"The Wali of Swat was born nine years before his father carved out a centralized state in the stateless, unruly tribal area of the Swat Pathans on the borders of British India. The Wali later ruled Swat for twenty years, till it was merged with Pakistan in 1969. His recollections thus span the whole history of Swat State, and give a unique insight into its formation and development. "--Book jacket.