Chamkani (Pashtun tribe)

The Chamkani (څمکني tsamkanī), is a sub-tribe of Ghoryakhel Pashtuns. According to Muhammad Hayat Khan, author of Hayat-i-Afghani (Afghanistan and its Inhabitants) Chamkani are descendants of Ibrahim Ghoria. They are also related to Mohmand, Daudzai and Khalil through their Sarbani descent.

Origin
Originally from Spīn Ghar, the tribe moved out to Waziristan in the fourteenth century after tribal disputes with the related tribes. They allied themselves with the Khattak tribe, who were inhabited in Waziristan. The Chamkani people continued to live in Waziristan when the Khattaks relocated to the districts of Karak and Kohat. Chamkani then relocated to Kurrum Valley. The tribe then moved to northern slopes of Mount Sikaram, where their neighbours were Afridis to the east, Orakzai on the east and south-east, Turis on the west and south-west and Shinwari on the north at Spīn Ghar.

Distribution
They are mainly based in Tsamkani District, Paktia Province, Afghanistan and Peshawar District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

History
They took part in the frontier battles 1897, and during the Tirah campaign of that year a brigade under General Gaselee was sent to punish them.

Notables

 * Shoukat Aziz, a Pakistani human rights activist who abolished the British Colonial era Frontier Crimes Regulation and co-founded the FATA Youth Organization


 * Haji Mohammad Tsamkani, Acting President of Afghanistan (1986-1987)