It was originally raised by the British in 1892 to operate in the North-West Frontier Province, and carried in that role following Pakistan's independence in 1947.

General Henry Rawlinson noted: Some years later the Turis (a major tribe in the valley) found themselves under attack from the Lower Kurram by Bangash and Zaimukht tribesmen, and also threatened by the Afghans, and so requested British help.

It was initially based at Balish Khel near Sadda, but within a few months the unit's headquarters were moved to Parachinar, and it was renamed the Kurram Militia.

The garrison held off the attackers for 24 hours, though twenty Kurram Militia men were killed, until the arrival of the flying column.

During the Third Anglo-Afghan War of 1919 the Afghan General Nadir Khan moved into the Kurram Valley, cutting the Thall to Parachinar road, and induced numbers of Zaimukht and Orakzai to join him.

During the time that the Kurram Militia were cut off, they gave an excellent account of themselves, not only defending the valley, but also occupying vantage points, which later acted as stepping stones for further operations against the Afghans.