Parachinar

Parachinar, the administrative capital of Kurram District, is nestled in a beautiful valley at the base of the Koh-e-Sufaid mountain range near the Afghanistan border. Once a cradle of peace and prosperity, this triangular-shaped town is named after the abundant Chinar trees—‘Pārā’ meaning leaf in Pashto.

Historically, it served as a key base for Mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan war due to its strategic location bordering Afghanistan’s provinces of Paktia, Khost, and Nangarhar. Though sectarian conflict deeply scarred the region for decades, the relentless efforts of Pakistan’s military restored peace by 2015. Today, normalcy has returned, markets are bustling once more, and the locals continue to rebuild lives under the serene shadows of Chinar trees.