Waziristan

views updated May 18 2018

Waziristan Arid and mountainous region in North-West Frontier province, nw Pakistan, on the Afghanistan border. It is divided into n and s Waziristan. In the n, Wazir tribes live in fortified mountain villages and farm the fertile valleys. In s Waziristan, the semi-nomadic Mashud tribes live in tent camps and graze their livestock on the hills. In 1893, Waziristan became an independent territory. In 1947, it was incorporated into Pakistan, but with the support of Afghanistan it struggled to create an independent Pushtu state. Area: 11,585sq km (4473sq mi). Pop. (1998 est.) 865,000.