INDIAN FRONTIER TROUBLE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 17779, 30 January 1920, Page 4

INDIAN FRONTIER TROUBLE.

The frontier trouble in India is dragging out a tedious course. Doubtless it found latterly most of its original inspiration in the Afghan rising. The present developments represent a sequel to the :eIcent fighting with the Waziris. The trouble in Waziristan began soon after the invasion of British territory by the Afghan army in May last. In June last the British were compelled to evacuate their advanced positions in the Waziri country, which were thereupon burned

or occupied by Mahsuds and Waziria, the British position being rendered the more difficult by the Afghan advance into Waziristan. At- 1 tacks on British convoys and raids to ( within a few miles of the Indus continuing without abatement, the Government of India at length decided to bring matters to an issue. Rep- | resentatives of the tribes were sum- i moned to a Jirgah, and informed of the terms on which their submission would be accepted. Failing submission punitive measures would be undertaken. The Jirgah with the , Mahsuds was held on November 3 , with much ceremony and the tribes- : men were given time to consider ' the terms. A distinction has to be : drawn between the Waziris and the Mahsuds. The latter are a branch of the Waziris., They occupy Southern W’aziristan, and are divided into three main clans, with an estimated total force of over 10,000 They are notorious as the boldest of robbers, and in the words of a Punjab Government report “are more worthily admired for the courage which they show in attack and in hand-to-hand fighting with the sword.” As the “Otago Daily Times,” in dealing with this subject, says: Few tribes on the frontier have given the British greater or more continuous trouble, and they seem quite disposed to go on living up to this reputation. The announcement of the unconditional surrender of the Waziris about the end of November was coupled with the information that the Mahsuds had rejected the British terms, and that punitive measures against them were in operation. The terms included an extension of the protected area, the right to build roads and establish postal facilities, the restoration of rifles and military stores taken since May, 1919, an undertaking of non-interference with the movement of troops and convoys in protected areas, a fine of £lOOO and the forfeiture of allowances pending good behaviour, the reconsideration of the amount of guarantee to be paid, and the deposit of 200 rifles. The terms, no doubt eminently just, would on that account not appeal to the Mahsuds as less than extremely severe. In their obduracy the tribesmen have probably received encouragement from the pernicious propaganda spread by the Afghan Shah Doula, who, till recently, at all events, was still with Afghan irregulars in the neighbourhood of Wana in Waziristan. At an earlier date the report was circulated that the Amir had secured an amnesty for the Mahsuds and that there was a prospect of the Mahsud country being handed over to the Amir. Subsequent events have shown this to be entirely without foundation. It is evident from the latest messages that upon the prompt success of the present punitive expedition depends the early pacification of the whole of Waziristan, and the fulfilment of the British terms by the whole of the tribesmen.