§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India what is the distance between Wano, in the Waziri country (the place to which the baggage train of Mr. Watson, the Indian Government's Political Officer, was proceeding when attacked by Waziris on the 21st inst.), and the western frontier line of British India; what is the distance between Wano and Dera Ismail Khan; what is the number and status of Indian Government troops now stationed at or near Wano, and at other points in the Waziri country; and what political and civil officers are being maintained by us in that foreign territory; and, is there any near prospect of these forces and officers being withdrawn from Waziristan, in accordance with the recently indicated policy of the Government to reduce our occupation of Afghan tribal territory.
§ LORD G. HAMILTONThe distance between Wano and the station of Tank, on the borders of the British district of Dera Ismail Khan, is fifty-five miles. The distance to Dera Ismail Khan, headquarters of the district, is 115. There are 1,050 men in the nominal strength of the Wano garrison of Indian Government troops, and at Jandola and Sarvekai there are about 410 more. These numbers exclude the tribal levies and border militia. In the Tochi Valley there are 2,300 native troops. One European Political Officer, an assistant, and five Naib Tahsildars, besides their office establishments, are stationed in Southern Waziristan at or near Wano. The question of substituting militia for troops at Wano and in the 1042 neighbourhood is under the consideration of the Viceroy. The region in question is not Afghan territory, being within the boundaries of the area settled by the Durand Agreement to be under the influence of the Indian Government.