afghanistan
Nur al-Mashayekh’s fatwa was doubtless issued on the assumption
that, since Gardez was in Nadir Khan’s hands, the fall of Kabul was just a
matter of time, so Nadir Khan’s subsequent defeat and flight undermined
the plan. Nadir Khan’s relations with the Sulaiman Khel also suffered a blow
when General Muhammad Siddiq, who commanded the Kalakanid army
sent against Gardez, was wounded and was given asylum by ‘Asmat Allah
Khan of the Jabbar Khel. Nadir Khan demanded the rebel be handed over,
but the Jabbar Khel chief refused. This led to an exchange of insults and an
armed clash in which ‘Asmat Allah Khan was captured. Nadir Khan then
had further setbacks with the defeat of Shah Mahmud and Muhammad
Gul Khan Mohmand at Shewaki and the failure of Muhammad Hashim
Khan to persuade the Shinwaris in Nangahar to join his campaign.
As winter was approaching, Nadir Khan decided to risk one last
attempt to take Kabul and sent envoys into northern Waziristan to recruit
more tribal levies, ignoring British protests and threats to bomb his camp.
Shewaki, in the lower
Logar valley, scene
of the battle between
Habib Allah Kalakani
and Shah Mahmud
Khan. The area is
also famous for its
Buddhist heritage,
in particular a series
of three tower-like
structures, possibly
way markers for
pilgrims. The
37-m-high Minar-i
Chakari shown here
was the only one still
standing in 1977. It
too fell down, or was
blown up, during the
Taliban era.