Babrak Khan


Babrak Khan was an Afghan chieftain of the Zadran tribe of Pashtuns. He was the father of Sayyid Akbar Babrak and of Mazrak Zadran.
He died fighting rebels during the Khost rebellion (1924–1925).

Biography

Early life

Babrak Khan born in Almara. He was the son of Mazar Khan. Babrak spent most of his early life in poverty.

Chieftain

In 1898, Babrak had under him five companies of Zadran Khasadars, whom he maintained on a contract system with emir Abdur Rahman Khan, but these were subsequently disbanded and their place taken by regular troops. According to Ludwig Adamec, he took part in quelling the Khost rebellion of 1912, even though the Zadran tribe was fighting against the Afghan government, according to the Britannica Year book 1913. Zadrans burnt his tower in 1913. In 1917, he headed a deputation of leading Zadran Maliks which visited the Nazim of Khost with a view to making peace with the British. He also tried to restrain Zadrans from troubling the Tochi border.
In March 1919, Babrak left for Kabul with Sayyid Musa Shah Mandozai to offer allegiance to Amanullah Khan. In May, he despatched messengers to Miranshah and Sherani to summon Maliks. During the Third Anglo-Afghan War, he accompanied the Afghan Army as far as Matun and was said to have participated in Nadir Khan's attack on Thal. For his efforts in the war, he was promoted to honorary Brigadier and Naib Salar.

Death and succession

In the context of the Khost rebellion, on 22 October 1924, it was reported that Babrak Khan had "recently" died fighting rebels at the village of Bak. He was succeeded as chieftain by his son, Mazrak.