Wana (Pakistan)

Wana (Urdu: وانا) is the most important town of South Waziristan Agency in Pakistan's FATA (Federally Administrated Tribal Areas). It is the summer headquarters for the Agency's administration, Tank located in neighbouring Tank District being the winter HQ [ [http://www.fata.gov.pk/subpages/swa.php Historical and Administrative Profile of the South Waziristan Agency] ]

Colonial history

During the British Empire period, beginning in the late 19th century, the British established a cantonment on the Wana Plain which was used as a headquarters by the British forces in South Waziristan until they departed India after the partition in 1947. During their rule, the ferocious Pushtun tribes of Waziristan - part of the Karlanri Tribal Confederation - gave the British much headache. In fact, the British, aka the feranghifact|date=September 2008, had to deal with a full fledged insurgency in Waziristan in the 1930s. At one point during the 30s, the British had up to 18,000 troops in and around Waziristan, with Wana being used as the forward headquarters and airbase.

Wana in the War on Terror

It is currently in the eye of a storm because of the embedded presence of foreigners who have affiliated themselves with the Taliban-aligned Ahmadzai Waziris of the Wana Plain and others in the areaclarifyme. The Pakistan Armed forces have conducted armed operations against these Al-Qaeda members since August 2003 off and on with limited success. Perhaps the town's most violent incident in the War on Terror was the Battle of Wana which took place in March 2004 and included fighters from the Pakistani Army against Al-Qaeda and Taliban forces. More than 100 armed personnel were killed during the week of the fighting.

Ethnic background of inhabitants

Inhabitants of Wana are Muslim Pushtuns, mainly consisting of the Wazir tribe. The sub-khel is Ahmadzai. Also in South Waziristan Agency are members of the Mahsud, Bhittani, Kuchi and Burki tribes who live in the surroundings of Wana. These tribes have strong cultural and blood relations with Afghan tribes across the border.

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