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North Waziristan (Urdu:
شمالی
وزیرستان)
is the northern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest
Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11 585 km² (4,473 mi²).
It comprises the area west and south-west 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. Miran Shah is capital of
North Waziristan. The North-West Frontier Province lies immediately to the
east. The region was an independent tribal territory from 1893, remaining
outside of the British empire and Afghanistan. Tribal raiding into British
territory was a constant problem for the British, requiring frequent
punitive expeditions between 1860 and 1945. The region became part of
Pakistan on independence 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. 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.
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