Bajaur

Bajaur is a mountain basin east of the Kunar valley and west of the hills of Swat. In ancient times it formed part of Gandhara and was the seat of the Apraca kingdom. A schist reliquary found in Bajaur bears witness to the Buddhist patronage of King Indravarman around the beginning of the Common Era. Before him, the Aspasioi of this country had resisted Alexander's army; later the region came under Kushan rule.

In 1518 Babur captured the fortress of Bajaur after its defenders resisted him. He ordered a massacre of the men and took women and children captive. Later in the century, Akbar sent Mughal armies against the Yusufzai of Bajaur and Swat. The campaign of 1585–1586 ended in defeat for the Mughals at the Malandari Pass.