Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) consists of seven districts and six FR regions. Ex-FATA has a border of 2,600 km with Afghanistan with a major economic terminal. For centuries tribal practices the British draconian law which is known as Frontier Crime Regulation (FCR). These draconian laws were no Wakeel, Daleel, and Appeal to ensure justice. The tribe was caged in the British draconian laws which affect their lives. The British Empire used the Ex-FATA as a buffer zone. It was the beginning of tribal marginalization in politics, access to education, and basic health facilities. Post partition in 1947, Sir George Cunningham was called back from England to take over as Governor northwest Frontier Province. The Political Agents were British and the law governing tribal areas continued to be the colonial FCR.
The overall status of tribesmen in Pakistan remained the same as in United India, that of privileged aliens. At the time of independence, the tribesmen merely changed hands from one colonial master to another; suffering under the same colonial law. The Soviet Union invasion in 1979, affected the tribal strip by Afghan immigrants flowing towards Pakistan. The influx of refugees and Mujahedeen across the Durand line inclined the tribal youth towards the holy war against USSR. Joining war enthusiastically was the history of the tribe, but the locals have only conventional wisdom instead of political socialization. The local Jirga resolved tribal disputes where the elder’s decision was the final words.
Read more: Who is Deputy Chairman Mirza Muhammad Afridi from Ex-FATA?
The US launched a war against terror in 2001 after the 9/11 event
The US declared war against the terrorist who destroyed the twin trade tower in New York and Pentagon. War on Terror was a challenging time for Pakistan once again refugees’ flow from Afghanistan started. The Afghan refugees were spread over Pakistan’s major cities. Post 9/11 scenario the youth faced multiple challenges either joining the war against the US or engaging themselves in education and Skills Development Programme.
In 2005, Former President General Musharraf gave multiple scholarships to tribal students for the de-radicalization of youth. But this was not enough for the tribal de-radicalization because the girl’s school was bombed and the young boys joined the war against the US in Afghanistan. There are multiple reasons which pushed the tribal youth to join the war against the US. Firstly, the religious political parties inspired the youth to join the holy war. The religious Madrasah become a hub of training, and jihad sermons, and gave them weapons to join the war against the US.
Most importantly, he banned girls’ education even by his own radical brother and family members to not attending school. The girls felt insecure outside and they were caged in the boundary wall of houses. The cultural and patriarchal behaviors of tribes enslaved their women at home. This will raise the concept of early marriage in the tribal society. Each day brings new violence to the land of Ex-FATA either a Taliban attack on military forces or tribal land disputes. Illiteracy is one of the major reasons behind the lack of social and political consciousness of Ex-FATA. According to the Planning and Development Department survey of the KP government South Waziristan is 61.2%, North Waziristan 55.5%, Khyber 50.8%, Kurrum 37.7%, Bajour 54.0%, Orakzai 55.2% and District Mohmand 54.2% illiteracy rate.
Read more: Won’t back down from our demands over FATA: TTP Chief
Secondly, maintaining peace and development in Ex-FATA is a challenging factor for Pakistan. The tribe cannot accept their defeat because of their radical approach toward any conflict resolution. You cannot defeat Pashtun by violence and guns, but you can defeat them with love. Instead of increasing the military forces in the Ex-FATA the intensity of conflict is overcome, but it is the permanent solution to the conflict. The government should utilize the energy of this young tribe in boosting the economy and enhancing the literacy rate of the country.
The steps for de-radicalization of Ex-FATA people are to educate them and give them quotas in colleges and universities. Post military operations when the tribe was internally displaced to the other districts and provinces of Pakistan they became conscious about their future. The technology comes into the hands of tribal youth and the cost of weapons. Technology was a moment of joy for the tribe when they connected with overseas family members via video and audio calls. The government of Punjab gives a quota and scholarships to different universities, which provide a platform to live in a diverse academic and research environment.
Read more: Governance Challenges in Ex-FATA region
To sum up the de-radicalization of tribal people the provincial government under the 18th amendment ensures quality education, and access to basic health facilities and enhances human development skills for human security. The planning and development department gives paid projects, and internships, and increases the enrollment of drop-out students from schools. Ex-FATA is famous for its scenic beauty with green lush mountains. The KP government should promote tourism, particularly in Waziristan which will become a source of income and it will help in boosting the country’s economy.
The author is an M.Phil scholar at Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad. He can be reached at mtofil@chem.qau.edu.pk. The views expressed by the writers do not necessarily represent Global Village Space’s editorial policy.