Special Report

CENTER for RESEARCH

and SECURITY STUDIES
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
Email: [email protected]. Web: www.crss.pk

Islamabad, May 20, 2010

Life in Kurram and Orakzai Agencies of
FATA
Background: of young men for becoming fighters and
suicide bombers. The TTP also started
Until 2006, there was nominal presence of gathering revenues in form of coal
Taliban in Kurram and Orakzai Agencies. commissions, narcotics, extortions and
However, with the formal launch of kidnapping for ransom.
Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan [TTP] in
December 2007, Chief Baitullah Mehsud, In the second phase--contamination phase--
deputed his close aide Hakeemullah the Taliban used intimidations, threats and
Mehsud to control Orakzai Agency. Under violence to isolate the area from rest of the
Hakeemullah’s leadership, the TTP entered country and to break down the tribal
Orakzai and the Taliban gradually culture. Music and barbers’ shops were
established their writ on the entire area. attacked and movements of people,
particularly women, was restricted. Girls
The Taliban entry into Kurram and Orakzai education was banned. Attacks on shias
Agencies is a replica of three-phased tactic increased and intimidation of Sikhs began.
adopted by them on both sides of the Under the leadership of Hakeemullah
Durand Line. In the first phase--persuasion Mehsud in the area, a considerable number
phase--the TTP criticized the prevailing of youth began developing fighting militias.
injustice in the area, and pushed for the This phase of contamination led to
greater agenda of caliphate, Jihad and occupation.
martyrdom through peaceful assertions.
During this phase, the TTP looked for local In the third phase, the TTP began to
allies and also built their centres. The establish a parallel system in the area. A
Taliban also verbally attacked the centuries different judicial and administration system
old harmonious Shia-Sunni relations in and a new social code were imposed on
Kurram and Orakzai Agencies. This phase people of the area. This process of
also included target killing and kidnapping occupation angered the largest tribe, Ali
of Shias. Training camps established during Khel. The tribe thus decided to resist the
this phase recruited a considerable number occupation.
 The Taliban control the central Kurram and
the army has not yet moved to that area.
However, the army has secured the G.T
road upto Thall and North Waziristan. The
Shia population which remains under strict
Current Scenario: restrictions has been quarantined by the rest
of Pakistan for last three years. A student at
Kurram and Orakzai, the coldest agencies
Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad,
vis-à-vis climate have become the hottest
belonging to Shia area in Kurram, said that
ones vis-à-vis day to day violence and
he did not meet his family for the the last
turbulence. In Kurram Agency, however,
three years. He said, “There is no way to go
the army has cleared 40 percent area, and
to my home. Earlier, I would use the route
we can say that 80 percent area has become
Peshawar-Kabul-Paktia-Parachinar but it
peaceful. The remaining 20 percent,
has also become dangerous now because
however, still remains under the Taliban
Taliban outfits have become stronger in
control. There are Shias spreading over 60
Paktia as well.” For last four months, the
percent of the area.
Shia people have been traveling to
Peshawar via Hangu-Kohat road under the
The last public resistance in Kurram was
umbrella of army convoys. However, this
headed by Mumtaz Mullah who was
road has again become risky after the
supported by 120 families--almost 20,000
targeted suicide attack on a convoy at Thall
people--in Zawa town. Mumtaz Mullah
(Hangu).
formed a lashkar which provided security
shell to the town against Noor Jamal known
The Sunni population in the agency, which
as Mullah Tofan (storm). The lashkar
has been made secured by the army, is
resisted Tofan’s men hardly for a month as
confronted with another sort of dilemma.
Zawa town was besieged by the Taliban and
They don’t speak against the Taliban
the people had to suffer due to shortage of
believing that it would prove fatal for them
daily use commodities. A vehicle carrying
if someone among the IDPs [Internally
18 people was hijacked by the Taliban. Two
Displaced Persons] contacts the Taliban and
among the captives were slaughtered and
informs them about it. The Taliban in
the rest were put for ransom of Rs.
Kurram are using mobile phone services of
1500,000 for each. Meanwhile, the villagers
the companies like Mobilink, Ufone and
started to vacate the town leaving behind
Telenor. They can easily communicate with
their household luggage, cattle and other
the people living in the secured area.
essentials of life.

Religious Divide and Administrative Setup:

Religion Muslims (99%)

Sikh & Hindu etc (1%)

Religious sects (Muslim)

Sunni - 60%

Shia – 40%
 Administrative Division

Upper Kurram

Central Kurram

Lower Kurram

Major Tribes of Kurram Agency:

Turi

Orakzai

Bangash

Mangal

Ghalgi

Kharota

Hazara
Basic Facts and Figures:

Official name Kurram Agency

Locally called Kuar-ma

Area 3.380 square kilometers

Population 50,0000

Headquarter Parachinar

Sub headquarter Sadda

Snow, rain and fog weather in January and

Weather February, a bit hot weather in June & July
and moderate in rest of the months

Language Pashto (100%)

Note: Kurram Agency is the area, closest to Kabul, almost 120 km.

The Conflict: 1. Iranian Revolution 1979,

which inspired and
Unlike other tribal agencies, Kurram radicalized Shia of Kurram
Agency is known for sectarian conflict Agency. Arif Husseni, a
between Shia and Sunni tribes. So far, Shia leader of Kurram
five-six major clashes in the Agency Agency, remained a close
(1961, 1983, 1988, 1996, 2007 and 2009) companion of Khomeini
have resulted into the deaths of over 5000 and he spent his time in
people belonging to both the sects. The Iraq with Khomeini when
genesis and orientation of the conflict has he was in exile.
been commonly understood as the
blasphemous and offensive use of 2. Soviet-Afghan War 1979, which
language or planned/unplanned actions indoctrinated the Sunni populace
committed by the perpetrators of one sect as many of them were directly
against the other. participating in Afghan Jihad.
Kurram was used as a launching
Two important regional pad for jihad in Afghanistan as it
developments have inspired Shia offers the shortest distance to
and Sunni population of Kurram Kabul.
valley in imbalanced way. These
are:
New Dimension of Conflict:
In 2007, Pakistani Taliban, The tribal area now forming Orakzai
predominantly the militants of Tehrik-e- agency was previously part of Frontier
Taliban (TTP), got involved into the Region Kohat district until Novemebr 30,
matrix. Most of the surrendered and 1973. Biland Khel, a small pocket
abducted security personnel who measuring about 6.5 square kilometers is
belonged to Shia sect were brutally also part of the agency and lies few
slaughtered by Taliban in many parts of kilometres off Thall, bordering North
FATA and the NWFP. In 2007 and 2008, Waziristan and Kurram agencies.
the Shia community in Parachinar
received many bodies beheaded by the Interestingly, Biland Khel doesn’t touch
TTP militants. In reaction, a task force the main land of Orakzai Agency and the
was formed by the Shias of Parachinar to people living in Biland Khel are Wazir.
protect themselves from the Taliban. Biland Khel was included in Orakzai
Agency due to some administrative
The Taliban and Shia task force entered problems.
into a new phase of violence, and the
general populace supported and joined Operation in Orakzai Agency:
hands with their respective warring
parties of the conflict. The military operation continues
in yellow spot area--lower
In 2008, thousands of people from both Orakzai agency. It is one of the
the sects were directly involved in beautiful and tough areas, as the
fighting and killing one another with terrain is hilly and forestry. The
heavy weapons. Interior Minister Rehman army is using gunship helicopters
Malik warned the warring parties to and ground forces as well. The
withdraw from the fight, otherwise they lower Orakzai has plenty of coal
would face dire consequences for it. mines and the militants have set
However, owing to the government’s up their hideouts there.
passive response, the fight continued for
two weeks after the deadline. Orakzai is the only agency that
doesn’t share boundary with
The Taliban alleged the Shia community Afghanistan. It is the last Taliban-
of Parachinar of impeding their cross hit agency of FATA [Federally
border infiltration into Afghanistan. They Administered Tribal Areas]. So
also accused the Shias of having far, the army has not penetrated
developed an understanding with the deep into the agency. The army
Afghan government and NATO forces has been deployed along a
against them.
narrow strip adjacent to Hangu,
and it has secured the GT road
Orakzai Agency: leading to Thall, Kurram Agency
and North Waziristan.

Army helicopters hit targets in

both Kurram and Orakzai
agencies. Owing to frequent
shelling and fear of the Taliban,
as many as 90 percent people of
Orakzai agency have migrated to
other cities mainly Hangu. Local the ongoing army operation
estimates put the number of IDPs against the Taliban.
over 100,000; however, there
are only 18 families residing in Tribal Sikhs:
IDP camp in Hangu. The others
are living either on rent or with There are about 150 Sikh
their relatives in nearby villages families living in the two
of Hangu. A local of Hangu said agencies for centuries. They
that he had eight families from have their properties and
Orakzai agency at his home, and business there. They have fully
they had also brought 29 cows adopted the Pashtun culture—
along with them. observance of Hijab [veil],
keeping weapons with them,
Suicide attack on IDPs: dancing etc.. Many Sikhs run
their business in partnership with
On April 17, 2010, two suicide other Muslim tribesmen.
attacks carried out at a
registration centre for the IDPs in Owing to the Taliban threat,
Kacha Pakha area of Kohat, killed most of the Sikh community
41 people. The IDPs were members have vacated both the
standing in a queue at the centre agencies and migrated to
when the first suicide bomber Punjab, particularly Hassan
blew himself up. A second Abdal. The Taliban had targeted
suicide bomber struck minutes some Sikhs in the past, and
later when people rushed to the recently, two Sikhs were
spot to help the injured. Lashkar- slaughtered by the Taliban in
e-Jhangvi al Alami, a militant Orakzai Agency for allegedly
outfit, claimed responsibility for conspiring against the Taliban.
the attacks. The sectarian
element in this attack cannot be Profile of Tufan Mullah:
ruled out as most of the IDPs at
the camp belonged to Manikhel
and Bar Mohammadkhel tribes, • Real name Noor Jamal;
which are Shia. Tufan -- nickname or
codename -- used in
Kacha Pakha, a largely Shia area wireless communications.
in Kohat, was hit by the militants • Belongs to Mamozai sub-
for the second time in recent tribe of Orakzai.
months. In September 2009, a • Head of Taliban in both
suicide bomber had killed 33 Kurram and Orakzai
people, and the same group agencies.
claimed responsibility for the • Got religious education
attack. An IDP, Rafil Hussain, from seminaries in
who was injured in the latest Faisalabad and Talagang
attack, had lost his brother in the districts of Punjab; also
last year attack. The Shia tribes studied in Panjpir, Swabi.
of Orakzai are being targeted • Has links with Punjabi
because they are fully supporting Taliban.
 • Served as an Imam [prayer TTP. He claimed
leader] in a Hujra of local responsibility for killing
Malik [elder] in Kurram former provincial minister
Agency for Rs. 2000 per Ghani Urehman in Hangu,
month. who was allegedly involved
• Got military training in in the murder of Shah
Kandahar in 2005-06. Nawaz in one way or the
• Slaughtered more than other. Nabi belongs to Ali
fifty people with his own Khel sub-tribe of Orakzai.
hands. He now operates in lower
• Has two wives, and four Kurram and North
sons and two daughters. Waziristan.

2. Mehboob Mullah is the

Ideology:
head of Ansarul Islam in
Tirh valley. He is the man
Tufan Mullah belongs to Panjpir
who resisted Mangal Bagh
school of thought, which is close
in Khyber Agency.
to Salfi and Wahabi brand of
Mehboob has also
Islam. Maulana Mohammad Tahir
theological differences with
was the first leader of Panjpiris
the TTP. He is strong in
and he has established a
Tirah valley not allowing
Madarssa in Swabi. They follow
Tufan Mullah to enter
Deobandi Islam but have some
Khyber Agency, which is
theological differences with
adjacent to Kurram
Deobandi Ulema. Panjpirs also
Agency.
strongly oppose to Jamiat Ulema-
e Islam [JUI], a strong political
party of Deobandi Ulema. Conclusion:

The study leads to the

Opposition to TTP in
following few conclusions:
Kurram:
The TTP has become weak in
Some prominent local mullas are Kurram Agency; however, it
opposing to the TTP on the still has strong footings in
ground in their particular Orakzai. The Taliban have
theological and militant style of lost over 80 percent area of
Jihad. These include: Kurram Agency. They are
enjoying power in some
1. Nabi Ustad (An pockets of central Kurram,
independent commander, which are relatively harder to
now close to Gul Bahadar access. However, in Orakzai
group): He is the man who Agency, the Taliban have
openly opposed to Tufan control over 70 percent area.
Mullah, as the former’s From upper Orakzai, they are
close associate, easily communicating with
Commander Shah Nawaz their counterparts in Khyber
was brutally killed by the Agency.
 besieged by the TTP, he
Mamozai is the major tribe rejected the government
supporting the TTP in Kurram offer for any support,
Agency, as about 75 percent implying that the people
TTP leadership in Kurram hesitate to get support from
belongs to this sub-tribe of any of the two parties
Orakzai. Hakeemullah believing the things would
Mehsud has married with an further worsen.
Afridi girl of in Mamozai tribe
in Kurram Agency. The TTP is confined to a
narrow strip of central
Social and moral support to Kurram Agency having no
the TTP in Kurram and safer place in the agency to
Orakzai Agencies has come flee. Tora Bora is the only
to the lowest, but no one can option for them, which will
dare to physically oppose to push them to Afghanistan.
the Taliban due to the fear of
suicide attacks and target If the army succeeds to clear
killing. central Kurram from the TTP
operatives, the
The Taliban have also organization’s physical
abducted close relatives communication and logistics
(son,nephews etc) of some in North and South
prominent Maliks in the area. Waziristan with Orakzai,
Many Maliks have fled to Khyber, Mohmand and Bajaur
major cities of Pakistan and will get badly affected.
some have even left the
country for Middle East. The operation in Orakzai has
been intensified, but it can
Anti-TTP commanders and still take long time to be
Mualvis are getting more concluded as the army
legitimacy and social assault is not proving very
support, which is a potential effective, and the enemy is
threat to the survival of TTP still in the position to take
in Kurram Agency. However, any initiative or give a tough
most of the people neither time to the army.
rely on the army nor the
Taliban for their security. An uphill task for the army
Interestingly, when Mualvi will be the return of IDPs to
Mumtaz in Zawa town was their homes.