The Charakhil represent a historic lineage whose original tribal identity gradually faded over the course of several centuries. According to preserved genealogies, tribal traditions, and oral historical accounts, the Charakhil trace their ancestry to the Mandal branch of the Utmankhel tribe, one of the prominent Pashtun tribe. Owing to repeated migrations, settlement in distant regions, and gradual assimilation into surrounding communities, many descendants eventually lost awareness of their ancestral tribal identity. Consequently, a significant number of them came to identify themselves, or were identified by neighboring communities, as Gujjars, despite the existence of a traditional genealogy linking them to the Utmankhel tribe.
The conflicts between the Yousafzai and Dilazak tribes constitute one of the most significant periods in the early history of the Pashtuns. According to long-standing tribal traditions, numerous families were displaced during these conflicts and migrated to different parts of present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is believed that the ancestors of the Charakhil were among those who migrated and eventually settled in the regions of Swat, Buner, Shangla, and surrounding areas. Over generations, their separation from their ancestral homeland resulted in the gradual disappearance of their historical memory and tribal affiliation.
According to the traditional genealogy preserved by tribal elders, the lineage of the Charakhil is as follows:
Utmankhel → Mandal → Kamil Khel → Sawari Khel → Charakhil
This genealogy establishes the Charakhil as direct descendants of the Mandal branch of the Utmankhel tribe, preserving an uninterrupted ancestral lineage through successive generations.
According to well-established tribal traditions, the Charakhil are believed to descend from Abdul Rahim, commonly known as Tor Baba. More specifically, the majority of tribal elders consider the Charakhil to be descendants of Islam Jan Baba. These traditions have been preserved through successive generations and continue to form an essential part of the collective historical identity of the Charakhil community.
It is equally important to distinguish between the original Charakhil lineage and certain families that became associated with the Charakhil community after their migration and settlement. According to tribal traditions, a number of Gujjar families settled alongside the original Charakhil and gradually became part of the local community. Within local usage, these families are commonly referred to as "Naray Charakhil" (Upper Charakhil) and "Chota Charakhil" (Lesser Charakhil).
Although these families have long identified themselves as Charakhil because of their close social association and shared residence with the original Charakhil community, tribal traditions generally distinguish them from the original Charakhil lineage. Local oral accounts maintain that these families are ethnically Gujjars, although their precise tribal affiliation within the Gujjar community has not been conclusively established.
Based on oral traditions preserved by tribal elders, it is considered more likely that these families may belong to the Jahra Khel, one of the recognized Gujjar clans. However, this remains a historical hypothesis based primarily on oral evidence and requires further documentary, genealogical, and historical research before any definitive conclusion can be reached.
The history of the Indian subcontinent demonstrates that many tribes gradually lost their original identities because of migration, political changes, and prolonged geographical separation. In many instances, communities were identified according to their occupation, place of residence, or neighboring tribes rather than their ancestral lineage. The Charakhil experienced a similar historical process, which explains why many descendants today identify themselves as Gujjars despite the preservation of an older genealogical tradition linking them to the Mandal branch of the Utmankhel tribe.
