Makeen
Encyclopedia
Makeen or Makin, is a small town in South Waziristan
, Pakistan
, located on the Y-junction between Sararogha and Wana
, just south of Razmak
in North Waziristan
. It is mainly populated by members of the Mehsud tribe. The Pakistani military
has called it "the nerve center" of the Pakistani Taliban
. Just north of Makeen is the village of China, and the Taliban stronghold of Ladha
is a few kilometers to the south.
The Jan Alam Hospital is located in Makeen's bazaar. The bazaar is the commercial hub of the Mehsud tribe. As of 2005, tribesmen entering Makeen bazaar had to deposit weapons at a checkpoint, to be returned on departure.
By March 2010 the bazaar had been flattened by the Pakistani army
.
The Makeen Tehsil
has seven middle schools (including two for girls) and two high schools (none for girls).
, the former leader of Tehrik-i-Taliban until his death in an August 2009 drone attack. In 2007, Baitullah Mehsud was at "Anwar Shah’s house" in Makeen when he allegedly claimed responsibility for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto
during an intercepted phone call.
A February 2009 United States drone attack
struck three compounds, allegedly used by Baitullah Mehsud. Two vehicles were destroyed in a March 2009 drone strike. A June 2009 airstrike
aimed at Baitullah Mehsud and his deputy Qari Hussain
killed 60 people in Makeen. In August 2009, a drone attack destroyed the house of Mehsud's father-in-law. Makeen has also been involved in factional fighting between rival Taliban groups and tribal disputes, including a shootout after Mehsud's death.
New York Times reporter David Rohde and two Afghan colleagues Tahir Luddin and Asad Mangal were being held
in Makeen during the March 2009 missile strike. Rohde reported that the area "teemed with Uzbek, Arab, Afghan and Pakistani militants." After the drone strike, the Taliban arrested and executed a local man, whose decapitated body was hung in the local bazaar.
Makeen is a target of Operation Rah-e-Nijat
, which was launched in October 2009. On 6 November 2009, the Pakistani Army claimed to have entered Makeen, and cleared a large part of the town. The military razed Mehsud's house.
South Waziristan
South Waziristan is the southern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11,585 km² . Waziristan comprises the area west and southwest of Peshawar between the Tochi River to the north and the Gomal River to the south, forming...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, located on the Y-junction between Sararogha and Wana
Wana
Wana is the largest town of South Waziristan Agency in Pakistan's FATA . It is the summer headquarters for the Agency's administration, Tank located in neighbouring Tank District being the winter HQ-Colonial history:...
, just south of Razmak
Razmak
Razmak is one of the three sub-divisions of North Waziristan Agency in Pakistan, the other two being Miranshah and Mirali. Inhabitants are Uthmanzai Wazirs. Razmak is further sub-divided in three Tehsils. Tehsil being the lowest administrative unit in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of...
in North Waziristan
North Waziristan
North Waziristan is the northern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering . Waziristan comprises the area west and south-west of Peshawar between the Tochi river to the north and the Gomal river to the south, forming part of Pakistan's...
. It is mainly populated by members of the Mehsud tribe. The Pakistani military
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
has called it "the nerve center" of the Pakistani Taliban
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan , alternatively referred to as the Pakistani Taliban, is an umbrella organization of various Islamist militant groups based in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the Afghan border in Pakistan. Most, but not all, Pakistani Taliban groups coalesce under the TTP...
. Just north of Makeen is the village of China, and the Taliban stronghold of Ladha
Ladha
Ladha is a subdivision in South Waziristan, in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan, located between Wanna and Razmak. Just south of Ladha is the village of Kaniguram, and to the north is the small town of Makin.- Attacks :...
is a few kilometers to the south.
The Jan Alam Hospital is located in Makeen's bazaar. The bazaar is the commercial hub of the Mehsud tribe. As of 2005, tribesmen entering Makeen bazaar had to deposit weapons at a checkpoint, to be returned on departure.
By March 2010 the bazaar had been flattened by the Pakistani army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
.
The Makeen Tehsil
Tehsil
A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
has seven middle schools (including two for girls) and two high schools (none for girls).
Recent history
Makeen was the base of Baitullah MehsudBaitullah Mehsud
Baitullah Mehsud was a leading militant in Waziristan, Pakistan, and the leader of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan . He formed the TTP from an alliance of about five militant groups in December 2007. He is thought by U.S...
, the former leader of Tehrik-i-Taliban until his death in an August 2009 drone attack. In 2007, Baitullah Mehsud was at "Anwar Shah’s house" in Makeen when he allegedly claimed responsibility for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto
Assassination of Benazir Bhutto
The assassination of Benazir Bhutto occurred on 27 December 2007 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Bhutto, twice Prime Minister of Pakistan and then-leader of the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party, had been campaigning ahead of elections due in January 2008...
during an intercepted phone call.
A February 2009 United States drone attack
Drone attacks in Pakistan
The United States government, led by the Central Intelligence Agency's Special Activities Division, has made a series of attacks on targets in northwest Pakistan since 2004 using drones . These attacks are part of the US' War on Terrorism campaign, seeking to defeat Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants...
struck three compounds, allegedly used by Baitullah Mehsud. Two vehicles were destroyed in a March 2009 drone strike. A June 2009 airstrike
23 June 2009 Makeen airstrike
23 June 2009 Makeen airstrike was an attack launched by United States drones on a funeral procession in the city of Makeen in South Waziristan, Pakistan. The attack targeted a funeral procession of militants killed earlier in the day in a prior similar strike by drones...
aimed at Baitullah Mehsud and his deputy Qari Hussain
Qari Hussain
Qari Hussain Ahmad Mehsud was a top lieutenant in the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and the organizer of the group's suicide bombing squads. He was a cousin of Hakimullah Mehsud.- Operations :...
killed 60 people in Makeen. In August 2009, a drone attack destroyed the house of Mehsud's father-in-law. Makeen has also been involved in factional fighting between rival Taliban groups and tribal disputes, including a shootout after Mehsud's death.
New York Times reporter David Rohde and two Afghan colleagues Tahir Luddin and Asad Mangal were being held
Kidnapping of David Rohde
New York Times journalist David Stephenson Rohde and two associates were kidnapped by members of the Taliban in November 2008. Rohde was in Afghanistan doing research for a book...
in Makeen during the March 2009 missile strike. Rohde reported that the area "teemed with Uzbek, Arab, Afghan and Pakistani militants." After the drone strike, the Taliban arrested and executed a local man, whose decapitated body was hung in the local bazaar.
Makeen is a target of Operation Rah-e-Nijat
Operation Rah-e-Nijat
The Operation Rah-e-Nijat was a Pakistani military operation against the Taliban and other Islamist rebels in the South Waziristan area of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas that began on June 19, 2009; a major ground offensive was subsequently launched on October 17...
, which was launched in October 2009. On 6 November 2009, the Pakistani Army claimed to have entered Makeen, and cleared a large part of the town. The military razed Mehsud's house.