Early history of the area comprising of present Loralai District is shrouded in obscurity and can only be surmised from general history of Balochistan. About 1383 AD, the Maliks of Kurat Dynasty, who swayed the scepter in Kandahar, succumbed to Amir Timur and Kandahar together with other areas constituting old Ghaznavid Kingdom passed under the rule of the latter. These territories, which were conferred by Timur on his grandson Pir Muhammad, and which are mentioned as extending to the frontiers of Sindh, would presumably have included Loralai District. Babar, after conquering Kabul, made a move towards India. On his return via Sakhi Sarwar, he passed through Balochistan. The province remained under the Mughals until 1559 AD, when it passed into the hands of Safavid kings of Persia who controlled it till 1595 AD. It was then again acquired by the Emperor Akbar. Under Akbar’s regime, the territory of Duki, which was generally garrisoned, formed one of the dependencies of Kandahar Province and provided a contingent of 500 horses and 1000 foot soldiers, besides other contributions. In 1622 AD, Kandahar again passed to Safavids; when Shah Abbas conferred the Government of Pishin and its tribal dependencies, which probably also included Duki, upon Sher Khan Tareen.
Later, Emperor Shah Jahan made great efforts to regain the Province of Kandahar from Safavids and with this end in view, in 1655 AD, he sent a large expedition consisting of over 104,000 men under the command of his elder son prince Dara Shikoh. After a lengthy investment, Dara Shikoh had to abandon the siege of Kandahar and returned. This was the last attempt on the part of Mughals to regain Kandahar; it was now lost forever. The province continued to be under the rule of Safavids but the Afghan inhabitants had become so highly discontented owing to the persecutions by the Persian governors that there was an uprising under Mir Wais Ghilzai, who established the Ghilzai power in Kandahar in about 1709 AD. After ruling for about 30 years, the Ghilzai power gave way to Nadir Shah, who in 1737 AD marched onto Kandahar and after a rigorous struggle, Mir Husain Khan, the last Ghilzai ruler, submitted. In 1747 AD, Nadir Shah was assassinated and the Afghans with a view to organize a regular government of their own, selected Ahmed Shah Durrani, a ruler of Kandahar, towards the end of same year. Ahmed Shah at first attempted to administer the valley as a Kandahar District and appointed a governor named Agha Jan to represent him. This person aggravated Tareen tribe considerably, and as a result they murdered him. Ahmed Shah indignant at this act marched on Thal with a strong force. The Tareens surrendered to him. An annual amount of tax (Kaldar) was levied on the Tareen cultivators living on the Thal and Anambar perennial streams.
The Durranis were followed in about 1826 AD, by the Barakzais under first Amir of Afghanistan, Dost Muhammad, and almost the entire district came under the nominal rule of this dynasty. According to the Treaty of Gandamak, signed on the 25 May, 1879 AD. Duki and Thal Chotiali land with other parts of Balochistan passed into the hands of the British.
Different parts of the district came gradually came under British control. With the increase of British influence, most of the tribes petitioned to be taken under British protection and expressed their willingness to pay revenue. By 1884 AD, the British administration was established in the form of an Agency. During early eighties, some lethal attacks were made upon British subjects by different clans of Kakars under the influence of Shah Jahan of Zhob. Accordingly, British troops were moved into Zhob and Sir Robert Sandeman held a darbar at Bori (Loralai).The chiefs of the Bori valley attended this meeting and surrendered after the defeat of Shah Jehan. On the 22 November, 1894 AD, the Bori and Zhob chiefs reached to an agreement accepting the supremacy of the British Government and promised to put a stop to further raids st and to pay a fine of R.20, 000/-. Gradually, administrative control was strengthened. On the 1 November, 1887 AD, the district was declared a part of British India. In 1947, prior to the creation of Pakistan, a referendum was held by the British in which the tribesmen of Loralai District, like other districts of the Frontier Region, opted for Pakistan. (Loralai District, 2010)
