Parachinar


Parachinar or Pāṛačinār, is the capital city of Kurram District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Parachinar is situated on a neck of Pakistani territory west of Peshawar, that juts into the Logar and Nangarhar provinces of Afghanistan. With a distance of from the Afghan capital Kabul, Parachinar is the closest point in Pakistan to Kabul.

History

The name Parachinar is derived as a result of social meetings conducted under a large chinar tree. The remains of that tree are still there at a place now encompassed by the headquarters of Kurram Agency where the elders of famous tribe chamkani residing in para area used to conclude meetings under a Chinar tree to resolve their social matters.

Durand Line Agreement

In 1893, during the rule of Ameer Abdur Rahman of Afghanistan, a Royal Commission for demarcating a Boundary between Afghanistan and the territory of British governed India negotiated terms, agreeing to the Durand line. Two parties camped at Parachinar, now part of FATA, Pakistan, which is near Khost, Afghanistan.
From the British side the camp was attended by Sir Mortimer Durand and Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum, Assistant Political Agent, Khyber Agency. The Afghanistan interest was represented by Sahibzada Abdul Latif and the Governor Khost Sardar Shireendil Khan, representing King Amir Abdur Rahman Khan.

2007 Kurram Agency conflict

On April 6, 2007, a gunman of Sunni sect fired upon a Friday prayer held by Shia in Parachinar, leaving more than 40 people dead and more than 150 people wounded. Violent clashes in the region occurred in the following week until a ceasefire was reached on April 12, 2007.

Terrorist incidents

Parachinar has been the target of several terrorist attacks since 2007 in which over 500 people have died, making it the second most targeted Pakistani city by militants after Peshawar.

Climate

Parachinar has a moderate humid subtropical climate. Although the city's southeasterly aspect relative to the valley in which it is situated allows it to receive on occasions significant monsoonal rainfall, the most frequent source of rain is western depressions and related thunderstorms. During the winter, snowfall is common, and frosts occur on most mornings. Snow closes the Peiwar Pass, located on the Paktia border just over 20 km west of Parachinar, for up to five months per year.

Demographics

The population of Parachinar is predominantly Shia Muslim.

Social issues

As a result of many recent terrorist attacks, an estimated 60 percent of Parachinar residents suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and approximately 40 percent of the population suffers from depression. A lack of mental health facilities in Kurram Agency has prevented many people in Parachinar from receiving treatment. Parachinar has a high suicide rate among young adults, and nearly 100 people commit suicide every year.

Education

plans to open a sub-campus at Parachinar.

Transportation

The Thall-Parachinar road is the main road connecting Parachinar to the rest of the country.
Parachinar has an airport but currently it is non functional. In the past there was a flight service between Peshawar and Parachinar.