Ranjeet Singh, Attock Fort and Durranies

_{The original article اٹک خورد was written by our honorable writer Mrs. Samana Zahra for our Urdu section, translation is being presented here}.

_{Aagha Jahangir Bukhari}

In April 1813, Fateh Khan Durrani marched towards Attock with 15,000 soldiers. Ranjit Singh dispatched his army from Burhan and a fierce battle took place between the two armies. Ranjit Singh’s army held back the Durrani army and did not allow them to advance till July 1813. In July, their stores ran out of food and the Durranies had to turn back. Attock Fort is said to be the main reason for Ranjit Singh’s superiority in this war. This fort is located in a location that has proved to be the biggest obstacle in the way of any invasion from the north.

Built in 1581, Attock Fort is another masterpiece of the Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar. The Attock fort was primarily built to control the downstream of the Indus River, but also in view of the adjacent threats from Afghanistan and Central Asia. That’s why Attock Fort has always played an important role in the security of the subcontinent. This fort can be seen from the Attock Bridge connecting Punjab province to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The characteristic of this bridge is that it is one of the few places in the world where two rivers of different colors meet together. The characteristic of this bridge is that it is one of the few places in the world where two rivers of different colors meet together. Rivers that reflect two different countries, languages, nations, cultures, traditions and history are the Kabul River and the Indus River. Attock Fort has four gates; Delhi Gate, Lahori Gate, Kabuli Gate and Mori Gate. Attock Fort is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its historical importance.

The area where Attock Fort is located is known as Attock Khurd. Attock Khurd is the last place of Punjab province and this semi-hilly area is very beautiful.  As Attock Bridge is important in connecting Punjab Province with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province by road, similarly both provinces are connected by rail via Attock Khurd Bridge. Adjusted to the bridge is the railway station of Attock Khurd. Although no train stops here, this station has become a place of entertainment. The train passes through the silent high mountains and the river Indus flowing quietly in their depths. The train enters a bridge adjacent to the station and then a tunnel, after exiting the tunnel, it can be seen once again, from where it takes another turn towards the northern regions and disappears from sight. The Attock Khurd bridge is a masterpiece of British engineering. This bridge was built in 1883, the stamp of which is still visible today. The bridge has two sections, the upper section containing the rail track and the lower section consisting of the road. Attock Khurd is the last northern region of Attock district.

District Attock has 6 Tehsils and 72 Union Councils. It is the only district of Punjab with which most districts share borders. The city has an imposing beauty that is no less than an asset to students of history. Famous people like Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi and Air Marshal Noor Khan belong to this region. The old name of the city of Attock was Campbellpur, named after a British officer. But even before, this area was called Attock. According to some historians, the river Indus passes through this area at Attock, after which the city was named Attock.