Parachinar

Parachinar
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     45     10 −2     74     10 −1     127     15 4     88     21 10     66     27 14     45     31 18     107     30 20     102     28 18     55     27 16     22     23 10     17     18 5     34     13 1 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.8     50 28     2.9     50 30     5     59 39     3.5     70 50     2.6     81 57     1.8     88 64     4.2     86 68     4     82 64     2.2     81 61     0.9     73 50     0.7     64 41     1.3     55 34 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Parachinar (Urdu: پاڑاچنار) 33°56′N 70°05′E, altitude: 1,725 m (5,659 ft), is the capital of Kurram Agency, FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) of Pakistan. It is about 290 km west of the capital, Islamabad. It is situated on a neck of Pakistani territory south of Peshawar, that juts into Paktia Province in Afghanistan and is the closest point in Pakistan to Kabul and borders on the Tora Bora region in Afghanistan.

Parachinar originated as a summer residence for nomadic tribes who wintered their livestock at lower altitudes, and the district had originally been a summer residence for Moghul emperors from Delhi. The Parachinar region was part of Afghanistan before the Second Afghan War of 1878-79, but was not firmly annexed by the British due to resistance from local tribes until 1892. During the colonial era between then and 1947 Parachinar became a hill station for people from Peshawar as it is relatively cool in the summer and very easy to reach from the plains despite its high altitude since there are no steep ascents on the route from Peshawar.

Although it was a well-known travel destination in the years before the PDPA came to power, since that time Parachinar has become a hotbed of Islamic terrorism and sectarian violence. The town and its surrounds are believed to be a major staging point for Osama bin Laden and his accomplices during the years when the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were planned.

The population are largely of the Turi tribe of Pashtuns who are mostly Shia Muslims and speak Pashto. About half the population are Shia and half Sunni Muslims.

Because of its proximity to the border it has been an important staging point for mujahadeen and Taliban fighters entering Afghanistan.

The name of this region is Parachinar as there was a big tree of Chinar (Maple tree) in the headquarters of Kurram Agency. In Kurram Agency there is a famous tribe known as "Parikhel " this tribe used to get together under this Chinar tree to resolve their social matters. This is why this region is called Parachinar.

On February 16, 2008, a bomb in Parachinar killed 37 members of the Pakistan People's Party after they returned to party headquarters from a rally. There have been numerous other bombings in recent years due to the conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims.

See also

• Parachinar Airport
• List of airports in Pakistan
• Battle of Tora Bora

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7248445.stm