KARACHI: Residents of the historic Ranikot Fort in Pakistan’s Sindh province have told the same stories to their children for centuries — that the mountains surrounding the citadel are home to fairies who descend from the skies to drink water from a pool – known as “Paryun Jo Tar” (fairies’ pond) in the wee hours of the day.
So popular is the myth that it is narrated in great detail by all the families — hailing from the Gabol, Khosa, and Rustamani tribes — who live in the Ranikot Fort area which, according to some accounts, was used by Cyrus the Great as his military garrisons.
“Once upon a time, an elder of the Gabol tribe noticed that some exceptionally beautiful creatures came down from the mountains at the break of dawn, drank water, and flew right back into the highlands,” Syed Gayoor Abbas, an official of the culture department who mans the Fort, told Arab News on Wednesday, adding that the pond in the area got its name after the incident.
The huge fort, with a circumference of approximately 32 kilometers, 36 watchtowers, two fortresses, and a gushing spring, connects several mountains of the Kirthar range, the official said, adding that: “The history of this fort has always been a mystery. There are several different and contending narrations.”
“It is built of sandstones and limestones,” he continued, “which have been held together by lime and gypsum plaster that has, with a passage of time, made the structure much harder.”
The fort has four gates: the Sann Gate is the main road entrance; the Shah Per Gate; Amri Gate; and Mohan Gate that faces the famous Mohenjo-Daro historical sites.
The Mirikot fortress, located in the heart of Ranikot, was apparently designed as the administrative center and royal residence, Abbas said, adding that the other small fortress was called Sher Garh, which was built in the mountains.
Its periphery, he added, measured 1,434 feet, with five bastions and a double gate entrance. The stronghold has two arched vaults of sandstone containing gorgeous carvings with a scroll of pomegranates, sunflowers, and peacocks. The fortress was divided into six areas, including three with residential portions that have seven rooms with slanting roofs. “The three flat-roof rooms belong to the British period,” he said.
Residents of Sindh’s Ranikot Fort hang on tight to their fairytale and military might
Residents of Sindh’s Ranikot Fort hang on tight to their fairytale and military might
- Huge structure has 36 watchtowers and two fortresses
- 12 km long surrounding wall is often referred to as “The Great Wall of Sindh”
Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir in spotlight over Trump’s Gaza plan
- Sources say Munir is expected to visit Washington in the coming weeks for talks with the US president on Gaza
- Any Pakistani troop role in Gaza could trigger backlash from pro-Palestine, anti-US groups at home, analysts say
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s most powerful military chief in decades faces the toughest test of his newly amassed powers as Washington pushes Islamabad to contribute troops to the Gaza stabilization force, a move analysts say could spark domestic backlash.
Field Marshal Asim Munir is expected to fly to Washington to meet President Donald Trump in the coming weeks for a third meeting in six months that will likely focus on the Gaza force, two sources told Reuters, one of them a key player in the general’s economic diplomacy.
Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan calls for a force from Muslim nations to oversee a transition period for reconstruction and economic recovery in the war-torn Palestinian territory, decimated by over two years of Israeli military bombardment.
Many countries are wary of the mission to demilitarize Hamas in Gaza, which could drag them into the conflict and enrage their pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli populations.
But Munir has built a close relationship with the mercurial Trump to repair years of mistrust between Washington and Islamabad. In June, he was rewarded with a White House lunch — the first time a US president hosted Pakistan’s army chief alone, without civilian officials.
“Not contributing (to the Gaza stabilization force) could annoy Trump, which is no small matter for a Pakistani state that appears quite keen to remain in his good graces — in great part to secure US investment and security aid,” said Michael Kugelman, Senior Fellow, South Asia at Washington-based Atlantic Council.
‘PRESSURE TO DELIVER’
Pakistan, the world’s only Muslim country with nuclear weapons, has a battle-hardened military having gone to war with arch-rival India three times and a brief conflict this summer. It has also tackled insurgencies in its far-flung regions and is currently embroiled in a bruising war with militants who it says are operating from Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s military strength means “there is a greater pressure on Munir to deliver his capacity,” said author and defense analyst Ayesha Siddiqa.
Pakistan’s military, foreign office and information ministry did not respond to questions from Reuters. The White House also did not respond to a request for a comment.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said last month that Islamabad could consider contributing troops for peacekeeping but disarming Hamas “is not our job.”
UNPRECEDENTED POWER
Munir was earlier this month anointed chief of the defense forces to head the air force and navy as well, with a job extension until 2030.
He will retain his field marshal title forever, as well as enjoy lifetime immunity from any criminal prosecution under the constitutional amendments that Pakistan’s civilian government pushed through parliament late last month.
“Few people in Pakistan enjoy the luxury of being able to take risks more than Munir. He has unbridled power, now constitutionally protected,” Kugelman added.
“Ultimately, it will be Munir’s rules, and his rules only.”
THE HOME FRONT RISK
Over the past few weeks, Munir has met military and civilian leaders from countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Jordan, Egypt and Qatar, according to the military’s statements, which Siddiqa said appeared to be consultations on the Gaza force.
But the big concern at home is that the involvement of Pakistan troops in Gaza under a US-backed plan could re-ignite protests from Pakistan’s religio-political parties that are deeply opposed to the US and Israel.
These parties have street power to mobilize thousands. A powerful and violent anti-Israel party that fights for upholding Pakistan’s ultra-strict blasphemy laws was banned in October.
Authorities arrested its leaders and over 1,500 supporters and seized its assets and bank accounts in an ongoing crackdown, officials said.
While Islamabad has outlawed the group, its ideology is still alive.
The party of former jailed premier, Imran Khan, whose supporters won the most seats in the 2024 national elections and has wide public support, also has an axe to grind against Munir.
Abdul Basit, Senior Associate Fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said if things escalated once the Gaza force was on the ground, it would cause problems quickly.
“People will say ‘Asim Munir is doing Israel’s bidding’ — it will be foolhardy of anyone not to see it coming.”
