Daily Times

In any society which finds itself in a state of conflict, the state’s initial response is usually to reduce the intensity of the conflict through kinetic measures like sheer use of force. Once the state triumphs in reducing the scope of the conflict, a window of opportunity opens up for the state to cater to all the underpinnings of the conflict which are also known as non-kinetic measures-be they social, political, economic or psychological grievances-, thus resolving the conflict once and for all. Pakistan is currently battling with militancy in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). In exorcising militancy out of FATA and bringing the region under mainstream governance, is Pakistan fulfilling its responsibility of catering to non-kinetic measures in the window of opportunity created by successful military operations like Zarb-e-Azb, Khyber 1, 2 and 3, followed by current military operation Radd-ul-Fasaad?

Pakistan’s geographical interaction with Afghanistan is through FATA. The region’s unruly nature can be attributed to its regulation under a set of draconian laws known as the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) under which power remains concentrated into a few hands comprising local Maliks and political agents.

A lax approach by the civilian government to mainstreaming FATA is reflective of the way the latter’s mergeing with KP has been politicised

Post 9/11, FATA has been in the spotlight for it’s lawlessness and for turning into a safe haven for militants within Pakistan and across the border. As a result of turning a blind eye to its anarchic nature for several decades, Pakistan has paid a huge price both in terms of human casualties and fiscal losses. Similarly, the region’s disorderly nature has weighed quite heavily on peace in Afghanistan. Finally in 2014, Pakistan was forced into action in FATA as a result of pressure bought on by campaigns by different countries, one of which was India, to malign Pakistan as an exporter of terrorism. Pakistan was also forced to act as a result of the mounting costs of allowing militancy to thrive in FATA, especially after the Army Public School (APS) massacre in 2014.

Apart from military operations which created a window of opportunity for the state to cater to non-kinetic underpinnings of militancy in FATA, in 2015 the government also formed a FATA Reforms Committee to make consultation with a diverse spectrum of stakeholders in FATA and suggest ways how to bring FATA into the mainstream. The committee submitted a report to the government in 2016 with the suggestion that FATA should be merged with Khyber Pakhthunkhwa (KP). This is no easy task, but it is of utmost importance to take action in this regard and to do it soon, lest FATA become vulnerable to militancy again. As of now, it seems like only half measures have been taken.

The civilian government has been unable to catch up with the military in catering to non-kinetic measures of the conflict through a proactive policy. A lax approach by the civilian government to mainstream FATA is reflective of the way FATA’s merger with KP has been politicised by political parties, with some in favour and some against the merger. Moreover, Millions of people who were displaced in the wake of military operations in FATA are being repatriated with minimal financial compensation. As a result, a pervasive sense of disillusionment has been reported among repatriated families which might make FATA fertile recruitment ground for militancy. Also, one of the daunting challenges before the government is to make sure that the local culture is kept intact because FATA natives are unlikely to take well to cultural interference by the government. An out of the box solution is needed here.

It has been reported by the FATA Research Centre, an Islamabad based think-tank, that the majority of militants who surrendered have been recruited by the military in pro-government militias and are helping the military in chasing out anti-state elements. This might pay off in the short term, but this tactic might backfire in the long term as such policies will keep militaristic tendencies alive among locals.

FATA, at the moment, is a ticking bomb. Bringing it into the mainstream it is not only the need of Pakistan but also the world at large. And FATA needs sustainable support not only from Pakistan but also the world at large. The government in Pakistan and military should make the most out of the time they have. Any dilly-dallying on the part of the civilian government by politicising its mainstreaming or militaristic shenanigans at this stage would throw FATA back into the clutches of militancy. Any dereliction and lack of political acumen at this stage in dealing with the issue would be quite similar to what happened in the late 70s when FATA was thrust into the vortex of militancy by a military dictator, for which Pakistan paid a hefty price in the following decades.

The writer is an MPhil scholar studying International Relations at Department of Political Science at University of the Punjab, Lahore. He can be reached at uinam39@gmail.com, https://www.facebook.com/inamullah.marwat.56

Published in Daily Times, October 4^th 2017.