North Waziristan Agency
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North Waziristan شمالی وزیرستان |
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| Agency | |
 Map of agencies and frontier regions in FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northwest Pakistan
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| Country | Pakistan |
| Established | 1910 |
| Headquarters | Miranshah |
| Government | |
| • Political agent | Muhammad Yahya Akhunzada |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4,707 km2 (1,817 sq mi) |
| Population (1998) | |
| • Total | 361,246 |
| • Density | 77/km2 (200/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PKT (UTC+5) |
| Main language | Pashto (99.6%) |
North Waziristan (Urdu: شمالی وزیرستان Shmali Waziristan), abbreviated as NWA, is the northern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering 11,585 square kilometres (4,473 sq mi). Waziristan comprises the area west and south-west of Peshawar between the Kurram River (Tochi River) to the north and the Gomal River to the south, forming part of Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Miranshah is capital of North Waziristan. Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lies immediately to the east. The region became an independent tribal territory in 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 upon its 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 Waziri tribe, after which the region is named, and speak a common Waziri language. They have a famed reputation as formidable warriors and are known for their frequent blood feuds. 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 strong because of "Collective Responsibility Acts" in the Frontier Crimes Regulation.
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