South Waziristan Agency
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South Waziristan جنوبی 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 | 1893 |
| Headquarters |
Tank, Pakistan Wana, Pakistan |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6,619 km2 (2,556 sq mi) |
| Population (1998) | |
| • Total | 429,841 |
| • Density | 65/km2 (170/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
| Main language(s) | Urdu, Pashto |
وزیرستان گلونہ
South Waziristan (Urdu: جنوبی وزیرستان Janoobi Waziristan) is the southern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, that covers some 11,585 km² (4,473 mi²). Waziristan comprises the area west and southwest of Peshawar between the to the north and the Gomal River to the south, forming part of Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 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. Troops of the British Raj coined a name for this region "Hell's Door Knocker" in recognition of the fearsome reputation of the local fighters and inhospitable terrain. The region became part of Pakistan in 1947.
Waziristan is divided into two "agencies", North Waziristan and South Waziristan, with estimated populations in 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 whom the region is named, and speak a common Waziri language. They have a 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 more recently 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 strong through so-called Collective Responsibility Acts in the Frontier Crimes Regulation.
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