Waziristan

Waziristan (Urdu: ‫ )وزیرستان‬is a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering

Afghanistan and covering some 11 585 km² (4,473 mi²). It comprises the area west and
southwest of Peshawar between the Tochi river to the north and the Gomal river to the
south, forming part of Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The North-West
Frontier Province lies immediately to the east. The region was an independent tribal
territory from 1893, remaining outside of British-ruled empire and Afghanistan. Tribal
raiding into British-ruled territory was a constant problem for the British, requiring
frequent punitive expeditions between 1860 and 1945. The region became part of
Pakistan in 1947.

Waziristan is divided into two "agencies", North Waziristan and South Waziristan, with
estimated populations (as of 1998) of 361,246 and 429,841 respectively. The two parts
have quite distinct characteristics, though both tribes are subgroups of the Waziris and
speak a common Waziri language. They have a formidable reputation as warriors and are
known for their frequent blood feuds. Traditionally, feuding local Waziri religious
leaders have enlisted outsiders in the Pakistani government, and U.S. forces hunting al-
Qaeda fugitives, in attempts at score-settling. The tribes are divided into sub-tribes
governed by male village elders who meet in a tribal jirga. Socially and religiously
Waziristan is an extremely conservative area. Women are carefully guarded, and every
household must be headed by a male figure. Tribal cohesiveness is so strong through so-
called Collective Responsibility Acts in the Frontier Crimes Regulation.

Contents
[hide]

• 1 North Waziristan
• 2 South Waziristan
• 3 Waziri relations with Pakistan
• 4 External links

• 5 References

North Waziristan
The north is inhabited by the Darwesh Khel or Wazir tribes (from which the region
derives its name) who live in fortified mountain villages and the Dawars (also known as
Daurr or Daur) who farm in the valleys below. Geographically Wazir are living in the
mountaineous region of the area where as Dawar are living in the Plain area. Razmak ,
Datta Khel , Spin wam , Dosali , Shawa are the places where wazir are living.
Miranshah , Mrali, Edak , Hurmaz , Hassu Khel , Haider Khel are the places where
Dawar are Living.
South Waziristan
The south is predominantly inhabited by the Mehsod tribes, who live in tent villages and
graze their characteristic fat-tailed sheep, white with black faces. South Waziristan
Agency has district headquarters at Wana. South Waziristan, which comprises about
6,500 square kilometers, is the most volatile agency of Pakistan; it is not under the direct
administration of the government of Pakistan, but indirectly governed by a political
agent, sometimes an outsider, sometimes a Waziri— a system that was inherited from the
British Raj.

• Waziri breed of sheep

Waziri relations with Pakistan

Relations with the Pakistani state have been tense for many years. There has been a
strong strain of Pashtun unity (thus irredentism in national terms). This is not surprising,
as the border with Afghanistan, though it follows the geography of the high watershed
divide, is made porous by many high mountain passes of long traditional use. Thus the
international border, of relatively recent creation, owes nothing to traditional ethnic
boundaries. It is only nominally controlled by the Pakistani authorities and is in practice
largely independent of the state, with the tribes fiercely guarding their independence and
on occasion fighting state forces.

After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, thousands of Afghan refugees fled
across the border to Waziristan, which became an important base for the mujahideen
guerillas fighting the Soviet occupation. Afghan refugees were categorized in to (a)
Muhajerrin or Refugees and (b) Mujahideen or freedom fighters. The government's
public explanation was that only refugees are living in settled areas of Pakistan while the
Mujahideen are based in the tribal areas. The area reprised its 1980s role in 2001 during
the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, this time playing host not only to refugees but also to
defeated Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters. Osama bin Laden himself was widely believed to
have taken refuge either in Waziristan or just across the Afghan border.

The Pakistani government sent thousands of troops into the region in 2002 to hunt for bin
Laden and other al-Qaeda fugitives. In March 2004, heavy fighting broke out at Azam
Warsak, near the South Waziristan town of Wana, between Pakistani troops and an
estimated 400 militants holed up in several fortified settlements. It was speculated that
bin Laden's deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri was among those trapped by the Pakistani Army.
(see Waziristan War). Bin Laden is now suspected to be found located in this reigion.

External links
• Pictures from Waziristan
 • Sketch Map of Waziristan

References
• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition,
a publication now in the public domain.

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