A Colonial Encounter with Waziristan: Islam, Pashtunwali & FCR Revisited

Author: Farzana K. Umar

"The region of Waziristan has been at the forefront of America's war on terror for more than a decade. The events of 9/11 and the consequent search for Osama bin Laden gave Waziristan a notice in world relations that was not there before. Though bin Laden was found and killed in Abbottabad, a city 80 or so kilometers away from the capital of Pakistan, the presentation of Waziristan has been that of a hot zone, a breeding ground for terrorists in which groups like al-Qaeda sprout and are sustained. Here an attempt is made to relate the story of Waziristan before 9/11, before the Russian Afghan wars of the 80s, even before the applications of modern warfare. The story goes back to British encounters with Waziristan when Her Majesty's prowess was still in effect. Islam, the tribesmen conception of God, definition of pashtunwali, and Frontier Crimes Regulations are the main subjects of this paper."