File 1323/1916 Pt 1 ‘Baluchistan:- Disturbed conditions on the Anglo-Persian border. Future administration of Mekran, Sarhad & the Kalat States’ [‎320v] (638/896)

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on the frontier. These jirgas were held for some year^and proved a convenient
way pf settling 1 differences. In 1909 the Persian Governor was driven out of
Bam pur, and since then the Persian Government has ceased to exercise any
authority in Persian Baluchistan.
4. In about 1907 Bahram Khan, a petty Baranzai Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. , began to absorb
other Sardars, and finally set himself up in Bampur calling himself the King of
Baluchistan and Tiger of the World. By then all the numerous forts in
Persian Baluchistan were held by petty Baloch styling themselves Sardars,
They nearly all acknowledged Bahram Khan as a sort of ovexdord.
In 1915 , Bahram Khan invaded British Makran with 1,400 men and a
gun and unsuccessfully besieged the Makran Bevy Corps post at Mand, but
managed to loot the Kech valley as far as Tump. The Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. landed
at Pasni with 100 men, and Bahram Khan withdrew. By now German
agents were appearing in Persian Baluchistan and the Makran Mission was
sent to counteract German influence and, by peaceful means, to prevent 4he
Baranzais from again invading British Makran.
The Sarhad was occupied at the same time, and, Bahram Khan being
deprived of the support of the Damanis, proved amenable.
5. Bahram Khan died in August 1921 and was succeeded by his nephew,,
Dost Muhammad, whose father Ali Muhammad had no wish to assume the
Chiefship.
6. In October 1921 a petty Baranzai, Brahim Khan of Irafshan, raided
Tump and murdered a Gichki Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. , Nadir Shah and his tw r o daughters, one
of whom w T as betrothed to the Jam of Lasbela, and got away with a consider
able amount of booty.
7. The Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. then went to Kech with two platoons of regulars
and held a jirga consisting of Kalat Sardars. The evidence was naturally
incomplete, as Brahim Khan was not brought before the jirga. It found
that certain young Gichkis, who had a long standing land dispute with Nadir
Shah, were guilty of complicity in the raid.
No reparation was exacted, and no steps bavs been taken against Brahim
Khan.
8. We have had to employ troops in Makran eight times in the last 25
years either owing to external causes or to causes closely connected with
frontier affairs. The employment of regulars at such a distance from a military
base is always extremely costly.
9. The most considerable figure in Makran external and internal affairs,
for the last 25 years has been Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Bahadur Mehrab Khan. He is the
younger half-brother of Sheh Umr the rightful Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. , and was the chief insti
gator of the rising of 1898. There is no doubt that this rising was a back wash
of the frontier risings of 1897 and was largely due to fanaticism. In spite of
the leading part Mehrab Khan took in the rising, the Nazim was allowed to
give him the premier position in Makran at the expense of the rightful Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
who had remained loyal. Bor some years he carefully consolidated his posi
tion. Any young man accused of adultery or of any crime of. violence was
sure of his support. His dominant position in the jirgas enabled him to secure
lenient treatment for likely adherents ; and be eitner paid their fines or went
security for them; To strengthen his position in Baluchistan he built up
n connection wutli the Kalat Sardars- by presents of slave girls and other accept
able commodities.
He also corresponded with the late Amir of Afghanistan^ the Nizam, the
Begum Courteous or formal title for (usually Muslim) women of elite status, especially of Turko-Mongol lineage. of Bhopal and many of the Chiefs of Bajputana and Bombay sending
them complimentary presents. With the Sardars of Persian Baluchistan he
was untiring in his efforts to acquire prestige. After the stoppage of the
frontier yovat jirgas Mehrab Khan was the sole agent employed by the Nazim
for dealing with the trans-border people.
When the Makran Mission was formed Mebrab Khan was sent with it as
Assistant for dealing with the trans-border Sardars. I pointed, out that this
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