Amanullah Khan was born in the Astore area of Gilgit in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir (now in Pakistan administered Kashmir).[2] His father Jumma Khan, a revenue department employee, died when he was three years old. Amanullah went to study in Kupwara, living with his uncle Hashmat Ali Khan. He studied in the local primary school and, later, went to Handwara for high school.[3]