in 1881 the ruler of dir, muhammad sharif khan, was chased away by khan umra khan of jandool, who conquered dir, swat and the malakand area. in 1895, however, while the forces of umara khan were besieging a british force near malakand, muhammad sharif khan decided to make his soldiers join the british relief force coming in aid, the chitral expedition. during that expedition sharif khan made an agreement with the british government to keep the road to chitral open in return for a subsidy. the british eventually won the war and exiled umara khan. as a reward for his help, sharif khan was given the whole dir and also the lower swat (the latter territory would be lost in 1917 to the wali of swat).