TRIBE: GURBAZ
AKA: GURBUZ, GURBOZ
PRIMARY LOCATIONS:
The Gurbaz live in North Waziristan, Pakistan and Khost, Afghanistan
RELIGION/SECT:
The Gurbaz are Sunni Muslims. In July, 2005 a jirga of the Utmanzai held in Miram Shah decided that the Gurbaz were a section of Daurs and Wazirs and its elders would be included in any tribal jirga. They said Utmanzai could not ignore the the Gurbaz with a popul
ation of roughly 30,000 and decided the Gurbaz should be treated as part of Utmanzai. It was not clear whether this determination was limited to Gurbaz in North Waziristan, or if it also included Gurbaz living in Afghanistan. This is not without precedent, as the Sherkel Gurbaz were accorded Pakistani nationality in the 1970s and were provided government jobs and other incentives. In 2004 another sub-section of the tribe, Bangi Daur was given nationality and other incentives.1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
They are a tribe of the Spin Ghund faction, occupying the territory on both sides of the Afghan border, north of Miram Shah. Given their location, they are also involved in considerable transportation trade between Khost and Tochi. KEY TERRAIN FEATURES:
VALLEYS: Mana valley in the Shawal
MOUNTAINS: Shawal
RIVERS: Charkhai algad
PROGRAM FOR CULTURE & CONFLICT STUDIES
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
WEATHER:
Temperatures in the area range from a high of 105° F in the summer and to a low of 35° F in the winter. The area receives modest rainfall in July and August (summer) and January and February (winter), with some snow at higher elevations. MIGRATORY PATTERNS:
The Gurbaz are chiefly a nomadic, pastoral people who move to the heads of their valleys in summer where there is excellent grazing for their considerable flocks.2
1The News International- Pakistan, July 12, 2005.
2 Tribal Hierarchy & Dictionary of Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas. (First Edition). NGA Office of Counterterrorism, 2005