Pakhli

Pakhli Sarkar was the only state in Mughal Empire which was exempted from any tax payments to Delhi.[10] During Akbar's era, Sultan Hussain Khan of Pakhli revolted against him on the basis that the Delhi Sultanate was interfering into Pakhli's internal affairs. Akbar defeated him, but restored him in his position later on.[10]

During the entire period of Mughal ascendancy in Indian sub-continent, Mughals acknowledged Karlughs as the rulers of Cis Indus Pakhli Sarkar. Sultan Maqarrab revolted against his own brother Sultan Mehmud Khurd, but was defeated by the Sultan due to intervention from the Delhi Sultanate [10] Karlugh Turks had by that time had weakened enough to be overthrown by Swatis who established their rule in the plains of Pakhli and mountains of Kaghan valley[11] These areas were then divided between Swati and Syeds. The region of Mansehra that previousl[y belonged to the Sum Elai-Mang was handed over to the Swati Khankhails[11] The Kaghan valley was given to the Syeds and Oghi was delivered to Ali Sheris Bala souri Khankhails and different Swati clans [12] [10] Swatis had old claim in Pakhli as it was conquered by their ancestor Jahangiri Sultan Pakhal of Nangrahar during Ghori times.[13] [14] [15]Jadoons from Swabi subjugated the Rash areas. Sultan Qyas-ud-din, younger brother of Sultan Mehmud, was the Waali (Governor) of what is now Tanawal. In Tanawal areas, Karlugh Turks retained their power for another 90 years[16] But were restricted to a small area of lower Tanawal from Sherwan (Abbottabad) to Behali (Mansehra).[11]

In the early nineteenth century, Pakhli formed part of the Kingdom of Kabul (modern day Afghanistan) and through it ran the high road connecting Kabul to Kashmir. In 1813, the Afghans lost the strategically placed Fort of Attock (on the left bank of the Indus) to the Sikhs under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The tribute due from the lower regions of Pakhli, formerly collected by the Afghan Governor of Attock, now became due to the Sikhs. In 1819, when the Sikhs wrested Kashmir from the Afghans, the tribute due from the upper reaches of Pakhli also became due to them. Numerous attempts to collect tribute from the lower parts of Hazara not only met with failure, but also the loss of prominent Sikh administrators and commanders.[17]

In 1822, Maharaja Ranjit Singh granted both Pakhli and Damtaur as a jagir to Hari Singh Nalwa as a reward for his remarkable success in the Kashmir mountains.[18] As soon as Hari Singh received Pakhli and Damtaur in jagir, he built the famous town of Haripur in the heart of the plains of Hazara.[19] This fortified township has grown over the last 175 years into the Haripur District (Pakistan). The ruins of several forts built by this indomitable Sikh general continue to dot the landscape of Pakhli, which continued as Hari Singh Nalwa's jagir till his death in 1837. It was after him that this entire region came to be known as Hazara.