CHEEGHA – The Call from Waziristan, the last outpost Paperback – November 1, 2014 by Ghulam Qadir Khan Daur

“Waziristan remains a mystery and a puzzle for most of the world. Reports of violence and terrorism are frequently associated with its name. For people living here, life has become a hell of uncertainty. A drone strike could kill them or their family members one day, a suicide bomber the next or action by the Pakistan army the day after. Is this all there is to Waziristan?

Ghulam Qadir Khan, sets out to show us the true face of Waziristan. He takes us to the heart of this society. We meet his family and those living in his village Darpa Khel in North Waziristan Agency. We become familiar with individuals. We meet and fall in love with members of his family. We are also introduced to the essential features of tribal society.

Unlike the previous authors, Ghulam Qadir is the only one from the area itself… The author is ideally placed to write on Waziristan. He is that rare tribesman from this area who is writing about his own people. Because Ghulam Qadir combines scholarship and experience in the field as an administrator, he is a trustworthy guide. Educated at some of the finest institutions of Pakistan – Lawrence College, Murree, and Edwards College, Peshawar – Ghulam Qadir joined the civil service of Pakistan in 1984. He has worked in the field as Deputy Commissioner and Political Agent in the Tribal Areas. In more senior postings, he has been in charge of the Tribal Areas in the planning department, and has also held the post of Secretary of Law and Order for the Tribal Areas.” Professor Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University, Washington D.C.

The Author Ghulam Qadir Khan Daur belongs to North Waziristan Agency, Tribal Areas of Pakistan. He did his masters in Economics and attended ISS, The Hague, Netherlands and IDPM, Manchester University, England to specialize in rural development. He joined the Civil Service of Pakistan in 1984 and served as Deputy Commissioner and Political Agent in the tribal areas. In senior positions, he was Secretary Law and Order and Secretary Finance for tribal areas.

Since the rise of militancy, he represented tribal areas in Dubai process, Wilton Park conferences in England and almost all briefings /presentations made to local and foreign delegations and has written articles on the tribal areas for reputed newspapers. He is the founding Chairperson of www.thetribaltimes.com, a web magazine on tribal areas and the Chairperson of the Society for the Protection of Rights of Tribes (SPORT) which is advocating and raising awareness against discrimination against tribal people. He has dedicated himself to improve the lot of tribesmen. Ghulam Qadir Khan combines scholarship and experience making him a trustworthy guide. He is ideally placed to write about Waziristan, his own people.