Tirah Valley

The Tirah (Pashto: تیراہ‎) region, also called the Tirah Valley (Pashto: وادی تیراہ‎), is located in Khyber, Kurram and Orakzai agencies of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan (33.73N 71.01E), while its smaller part straddles the border to the north lying in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. Tirah lies between the Khyber Pass and the Khanki Valley. It is inhabited by the Afridi, Orakzai and Shinwari tribes of Pashtuns.

The population is rural, while Bagh Malikdinkhel, located in Maidan Tirah, is the traditional meeting place for Afridi jirgas or assemblies.

Lying close to the Pak-Afghan border and difficult terrain, control of Tirah for the government of Pakistan has been difficult. In 2003, for the first time since the independence of Pakistan, Army troops entered the Tirah valley.

It is also an area where the government has been trying to cut down on poppy cultivation. The area also has a history of kidnapping and feuds, the dominant ethnic group here are the Pashtuns. There are minority communities of referred to as Hamsaya (protected peoples) such as the Sikh community who are mainly involved in trading and other professions.

The original inhabitants of Tirah were the Tirahis, who were driven out of the country by Pir Roshan, "the apostle of light"; and a remnant of them fled to Nangrahar. Soon afterwards, in 1619 or 1620, Mahabat Khan, Subahdar of Kabul under the emperor Jahangir, treacherously massacred 300 Daulatzai Orakzai, who were Roshania converts; and, during his absence on a visit to Jahangir at Rohtas, Ghairat Khan was sent with a large force via Kohat to invade Tirah. He advanced to the foot of the Sampagha pass, which was held by the Roshanias under Ihdad and the Daulatzai under Malik Tor.

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Wikipedia