Ishkoman

The Ishkoman valley lies in the north of Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and the Pamir corridor.

Political status

Administratively, Ishkoman valley constitutes a Tehsil of Ghizer District. It is located at a range of altitudes, from 7,000 to 12,000 feet (2,100 to 3,700 m). The valley consists of 20 villages, with a total population of 30,000 inhabitants. Three major languages are spoken here: Wakhi, Khowar and Shina.

History

Until 1972, the area was ruled by the Rajas. Since 1947, it has remained a disputed territory outside the mainstream of politics. However, later the local people got rid of the outside influences. Since then, the Ishkoman valley mostly remained in touch with Pakistan. It remained usually unnoticed and backward. But nature has been very generous in providing the Ishkoman valley with the wealth of beauty. Many people here, despite being deprived of the modern necessities of life, are not ready even to move from Ishkoman. The valley is compassed by the snow-capped peaks and Rocky Mountains. Crystal streams flow here, greatly contributing to the Indus River. There are orchards in Ishkoman. Also, it offers a heritage of cultures of the world. The valley is famous in assuaging the quench of trekking and hiking. A lot of tourists yearly move to Ishkoman valley, as it is a place of great tranquility.

Ishkoman valley is situated at a distance of almost 140 kilometres (90 mi) from the Gilgit city, requiring 4 hours of travel. Ishkoman is a settlement that used to be governed by Yasini Mehtars and Rajas. It was separated from Yasin during 1889, before it was ruled by the Puniali Rajas for several years. Later on, it was again added to Yasin dynasty.

In 1888, the Mehtar of Chitral annexed the valley, and it remained under the rule of the Katoor Dynasty until 1895. After this, British Gilgit Agency made it as a province and sustained Mir Ali Mar Shah as governor. Mir Ali Mardan Shah was a former ruler in Afghan Wakhan corridor, who later migrated into Chitral and made kinship with the royal family. The ruling family of Chitral granted him Ishkoman valley as gift to her son-in-law. Mir Ali Mardan Shah ruled this valley till 1924. He died in Chilpi village, while he was going to a meeting at Gilgit.

After death, Mr. Mir Baz Khan was assigned a governor of this valley. He was a retired Subidar in the British Army. He gave his services for more than 10 years, from 1924 to 1934. He had been transferred to Yasin valley as governor. Mr. Hussain Ali Khan was sent to this valley as new governor for Ishkoman. He ruled for four years, from 1934 to 1938. Sultan Murad Khan (Khuswaqt) came here as new governor. He ruled on this valley from 1938 to 1951, while Pakistan came into being as new Muslim state in south Asia. This new Muslim state accommodates many areas as its new territories.

The people of Gilgit Baltistan fought against the Dogra Raj and got rid of them. Since then, Ishkoman has also been part of this war. So that after freedom from British rulers, the surrounding areas of Gilgit Baltistan enjoyed freedom, but Ishkoman still has an unfortunate story. The FCR (Frontier crime rules) continued in this area, and Mr. Sultan Ghazi Khan was assigned as raja of this area until 1972. Mr. Zullfiqar Ali butto hang up this system and dismissed FCR from this region. After this, the people gained freedom in Gilgit-Baltistan as others live in. Chator Khand is its capital, and Ishkoman has good opportunities of tourism. Its has rich natural pastures in different valleys and have best passes to other region. The main villages of this valley are:

1. Chator khand(Capital Of Ishkoman)
2. Dain
3. Pakora
4. Barjangle
5. Immit

  Ishkoman Proper

1. Moninabad
2. Dawoodabad
3. Faiz Abad
4. Jalalabad
5. Kot
6. Gotalti
7. Koramber
8. Dalti

Geography

Ishkoman is a high mountain valley in the Hindukush and Karakorum mountains, in the northwest region of Gilgit in the Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan. Ishkoman is connected to the Yasin Valley and Chipursan (in Gojal Hunza) valley by a high mountain pass.

The ownership of Ishkoman has changed hands several times over the years. It has been under the rule of the Mehtar of Chitral, the Maharaja of Kashmir, or the Raja of Punyal at different times in the past. Although sparsely populated, Ishkoman was important because it leads to a high mountain pass, to Yarkhun in Chitral, and then to Broghol Pass, the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan, and into Tajikistan. During British rule, the government was concerned that Ishkoman could have formed an invasion route from Czarist Russia into India.

Language

The primary language of Ishkoman area is the Khowar language. The Wakhi language, Burushaski language and the Shina language are also spoken. Burushaski language is spoken in Barjungle. Most of the people living in Barjungle have migrated from various villages of Hunza Valley. While Khowar is spoken in the southern villages of Ishkoman, the Wakhi language, which is also spoken in Gojal Hunza, is spoken in northern Ishkoman.

Demographics

With the arrival of Tajik's from neighbouring Tajikistan, a sizeable number of the population speaks Tajik as well. They have migrated mostly due to better economic conditions in Pakistan and have set up numerous shops and colonies in Ishkoman^{[citation needed]}.

Villages

The major villages in Ishkoman include Chatorkhand, Pakora, Barjungle, Immit, Iskoman, Gunjabad, Bilhanz and Borth.

• Chator khand( Capital Of Ishkoman Region)
• Dain
• Ameenabad
• Rahimabad
• Pakora
• Sholja
• Asumbar
• Shonas
• Shapirgoal
• Baarjangal
• Gishgish
• Imit
• Proper Ishkoman
• Bilhuns
• Borit

See also

• Northern Areas