Mardan once served as a base for British troops, who never managed to fully control the region's Pashtun tribes.

Swat lies just 30 miles to the north, with the main road to that troubled valley running straight through town.

Following this Sultan Sabuktagin, Mahmood Ghaznavi, Mohammad Ghori, Mughals until the time of Aurangzeb and Nadir Shah ruled the valley.

As of 1903 Mardan Cantonment in Peshawar District, North-West Frontier Province, was the permanent headquarters of the Queen's Own Corps of Guides.

The civil lines lay in the southern part of the cantonment on the Naushahra road, and contained the Assistant Commissioner's bungalow, courthouse, tahslll, Government dispensary, and other public offices.

He lived about 500 years ago and was one of the reliable friends of Sardar Malak Ahmad, a famous Yousafzai leader.

But he is famous because of the land allocation programme called "Veish" which he introduced in Peshawar, Mardan, Buner, Swat and other areas.

In 1857, the Guides formed part of the force that went from the Punjab to the aid of the British locked in a critical combat with Indian soldiers.

When the news of the outbreak reached Peshawar, a council of war was held and measures adopted to meet the situation.

The majority made good their escape across the Indus, only to perish after fearful privations at the hands of the hill-men of the Hazara border.