BackGround of N.W.F.P

The North West Frontier Province of Pakistan has played an outstanding role in the whole history of Indo-Pakistan due to its geographical position. The early historical record tells us that the whole Indus valley was dominated by the Iranians.
The Persia empire fell to Alexander the great, in 331 B.C in 327 BC he entered by way of N.W.F.P to lead his armies down into the Indus valley. He crossed the Indian frontier, fought with the inhabitants of the area and conquered the whole Indus valley. He established no firm government in the area, left himself Indian and entrusted the country to a vicegerent. After the death of Alexander, his vicegerent was driven by Mauryans in 317-305 BC. Asoka, the emperor of Mauryan dynasty made Budhism the dominion religion. After asoka death's death the Mauryans empire became weak and divided into pieces, but they still remained in power for about hundred years. The Greek king of Bactrians occupied Gandhara in 185 BC. They ruled the Indus valley for 88 years. Later on the territory of northwest India over-casted by a race of nomads, known as Kushan, whose date of rule is not exactly known. The Kushan dynasty was overthrown by the new and great power arisen in Persia, the Sasaanians in 230 AD. Sasaanians were flown by white huns from Gandhara (Peshawar valley) near 465 AD and establish a vast empire from Turikistan to Persia including the Kabul valley.
Islam came to the area of Pathans as a great emancipating and unifying force. There were two distinct streams of the Muslims invasions towards India. The earlier has resulted in the conquest of Khurasan in 655 AD. During the caliphate of Hazrat Usman (RA) the 2nd took place in 712 AD with the attack of Muhammad Bin Qasim, capturing Sind and Multan. But the religion of Islam actually prevailed in NWFP in 988 AD. Afterward when Sabuktagin the founder of Ghaznavies dynasty conquered the country up to Indus. His sun Muhammad Ghaznavi also retain the possession of his father's kingdom and promoted the Islamic religion.

In 1179, Muhammad Ghauri controlled Peshawar valley and after his death in 1206 the struggles of his successors continued until the raid of Mongols in 1398. At the close of 14th century, Afghanistan were firmly established and in 1451, Behlol Lodhi accession gave them a dominant position in the northern India.

In the beginning of 16th century Mughal-Afghan conflict commenced which resulted in capturing Indo Pakistan by the Mughals. However these conflict were continued till the fall of a Mughal Empire. In 1738 Nadir Shah of Persia defeated the Mughal governor of Kabul but allowed him as feudatory to retain that province. After the death of Nadir Shah his capable general Ahmad Shah became the ruler of Qandahar in 1745.He annexed the whole of NWFP to the Afghan dominion. After the death of Ahmad Shah his son Taimur Shah failed to maintain satiability of the state. The internal clash of power gave an opportunity to the local chieftains to divide the country in many parts. Seeing the internal differences of Pathans paved way for the Sikh encroachment over the NWFP in 1818. The Sikh were overthrown by British in 1849 and territory remained under their rule till 13 August 1947.