Wana (Pakistan)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wana (Urdu: وانا) is the capital town of South Waziristan in Pakistan's FATA (Federally Administrated Tribal Area). During the war against the English Empire, Wana was used as a headquarters by the British forces in South Wazirstan. Mujahidin consisting of Mahsood and Wazir tribes attacked Wana more then once.

It is currently in the eye of a storm because of ongoing joint operations by Pakistan and U.S. forces against alleged Al-Qaeda militant groups hiding in the region. The Pakistan Armed forces have been conducting armed operations against these Al qaeda members since August 2003 off and on. In this respect the armed forces have been quite successful in gradually evicting these embedded elements from their strongholds. These operations are being conducted under enormous pressure from the US-led occupation forces in Afghanistan.

Inhabitants of Wana are Muslim Pushtuns, mainly consisting of Wazir tribe. Mahsood, Bhatani, Kuchi and Barki tribes live in the surroundings of Wana. These tribes have strong cultural and blood relations with Afghan tribes just a few miles away.

South Waziristan's borders on the west with the Afghan provinces of Paktika and Zabol.