The Kakakhels are a prominent Syed clan of Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa. Their roots reach to Hazrat Ali bin Ismail bin Imame-Jafer Sadiq. Kakakhels are descendants of the Islamic Sufi (wali) Syed Kastir Gul (also known as Kaka Sahib), and Sheikh Rahamkar - a student of Sheikh Hazrat Akhun Adeen/Adyan Seljuki. The title of Rahamkar was given by Syed Abdul Wahab Akhun Panju Baba.
Kastir Gul was affectionately known as "Kakasahib", and his descendants are known as Kakakhels - meaning "the sons of Kakasahib". The clan originated in a small village known as "Kakasaib" in Nowshera District, Khayber Pukhtoonkhwa Province (formerly the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan), and then spread across the district.
The great warrior-poets of Pushtoons: Khushal Khan Khattak, Faqir Jameel Baig, Mirza Gul Sahib, Sheikh Babar Baba, Mian Gulu Baba, Ali Gul & Mali Gul, Nawab Saad Ullah Khan, Ghazi Khan & Hazrat Gee Baba of Attock were all devotees of Sheikh Rahamkar.
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The word "Kaka" can be loosely translated as "uncle", however in Pukhtoon tradition the word Kaka can be used to refer to any elder because in Pukhtoon tradition referring to an elder by their name is considered offensive. "Khel" in Pukhto means "from", "children" or "sons". Thus the world "Kakakhel" means the "Children of the Uncle". Among other names, Kakasaib was affectionately known as "Kaka" by everyone in the village. Hence the name Kakakhel was given to his descendents.
Kakahels were a little known clan before the late 13th century (because before they were known as the descendents of imam e qain (r.a) who ruled up to 13 years over mazandran (Iran). He was a preacher of fiqh zadia and his shrine is still in qain (iran) and he is known as imam e qain). This was because the number of Kakakhels had not reached the numerical threshold to be recognized beyond their immediate borders. In the late 19th and 20th century, Kakakhels started gaining prominence as their numbers grew and also because they were one of the first people in Pakistan to acquire modern education. The education in addition to their righteous nature gave them a highly esteemed position in Pukhtoon society. They were often called upon by the waring tribes as moderators and arbitrator in order to settle long standing disputes and blood feuds.
Kakakhels were in the forefront in the fight against Sikhs. A number of them took arms and joined fellow Pukhtoons in order save their homeland from an invading army.
During the British Raj, Kakakhels made a number of contributions to society. They proved to be highly competent civil contractors, soldiers, diplomats and police officers.
Kakakhels played a major role in independence movements. A great many Islamic scholars with expert knowledge in Shariah were Kakakhels. Today there are many great Islamic Scholars among Kakakhels. In addition, there are a large number of Kakakhel engineers, doctors, agricultural-specialists, professors, advocates, barristers. Others in fields such as art, literature, and the military forces of Pakistan present their talents.
Kakakhels have served their mother language "Pashto" more than any other tribe in Pustoon culture. They were also interested in Persian language about 70–80 years before but they had more passion for Pashtoo. In every age there is a writer or poet in "Pashtoo" literature from Kakakhels. In the beginning of the 20th century all the writers of Kaka sahib formed a union called "Milliah Rehamkaria". This union donated a library, which contained about 4000 books, daily newspapers and weekly magazines. A pashtoo dictionary with 45,000 words and proverbs, their translations and summary was also compiled and published by a Kakakhel writer, "Mian Bahadur Shah Zafar".
The largest concentration of Kakakhels is still in the birthplace of Kakaksaib, in the small village of Ziarat Kakasahib and also nearby villages including Guldheri, and Manahi in Nowshera District, Pakistan. The Kakakhel tribe is spread across Nowshera District due to their habit of migration. At one time the village Ziarat KaKa Sahib was a hard place to live, due to a lack of facilities and trade. There is now a significant population of Kakakhels in Abazai,Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Shabqadar, Sherpao, Nowshera, Akora Khattak, and Charsada Districts.
In the early 1900s Kakakhels reached as far as German East Africa (Tanzania) where Mian Ashraf-ud Din (Syed Abbas) established his businesses and family during the 20th Century on the African continent. Further, immigration to foreign countries such as the US, UK and Canada is also on the rise. There is also a significant figure of kakakhel in malakand agency.
The occupation of Kakakhels is dependent upon the land they inhabit. Historically, most Kakakhels living in Ziarat Kakasaib were politicians, traders, contractors and businessmen. In the recent past a strong trend of working for the government had emerged, with a number of prominent army officers and civil bureaucrats making notable contributions to Pakistan. The current trend however is changing with a large number of young people opting to work for multinationals and private firms both locally or in foreign countries.
Those living in Charsada ( village Abazai) and ( Village Joro Farms ) Swabi District historically were large landowners with agriculture as their mainstay.Mian Wajid Ul Haq Kakakhel of Joro Farms sudher one of the large landowners died on 5th of Feb 1988.He was known for his pukhtoonwali, hospitality and great moral values. In recent years, the trend is to maintain both land ownership and join government service. This trend is due to the fact that many of the large land holdings have now been subdivided into smaller parcels with insufficient revenues. In addition, government service brings great respect and is considered a status symbol by many in Pakistan, which is the reason even financially independent land owners work in government service. Beside this, a number of kakakhels are living in Gilgit and distt Ghizer. Wali Muhammad Kakakhel who's decendents are living in Moninabad Yasin Distt Ghizer was one of the brave worior with Raja Gohar Aman againt Sikhs.
Kakakhel inhabitants of Mardan District mainly belong to the village of "Baghicha Dheri" (meanining fruit bearing hill), previously known as Surkh Dheri. There is limited land ownership among these Kakakhels. However, Kakakhels from Baghicha Dheri have excelled in the government and private sectors. This village has produced a number of notable high ranking army officers (like MajGen.Mian Khateeb Uddin, MajGen.Jillani Mian, MajGen.Mian Hayaud Din, MajGen.Mian Badar Uddin, Brig.Mian Taskin Uddin, Brig.Mian Hameed Uddin and many more etc.), Police Officers (D.I.G Mian Sakeen Uddin, D.I.G Mian Mazhar Ulhaq, S.P Mian Bacha), ambassadors (Mian Zia Uddin of Baghicha Dheri was the 1st Ambassador of Pakistan for Germany), Advocates (Mian Amin Uddin never loses any case in his career), Barristers (Mian Moeen Uddin), senior bureaucrats, District Officers (Mian Jameel Uddin was Ex District Officer for Education of Peshawar including Chitral and Charsadda. In his time the educational system of Peshawar was very much improved), CEOs and directors of world class corporations and agencies.
Many of the Pashtun in the khyber pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan, such as the Mishwanis , Akhunkhels Mian, Kakakhels Mian and Akhunzadas are a Fatmi and Hussani Syeds tribes living predominantly in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Some of them are called Pashtun because of Pashto speaking. The word Pashtun people shall not be confused with Pathan tribes, Mashawanis are Fatmi and Akhunkhels Mian, Kakakhels Mian,are Hussani. Mian (Plural Miangan) all the Miangan are respected for their pious origin, forefathers, but they are not descended from one progenitor. They have come from different origins, hence they are known with various names i.e. Syed, Akhunkhel,Kakakhel, Madakhel and Akhunzada etc. Among them Akhunkhels Miangan and kakakhels Miagan are very respected. most men in the family of Akhunkhel Miangan and Kakakhel Miangan ’put "Mian" before their name, and end in "Ud Din."