Asia with Taxila and the Indo-Gangetic plain.
Historical Timeline and Key Eras
1. The Timurid Foundation (1398–1399)
Following his invasion of Hindustan, Amir Timur (Tamerlane) stationed a "ming"—a military unit comprising 1,000 Karlugh Turk soldiers—in the region to protect the strategic Pakhli route.
This marked the beginning of Turkic political dominance in the area. Initially, Pakhli was treated as a constituent territory managed under a Timurid prince stationed in Kabul.
Before Timur's era, ancient historians referred to different parts of this region by names such as Urasha, Abisarez, and Balmaikwesh.
2. Establishment of Independence (AD 1490)
During a Timurid civil war in 1490, Babur Mirza (the grandson of Abu Said Sultan and a first cousin of the Mughal emperor Zahir ad-Din Babur) established an independent Turkic rule in the region.
He officially declared Guli Bagh as his capital city.
3. The Mughal Connection & Identity
The text highlights the close lineage and distinct identity of these rulers relative to the Mughals:
Lineage: The Mughal Emperor Babur and Babur Mirza (Sultan of Pakhli) were first cousins.
Both trace their ancestry back to Amir Timur: Miran Shah (son of Timur) was the grandfather of Abu Sa'eed, who had nine sons. One of those sons, Umar Shaikh, fathered Emperor Babur, while another son fathered Babur Mirza.
Ethnic Identity: The text notes that while the "Mughals" were Persianized descendants of Mongols who intermixed with Turks in Central Asia, Emperor Babur himself preferred the identity of his Turkic heritage, rejecting the traditional Mongol designation.
ریاستِ پکھلی کے ترک حکمران، مانسہرہ، پاکستان
فاضل محمد اور شاکر اللہ
خلاصہ (Abstract)
ریاستِ پکھلی کو ترکوں (Karlugh/Qarluq Turks) نے تعمیر کیا اور اس پر حکومت کی (1480ء - 1713ء)۔ اس کا دارالحکومت 'گلی باغ' تھا، جو موجودہ شہر مانسہرہ سے تقریباً 23 کلومیٹر شمال مغرب میں واقع ایک آباد قصبہ ہے (شکل: 1)۔ دارالحکومت کے باقیات اب صرف کھنڈرات اور چند کھڑی عمارتوں کی صورت میں انتہائی خستہ حال حالت میں نظر آتے ہیں، جو اس ریاست کے قوانین سے وابستہ ہیں اور اس ریاست کے سنہرے دور کی یاد دلاتے ہیں۔ ترک خاندان کے کچھ خاندان اب بھی پرانی ریاستِ پکھلی میں ہر طرف بکھرے ہوئے رہ رہے ہیں۔ اس سے قبل اس کم معروف ریاست اور اس کے دارالحکومت کے باقیات کے مختلف پہلوؤں پر کچھ کام ہو چکا ہے۔ اس مقالے میں اس بھولی بسری ریاست کے ترک حکمرانوں کی تاریخ کو ازسرِنو مرتب کرنے کی کوشش کی گئی ہے، جہاں ایک طویل عرصے تک حکومت قائم رہی اور 'گلی باغ' ان کا دارالحکومت تھا۔
تعارف (Introduction)
قدیم ریاستِ پکھلی (یوسف زئی کے علاقے اور کشمیر کے درمیان) ایک انتہائی اہم قدیم ترین راستے پر تسلط رکھتی تھی جس نے چین اور وسطی ایشیا کو ٹیکسلا اور ہند-گنگا کے میدان (Indo-Gangetic plain) سے جوڑا تھا (شکل: 1)۔ چنانچہ یہ طویل عرصے سے ثقافتی سرگرمیوں کا مرکز رہی ہے۔ عہدِ وسطیٰ (Medieval period) میں یہ ریاست 'پکھلی' کے نام سے جانی جاتی ہے۔ مغل شہنشاہ اکبرِ اعظم کے مشہور مؤرخ ابوالفضل نے اس کی تعریف اس طرح کی ہے کہ یہ مشرق میں کشمیر اور مغرب میں دریائے سندھ کے درمیان کا تمام پہاڑی علاقہ ہے (ملاحظہ ہو: آئینِ اکبری، جلد دوم، صفحات 390 وغیرہ)۔ پکھلی میں کشن گنگا کی زیریں وادی اور ان ندی نالوں کی وادی بھی شامل تھی جو کاج ناگ (Kajnag) کے پہاڑی سلسلے اور مناسب کشمیر (Kashmir proper) کے شمال مغرب میں واقع پہاڑوں سے نکل کر اس میں گرتے ہیں۔
پکھال پر تیمور کا حملہ (Timur Invasion at Pakhal)
1398-99ء میں ہندوستان پر اپنے حملے کے بعد، امیر تیمور نے پکھلی کے تحفظ کے لیے قارلوق ترکوں (Qarluq Turks) پر مشتمل ایک ہزار سپاہیوں کا ایک دستہ ("منگ" - ming) تعینات کیا۔ اس واقعے نے ہندوستان میں تیموری سلطنت کے دورِ حکومت کے آغاز کو نشان زد کیا۔ اس دورِ حکومت کے آغاز میں، پکھلی کو کابل میں مقیم ایک تیموری شہزادے کے زیرِ انتظام ایک جزو (constituent part) سمجھا جاتا تھا۔ 1490ء میں خانہ جنگی کے دوران، ابو سعید سلطان کا پوتا اور ظہیر الدین بابر کا چچا زاد بھائی، جو شہاب الدین بابر کے نام سے جانا جاتا تھا، پکھلی میں نمودار ہوا اور خطے میں ایک آزاد ترک حکومت کا آغاز کیا؛ گلی باغ کو اس کا دارالحکومت قرار دیا گیا (رحمان 1987:143)۔ پکھال دراصل ایک ترک بادشاہ کا نام تھا جس کا ذکر اکثر مؤرخین کرتے ہیں (داس 1964:159)۔ امیر تیمور سے پہلے پکھلی کے مختلف حصے اوراشا (Urasha)، ابیساریز (Abisarez) اور بالمائیکویش (Balmaikwesh) کے ناموں سے جانے جاتے تھے (خان 1975: 218)۔
دہلی کے مغل اور پکھلی کے حکمران (Mughal of Delhi and Rulers of Pakhli)
مغل، اصل میں منگولیا کے باشندے یعنی منگول تھے جن کی زبان اور ثقافت پر فارسی اثرات غالب تھے (Persianized)۔ وسطی ایشیا میں وہ ترکوں کے ساتھ اس حد تک گھل مل گئے کہ ان دونوں کو ایک دوسرے سے الگ کرنا مشکل ہے۔ بابر خود مغل نسل سے بیزار تھا اور انہیں "ہر قسم کی شرارت اور تباہی کا بانی" کہتا تھا، اور ہمیشہ اپنے لوگوں کو "ترک" پکارتا تھا (پول 1892: X)۔ بابر مرزا، جو پکھلی کا پہلا ترک حکمران تھا، اور اس کا چچا زاد بھائی ظہیر الدین بابر، جو ہندوستان میں مغل سلطنت کا بانی تھا، وسطی ایشیا کے مشہور ترک حکمران امیر تیمور کی پانچویں نسل (descendants) میں سے کہے جاتے ہیں۔ نول کشور کی تاریخِ فرشتہ (1886ء) کے مطابق، امیر تیمور کا بیٹا میران شاہ، ابو سعید کا دادا تھا، جس کے نو بیٹے تھے۔ ان میں سے ایک 'عمر شیخ' ظہیر الدین بابر کا والد تھا، جو ہندوستان میں مغل سلطنت کا بانی تھا، جبکہ دوسرا بیٹا 'عمر مرزا' بابر مرزا کا والد تھا (پول 1892: 4؛ خان 1976: 9، 371)۔ چنانچہ یہ بات واضح ہے کہ مغل حکمران ظہیر الدین بابر اور پکھلی کا سلطان بابر مرزا، دونوں آپس میں سگے چچا زاد بھائی تھے۔
