Originally Posted by Haris
I'm not surprised. They have a record for being fit & hardy people.
They were the most effective non-Pashtun force against the British invaders in the 1800s and are recorded to have fought alongside the Wardags numerous times to repel the British from Kabul in 1880.
I am sure that they were active participants in the Soviet war too.
Although your intention is perhaps noble, I have to correct you.
The only time Wardaks would've fought alongside Kohistani and Koh Damani would be in Kabul city, when there was local Kabuli uprisings against British, and people from the villages north and south of Kabul felt the need to intrude on Kabul. Otherwise, I have seen no record of Kohistani/Koh Damanis, fighting along side, or under or over Wardaks.
During the first two British Wars, when the British COULD NOT move an inch north of Kabul, Shomali Region (North Kabul, Parwan, Kapisa, Panjshir, South Baghlan) was categorized either as Kohistan (mountain lands) or Koh Daman (valleys). Kohistan of today refers to one Tajik district of Kapisa Province. The fighting that ensued in Kohistan and Koh Daman during the first two British wars and stories of the handsome defeat of the British by these Kohistanis and Kodamanis is well documented in the British archives and orally amongst the locals of Kohistan/Koh Daman and Kabul. It was however not recognized or thought in schools in "Afghanistan" until very late 20th century due to the apartheid Pashtunist system.
Today, the highest medal that "Afghanistan" can give is named after one of those British War KohDamani Tajiks, Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan Koh Damani. The second highest military medal (first being Ahmad Shah Massoud Medal) is named after a Kohistani Tajik, Mir Masjeedi Khan Kohistani.
Also, majority of people with surnames Kohistani today are from the district of Kohistan or Koh Band or settled Kabulis with grand parents and ancestors come from the old mountain areas of Shomali. Tahmina is a Tajik from the district of Kohistan in Kapisa, her father, Jawed Kohistani is a renowned and respected TOLO TV political analyst, who is one of those former fighters against Soviets of Ahmad Shah Massoud. Nesar Ahmad Bahawi, a strong gold medal chance in Taekwondo, world champion, flag bearer at opening ceremony is also a Kohistani/Tajik.