Source: NIE
Context: At least 23 people were killed in a blast in Pakistan’s Tirah Valley (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
About Tirah Valley:
What it is?
- A mountainous region and tribal stronghold historically known for resistance to external control.
- Noted for fertile valleys, terraced agriculture, and as a hub of militant activity in recent decades.
Located in:
- Lies in Khyber District and Orakzai District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan.
- Positioned between Khyber Pass and Khanki Valley.
Neighbouring Nations:
- Close to the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, making it strategically sensitive.
- Serves as a corridor between South Asia and Central Asia, historically contested by Mughals, British, and modern Pakistan.
Features:
- Geography: About 600–700 sq miles, with five main valleys – Maidan, Rajgul, Waran, Bara, and Mastura.
- Terrain: High passes (Sampagha, Tseri Kandao, Saran Sar), fertile alluvial soil, walnut and mulberry trees, summer pastures.
- Population: Predominantly Pashtun tribes – Afridis and Orakzais; with minority Sikh traders and Hamsaya communities.
- History: Site of the 1897 Tirah Campaign by the British; frequent uprisings against Mughal and later Pakistani rule.
