South Waziristan Agency

Publishing Date: Tuesday, March 1 2005

South Waziristan Agency has an area of 2,556 square miles. Three quarters of the population are Mahsud, the remaining quarter, Wazir. This division based on the traditional Nikkat (ancestral hereditaments) was confirmed by the British as the basis for all tribal dealings whether in terms of profit or loss, reward or punishment. Wana (pronounced as Wanrha) is the headquarters of the Political Agent and is situated in the Wana plain which is some thirty miles long and ten miles broad. Wana is also the home of the Ahmadzai Wazirs.

Deep in Mahsud territory is the centre of the Urmars at Kaniguram. The Urmars are believed to be the aboriginal people of this area and have a Pre Islamic past. Their language derives from Sanskrit although they are Pashto speaking today. Kaniguram is famous historically as the place that gave birth to the Roshania movement during the Mughal era in the sixteenth century. Pir Roshan (saint of light or as his opponents called him Pir Tarik; saint of darkness) is buried near Kaniguram. The housing pattern of Kaniguram is distinct from other typical tribal villages as the houses are placed together, indeed almost on one another, and the large village is dense and crowded. Kaniguram is famous for its daggers.

Places to See

Jandola Fort:

Established in 1828 by the British, the fort is located on the right bank of River Tank Zam in Bhitani area. It has 11 pickets and 5 forces under command. During the early 60s it used to be winter head quarters of South Waziristan Scouts.

Kaniguram

This famous village is located between Razmak and Wana. It is inhabited by Urmars or Burkis, who have their own language. The best Waziri daggers and weapons are made here. The great Roshanaya leader Hazrat Bayazid Ansari (RA), who fought the Mughals, was an Urmar from this village.

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