Introduction to Parachinar

• Parachinar is the main city of the Kurram district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
• It is located 580 kilometers from Islamabad and 258 kilometers from Peshawar.
• The city is situated along the Kurram River at the foot of Koh-e-Safaid.

Geographical Location

• Parachinar is located near the border of Afghanistan.
• The Kurram Valley is divided into upper and lower parts; Parachinar is in the upper part.
• It is bordered by Afghanistan on three sides and Pakistani territory to the east.
• Closest Afghan provinces: Nangarhar, Khost, Paktia.
• Western borders: Khyber District, Orakzai, North Waziristan, Hangu.

Historical Background

• Kurram Agency is mentioned in the Babur Nama by Mughal emperor Zahir-ud-din Babur.
• In 1890, the Turi tribe collaborated with the British to include Kurram Agency in United India.
• The Turi militia was established in 1893, later known as the Kurram militia.
• In 1948, Kurram Agency became part of Pakistan.

Culture and Society

• The Turi and Bangash tribes reside here, who are of Pashtun descent.
• The Kurram Valley is famous for agriculture and horticulture; locals have been practicing agriculture for ages.
• The majority population of Parachinar belongs to the Shia sect.

Sectarian Conflicts

• The history of sectarian issues spans approximately seventy years.
• Major incidents occurred in 2007-2008, lasting for four years.
• These conflicts centered around Parachinar.

Current Issues

• During the Afghan war, Mujahideen used Parachinar as a base.
• Problems escalated after 2005, with routes to Parachinar often blocked.
• Sectarian-based riots frequently lead to law and order issues.