28mm Pathan figures - some advice please?

[Plynkes]

The Newline Paul Hicks Pathans w/ Lee-Enfield are nominally modern 21st C Afgani figures - is there any equipment on them that would mark them out as obviously modern?

If you are talking about the Mongrel ones Newline sell then they are wearing pakols (those funky flat caps that look like sort of like pies). You wouldn't see them at all in the 19th Century (never seen one in a Victorian depiction). I think they first started being worn some time in the 20th Century but didn't really oust the turban as the standard headwear in Afghanistan until they were popularized by the Mujahideen in the war against the Russians. There may have been a few of them around at the time of the Third Afghan War, but they would have been far from ubiquitous if they were. Again, I have never seen one in any pictures from that time. Personally I wouldn't use them as they just scream "Mujahideen" to me.

[Plynkes]

(never seen one in a Victorian depiction).

I'll amend that: The hat is traditional to the Chitral region, and there is a photo of Chitral ruler Shuja-ul-Mulk where about two out of twenty of his entourage appear to be wearing flat "Chitral topis" but these early examples don't really look like the modern ones: They look more like what we would call berets to me. But I guess that means you could throw a couple in if your game is set in Chitral, and you don't mind that they don't look exactly like the earlier examples.

[Paul @ Empress Miniatures]

Just for the record the tribesmen we produce will be added to in one large lump in about March / April. This will include cavalry and heavy weapons. 

Paul