CHARACTERISTICS
The North-West Frontier Province spans an area of 74,521 sq km
(28,773 sq mi). The province is mostly mountainous and rocky,
and is crossed by several mountain ranges, including the Hindu
Kush in the northwest, the Himalayas in the northeast,
and the Sulaimân and Safed Koh ranges in the west.
The province's climate is extremely diverse.
Near Dera Ismâîl Khân in the south is one of the hottest areas
in the Indian subcontinent, while across the mountain region
to the north the weather is temperate in summer and
intensely cold in winter. Canals irrigate the province.
Much of Pakistan's trade with Afghanistan passes
through the province, and Peshâwar, the province's capital
city, serves as a market center for goods brought
by traveling Afghan merchants. Peshawar is also the
seat of Peshâwar University, founded in 1950. The province's
inhabitants, who are mostly Pashtuns, speak the Pashto
language, which is also spoken in Afghanistan.
The province's culturally varied past is evident throughout
the region. Roman and Hellenistic influence flourishes
in the popular style of Buddhist art called Gandhara,
and Hindu influence is reflected by Mahayana Buddhism,
which had its origin in the North-West Frontier Province
and from there spread to Central Asia and East Asia.
Many important Buddhist relics have been found in the region.
HISTORY
Near Peshâwar, the Khyber Pass-the most important mountain
pass in the region-has long served as the gateway between
North-West Frontier Province and India for trade and for
invasion. Several major military figures throughout history
have annexed the region to their empires. Because of these
frequent, often short-lived invasions, the area has had
a turbulent history. After passing for centuries
from ruler to ruler, the region was conquered by the Muslims
of Ghaznî Province in the 11th century. In the wake
of this Muslim invasion, Pashtun tribes entered the territory.
By the end of the 12th century fresh invaders were
pouring in, but the Pashtun rulers primarily held the
area until Babur, founder of the Mughal dynasty and
India's first emperor, incorporated it into his
kingdom in the 16th century. In the 18th century
the region became part of the city of Kâbul, in Afghanistan.
Still later, the North-West Frontier Province became part
of the Sikh kingdom.
The province's turbulent history continued into modern times.
The British annexed it to their Indian empire in 1849,
but that failed to bring peace. The province was at war
with the British until the British evacuated the region
in 1947, when it became a province of Pakistan.
Population 3,0015,500 (2001)

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