Miramshah

Mīrāmshāh (Pashto/Urdu: ميرامشا‎) or Mīrānshāh (ميران‌شاه) is a city and administrative headquarters of North Waziristan, Pakistan. Miramshah lies on the banks of the Tochi River in a wide valley surrounded by the foothills of the Hindu Kush mountains. It is located at an elevation of about 930 metres (3,050 ft), 17 kilometres (11 mi) from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border (Durand Line). The nearest city in Pakistan is Bannu, about 55 kilometres (34 mi) to the east, while the nearest city across the border in Afghanistan is Khost, 60 kilometres (37 mi) to the northwest.

"Miranshah" redirects here. For the Timurid ruler, see Miran Shah. For the village in Iran, see Miranshah, Iran.
Miramshah

ميرامشا
City
Miramshah
Miramshah
Coordinates: 33°0′9″N 70°4′8″E
Country Pakistan
Province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
AgencyNorth Waziristan
TehsilMiran Shah
Elevation
930 m (3,050 ft)
Population
 • Total11,214
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)

Administration

Miramshah is the administrative headquarters of North Waziristan in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan (FATA). Miramshah was the largest city of Waziristan, and one of the largest cities of FATA. In 2018, FATA was merged into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

History
25th Punjabis (now 9 Punjab, Pakistan Army) regimental band at Miram Shah, NWFP, 1917

Miramshah was named after the Timurid ruler, Miran Shah, the son of Timur.

In 1905, the British constructed Miramshah Fort to control North Waziristan.

In the early 1950s, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the "Tochi Scouts" of Pakistan's paramilitary Frontier Corps carried out counter-insurgency operations from Miramshah Airfield and Miramshah Fort against the insurgency fomented by the rebellious General Shudikhel Dawar and Mirzali Khan (Faqir of Ipi). In the 1950s, Miramshah was also the site of a weapons firing range of the PAF, which was located next to the Miramshah Airfield.[2]

After 9/11, Miramshah gained prominence in the United States-led War on Terror and has witnessed numerous drone strikes by the US Central Intelligence Agency targeting alleged militants hiding in the town and in the surrounding foothills.[3] Miramshah and its surrounding areas have also witnessed fighting between militants and Pakistani military and paramilitary forces.

Notable places

Miramshah has a historical fort built by the British in 1905, which, since Pakistan's independence on 14 August 1947, has been used as a garrison by the "Tochi Scouts" of Pakistan's Frontier Corps. The town also has a 7,000 ft. long airfield, which is used for both civil and military purposes.

Other notable places include a bazaar, a sports stadium, a primary school, a secondary school and a college.

Notable people

See also
  • Dande Darpkhel airstrike, in a suburb of Miramshah, of 8 September 2008
  • Miramshah airstrike, of 12 September 2008

References
  1. "POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLD DETAIL FROM BLOCK TO DISTRICT LEVEL: FATA (NORTH WAZIRISTAN)" (PDF). www.pbscensus.gov.pk. 2018-01-03. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-07-28. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  2. Pike, John. "14 Squadron". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  3. "4 militants killed in US drone strike in Miranshah". Pakistan Today. Nawa Media Corporation. 2012-04-29. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
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