Passing It On
SHORT TALKS ON TRIBAL FIGHTING ON THE NORTH WEST FRONTIER OF INDIA
By GENERAL SIR ANDREW SKEEN,
K.C.B., K.C.I.E., C.M.G.
Introduction (continued)
The Afghan War of 1919 brought Skeen back to the Frontier again. Later, he also campaigned in Waziristan, the center of hostilities in what is now called FATA, or Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Later, he was in command of Peshawar District, India’s Southern Command, and was Chief of India’s General Staff by the time he left active service. After spending most of his military service in India, Andrew Skeen was very well qualified to lecture junior officers as they prepared for similar service.
His advice is pertinent today:
- “ The people differ less than do the parts they live in. I place the Mahsud highest as a fighter along with the Mahmund …. The Afridi probably comes in third – his blood feuds and sectional quarrels make him somewhat less ready to die.”
- “They have a great reputation for cunning….”
- “Their power of moving concealed is astounding, not only in moving from cover to cover, but in slipping from light to shadow, and background to background.”
- “And that beings me to the tribesman’s patience. These folk have nothing to do but to watch for an opportunity.”
- “They are equally clever with their minor ambushes, and are clever as can be with them. This is not surprising, for they have constant practice in their daily life in conditions where a mistake means death.”
- “You can easily outwit the Pathan if you set out to do it, because by setting traps instead of walking into them you take the initiative and keep him guessing.”
- One of the reasons why the Pathan has been so successful in the past and has such a reputation for cunning is that he has reckoned on our playing the soldier’s game, and has been right. Copy his game, and go one better, and he is done.”
Skeen provided excellent guidance for young soldiers preparing to deploy into a region where he much of a long career fighting Pashtun tribesmen.
David L. Phillips
May, 2009