Pakistan's Tribal Belt: Integrate FATA

Daily Times

By:Azizullah Khan

All spectrums of tribal society are unanimous on the point that the colonial era system should be replaced by a modern, regular system, which is in place in the other parts of Pakistan FATA is the backwater and black hole of Pakistan. Why would it not be? In the 65-year history of Pakistan, its strategy towards FATA has been ‘how not to heed it’ or, as dictated by the regional strategic environment, ‘how to exploit its battle-friendly environment’. The underlying principle is to apply myopic policy shortcuts and carry on with them. History testifies to this notion. For the first 34 years of its history, Pakistan’s policy for FATA was to feed its dwellers the propaganda that they were the real liberators of Azad Kashmir (as they fought against India in the 1948 war). It was to impress upon them that they were not only a part of Pakistan but also its defenders, although we know that official books of Pakistan know them as ‘bandits’. To cement this manufactured perception of tribals, terms like ‘ghayoor qabail’ (honourable tribes) were concocted and applied. This tactic worked effectively; the tribals felt and seemed content with this title, bragged about it, and forgot to demand provision of health, education and communication facilities. With the Soviet attack on Afghanistan in 1979, the scenario changed completely. A bloody war broke out in the neighbourhood of FATA, reckoned as a most suitable and effective launching pad for the so-called jihad against atheist communism. Pakistan enthusiastically became a frontline ally of the US with two prime objectives in mind. One was to push Pakhtun nationalism in the background, which was at its peak at that time, and the second was to get the US to acquiesce in the nuclear bomb on which Pakistan was working at that time. FATA’s harsh terrain and socio-political milieu was optimally exploited against communism (in other words, in favour of the two objectives) with sheer disregard for the social and political life of the hapless tribals. Now the term ‘mujahideen’ being supplemented by the decades-old ‘ghayoor’ became a tool of choice for the Islamic connection that was needed to be stressed upon. Mujahideen from across the world were gathered and trained in FATA in particular and the whole Pakhtun belt in general. From here, they were launched against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. We know that thousands lost their lives but can the suffering of those mothers and sisters be felt whose beloved sons and brothers lost their lives in the war that is now admitted to be a war of aliens? The brutality continued through the Taliban era into the war on terror era of the 21st century. Now it became transparent that FATA was being seen through a foreign policy prism. Earlier, the Taliban regime was to be installed in Kabul and, after its ouster by the US, to help the now defunct regime have a respectable position in post-US Afghanistan, only to protect our vital interests, which are said to be at stake. Thanks to its geographic location, FATA predictably turned out to be of great help in both the projects. In this process, the exploitation of FATA reached its climax, which laid bare the exploitative nature/character of a political structure of the colonial era and so prompted an assertive demand for its replacement. All spectrums of tribal society are unanimous on the point that the colonial era system should be replaced by a modern, regular system, which is in place in the other parts of Pakistan. They are clamouring for their formal integration with mainland Pakistan. But so what? There are so many ways to dodge them. If one group expresses its demand of merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), you create another group to demand a separate province and so muddy the waters. If they press their demand, and warn that war might break out between these groups, it is better to throw the question on the backburner. The hardships borne by the tribals in the last decade precipitated two beneficial outcomes. First, they realised and acknowledged that their system was outdated and needed to be replaced and second, the Pakistan army has started development projects like constructing dams, building schools and health centres. The tribals are thankful, but that should not divert attention from the real issue, which is the formal integration of FATA. The tribals are divided over the integration issue; one group says that it should be declared a separate province and the other says that it should be merged in KP. Should FATA be merged into KP or declared a separate province? The first thing that needs to be done is to disallow traditional maliks and political agents any role in the process of integration of FATA because they are the beneficiaries of the status quo and would never want to disturb it. Also there is no need for a referendum as the majority of the people of FATA are uneducated, unable to take an informed decision, and hence open to manipulation. In my opinion, a different method should be adopted for settlement of the deadlock. Three two-member committees should be constituted. One should arrange sessions in major cities with bureaucrats from FATA. Another committee should arrange similar sessions with students and university teachers from FATA in the major universities of Pakistan. A third committee should visit every Agency and register the opinion of samples of laymen and influential personalities (other than traditional maliks). Two questions should be asked from every respondent: (1) Whether FATA should be a separate province or merged in KP? (2) Why? (Rationale behind the opinion should be inquired). The answer to the second question should be registered as a small comment, which will help in the further development of FATA. Due importance should be given to the opinions of students, bureaucrats and teachers as they are the people who know the pros and cons of the matter. They know about the system of KP and FATA, therefore they can judge the scenario better. Though this method is cumbersome, its output would be ideal. Besides an internal demand, there is also an external factor that calls for an urgent integration of FATA. Recently, a few articles appeared in the US press that hinted at the US’s intention to create trouble for Pakistan in FATA. The US is already blaming Pakistan for allegedly playing a negative role in the war on terror, so if her diktat is not capitulated to then there is a chance that she will try to create problems for Pakistan. FATA being a rugged territory will attract her negative designs. Lest it happen, we should integrate FATA so that no one can dare to cast doubt on its status. Its integration will end its suitability as a launching pad for extremist movements. The writer is a freelance columnist. He can be contacted at khetranazk@gmail.com