DOCSLIB.ORG

Understanding the Post-Merger Federally Administered Tribal Area (Fata) Challenges and Its Impact on National Security

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Understanding the Post-Merger Federally Administered Tribal Area (Fata) Challenges and Its Impact on National Security 203 UNDERSTANDING THE POST-MERGER FEDERALLY ADMINISTERED TRIBAL AREA (FATA) CHALLENGES AND ITS IMPACT ON NATIONAL SECURITY * Tariq Mehmood and Mobeen Jafar Mir Abstract Merger of FATA was long awaited demand of Pakistani nation in order to mainstream the neglected region of the country. On 31st May 2018, FATA region was merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) by the repealing 1901 regulation. In an attempt to assess the impact of FATA merger with KPK; qualitative study was conducted in form of interviews of locals of each tribal district. Five major domains were analyzed, the cultural amalgamation- Judicial system versus Jirga system, educational shift from Madrassa to national educational standards, Health standards from urban practices to rural practices, economic shift from free market to regular market and overall impact on national security including regional dynamics involving security situation in Afghanistan. Most of the respondents showed deep concern over performance of Government and slow pace of development in the region. Though some efforts have been put in, however the short comings in social sector are detrimental to national security drive due to its vulnerability to international actors to exploit for re-emergence of conflict. Additionally, the security situation is Afghanistan has direct impact on security of Pakistan. The U.S and Taliban negotiators are extensively engaged in peace agreements, despite sporadic clashes between opposing forces. However, needless to say; it is the country’s internal strength that can dictate level of impact of foreign intervention in that country. Therefore; Pakistan Government needs to manifest already planned reforms in social sector on fast track, generate economic activity and strengthen governance in this part of the country. Keywords: Merger, Governance, Education, Health, Economy, Justice, Afghanistan, Security. Introduction he Afghanistan along with erstwhile FATA region has remained hot battlefield T for invaders since 323 BC, however they faced tough resistance to continue their rule, thus the region has been named as Graveyard of Empires.1 The recent history of four decades has witnessed two major invasions. First, in December 1979, the then Soviet Union attempted to invade Afghanistan, however it was successfully repulsed *Tariq Mehmood is a PhD scholar at Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, National Defence University Islamabad, Pakistan. Mobeen Jafar Mir is a Research Officer at Islamabad Policy Institute, Islamabad, Pakistan. NDU Journal 2019 204 Tariq Mehmood and Mobeen Jafar Mir by locals of the region, who fought as a Mujahideen with U.S support, thus forced Soviet forces to withdraw from region by February 1989.2 Later in 2001, the US decided to bomb Afghanistan in the backdrop of 9/11 terrorist attacks on World Trade Center and Pentagon. The deadliest attack took the lives of 2996, whereas injuring over 6000 beside material damage of over $ 10 billion.3 Since 2001, both adjoining areas i.e. Afghanistan and FATA are transformed to conflict zone and witnessed bloodshed and almost collapse of political, economic and social structure. In Afghan conflict, 1,892 US soldiers killed, whereas 20,589 wounded in action, beside a trillion dollars expenditure and psychological and emotional impact on veterans and their families. At the same time, a devastating cost paid by the people of Afghanistan, where 147,000 killed in the war since 2001, which include more than 38,000 civilians. 4 While in FATA conflict, around 60,000 lost their lives and economic cost over $100 billion. In-fact the economic cost is assessed to be double of it as the conflict has resulted into collapse of business structure, joblessness, insecurity and lack of foreign investment due to security reasons. FATA region also faced criticism due to negligence by the Government in political, economic and social sector. The people of the region remained isolated from rest part of the country and restricted by their own culture traditions. Simultaneously efforts to mainstreaming FATA continued but manifested on December 14th, 2016, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly adopted a resolution in favour of merging FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the goal of infrastructure rehabilitation and reconstruction. Recommendations to bring FATA on par to the rest of the country were approved by the federal cabinet on March 2nd, 2017, and on December 26th, 2017, the federal cabinet approved the formation of the National Implementation Committee on FATA Reforms. On 31 May 2018, The FATA Reforms Bill, in essence the 31st amendment to the constitution, abolished this provision, and in his final executive decision under the article, President Mamnoon Hussain repealed the 1901 regulations. 5 By repealing 1901 regulation the political and executive system comes as per the national system under 1973 constitution. President Mamnoon Hussain also enacted FATA Interim Regulations Act 2018, replacing FCR until transformation is completed. The decision of FATA interim regulations was criticized by some segment due to its variations from modern concept of law and was also declared unconstitutional by Peshawar High Court.6 The decision to mainstream FATA was hailed by most part of the nation, however some political forces such as Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam (Fazlu-ur Rehman) JUI (F) opposed the merger of the region since the day it was proposed. The argument voiced by the JUI (F) is that in first phase, people should be provided with basic NDU Journal 2019 Understanding The Post-Merger Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) 205 facilities including education and political rights. Thereafter referendum may be held to ensure due representation of the people. Almost an year is passed since FATA merger and now it is to be viewed where FATA stands today? Five important sectors have been analyzed as being foremost for the development of the society as under: - Events leading to FATA merger – Historical Perspective Impact on tribal culture – Judicial system versus Jirga system Impact on Economy – Free Market versus regulated economy Impact on Education – Madrassa education versus national education standards Impact on Health–Urban health standards verses Rural Health standards Impact on overall national security – Regional context Events leading to FATA Merger – Historical Perspective If we meticulously examine annals of Pashtun-dominated region of South Asia, like Pakistan’s province of Khyber Paktunkhwa (KPK), including erstwhile region of FATA and Balochistan, as well as certain other pockets of Afghanistan, it would become obvious that these areas have remained at the center of power struggle among different empires. Seleucus I Nicator, an infantry general under Alexander the Great, was the first foreign invader who overwhelmed the Pashtuns and ultimately merged their region into his newly established the Seleucid Empire. Earlier on, Alexander - the Great (323 B.C) had made numerous futile attempts to invade the tribal belt.7 Thereafter emperors Ashoka Maurya, Mehmood Ghaznavi, Muhammad Ghori, Zaheeruddin Babar, Aurangzeb Alamgir, Dost Muhammad, Hari Singh continued attempts to sustain their rule in the region.8 Later on, the British East India Company and the Emirate of Afghanistan locked horns from 1839-1842 in the First Anglo-Afghan War, and in 1878-1880 the Second Anglo-Afghan War.9 The war became a driving force giving birth to a great game-like situation in Central Asia by forcing the British Empire to cross swords with the Russian Empire.10 The British administration in 1871 introduced a new set of laws the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR), later modified in 1873 and 1876, to manage the crime rate in the tribal region.11 The FCR is considered as a hybrid of British Colonial-era legal framework incorporating tribal traditions and customs (also called as Black Law), thus violating modern norms on International human rights.12. The August 1947 partition of the British Raj into Pakistan and India bequeathed the god forsaken and fragile Frontier Province and the tribal areas to Pakistan. The Government of NDU Journal 2019 206 Tariq Mehmood and Mobeen Jafar Mir Pakistan too maintained the status-quo by not depriving the local Maliks of perquisites they had enjoyed under the British Raj, thus ensuring their loyalty on the altar of grave human right violations inflicted on the tribal residents. In 1970s, FATA bore the brunt of the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan when millions of Afghan refugees poured into its territory, thus leaving its economic progress in the doldrums. The invasion not only ignited a fear in the tribesmen, it also encouraged them to put their heads together to design a roadmap to counter the imminent threats coming from the Soviet Union, thus the invasion became one of the primary reasons for the formation of Mujahideen against the Soviets. What further compounded the situation was the element of ideology giving birth to the concept of ‘Jihad’ amalgamating with the tribal avowal to revolt for the sovereignty of tribal customs and norms. After soviet withdrawal the Afghanistan region came under control of Taliban whereas, Jihadi mindset continued in FATA region. USA diverted the attention from the region after achieving the objective thus left the chaos on the mercy of people of Afghanistan. Pakistan Government managed the Taliban Government, whereas peaceful Jihadism continued in FATA region. The incident of 9/11 attacks resulted into bombing of Afghanistan, deployment of US led NATO forces and forcing Pakistan
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Pakistan-U.S. Relations
    Pakistan-U.S. Relations K. Alan Kronstadt Specialist in South Asian Affairs July 1, 2009 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL33498 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Pakistan-U.S. Relations Summary A stable, democratic, prosperous Pakistan actively combating religious militancy is considered vital to U.S. interests. U.S. concerns regarding Pakistan include regional and global terrorism; Afghan stability; democratization and human rights protection; the ongoing Kashmir problem and Pakistan-India tensions; and economic development. A U.S.-Pakistan relationship marked by periods of both cooperation and discord was transformed by the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and the ensuing enlistment of Pakistan as a key ally in U.S.-led counterterrorism efforts. Top U.S. officials praise Pakistan for its ongoing cooperation, although long-held doubts exist about Islamabad’s commitment to some core U.S. interests. Pakistan is identified as a base for terrorist groups and their supporters operating in Kashmir, India, and Afghanistan. Pakistan’s army has conducted unprecedented and, until recently, largely ineffectual counterinsurgency operations in the country’s western tribal areas, where Al Qaeda operatives and pro-Taliban militants are said to enjoy “safe haven.” U.S. officials increasingly are concerned that indigenous religious extremists represent a serious threat to the stability of the Pakistani state. The United States strongly encourages maintenance of a bilateral cease-fire and a continuation of substantive dialogue between Pakistan and neighboring India, which have fought three wars since 1947. A perceived Pakistan-India nuclear arms race has been the focus of U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Title Changing Gender Relations on Return from Displacement to The
    HPG Report/WorkingHPG Working Paper Changing gender relations on return from displacementTitle to the Subtitlenewly merged districts Authorsof Pakistan Simon Levine Date October 2020 About the author Simon Levine is a Senior Research Fellow at the Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG) at ODI. Acknowledgements This work would not have been possible without a dedicated team of researchers who did not simply conduct the interviews: they managed the whole process of fieldwork and shaped the analysis in this paper by combining their deep familiarity with the area with a very sharp analysis of the changes they saw happening. They know who they are, and they know how great is my debt to them. Thanks, too, to Megan Daigle, Kerrie Holloway and Sorcha O’Callaghan for comments on earlier drafts; and to the (anonymous) peer reviewers who generously gave up their time to give an incisive critique that helped this to become a better paper. Katie Forsythe worked her editing magic, as always; and Hannah Bass ensured that the report made it swiftly through production, looking perfect. Thanks also to Catherine Langdon, Sarah Cahoon and Isadora Brizolara for facilitating the project. The core of HPG’s work is its Integrated Programme (IP), a two-year body of research spanning a range of issues, countries and emergencies, allowing it to examine critical issues facing humanitarian policy and practice and influence key debates in the sector. This paper is part of HPG’s 2019–2021 IP, ‘Inclusivity and invisibility in humanitarian action’. The author would like to thank HPG’s IP donors, whose funding enables this research agenda.
    [Show full text]
  • Tariq Mehmood's Song of Gulzarina
    Kohl: a Journal for Body and Gender Research Vol. 2, No. 2 (Winter 2016) Tariq Mehmood’s Song of Gulzarina Daraja Press, 2016 Abeera Khan Tariq Mehmood’s Song of Gulzarina A novel centred on a Pakistani immigrant’s plan to commit a suicide bombing in Manchester, England, in the 263 wake of the War on Afghanistan, can easily be read as a familiar post-9/11 tragedy. We can assume it is a story of radicalisation, where a character reaches his breaking point in response to a series of unfortunate and unjust geopolitical events. On the outset, then, Tariq Mehmood’s Song of Gulzarina may seem like a predictable political commentary-cum-fable warning against the constraints of ideology and the violence of imperialism. However, it is both the author’s and the characters’ acute self-awareness of the familiarity of the plot, and their insistence on stressing the nuances of Saleem’s journey rather than the gravity of its end, that make for a compelling read. To say that Saleem’s life is calamitous would be an understatement. The novel switches between his present day preparations for his suicide and flashbacks of how his life brought him to this decision. We witness Saleem’s migration as an upper-caste schoolteacher from a village in Pakistan to England as a working class immigrant. Mehmood uses his protagonist’s reflections on his past to weave an engaging historical and political backdrop into the story. Through Saleem’s journey, the reader bears witness to the tragedy and violence of several historical moments, including the Partition of India and the establishment of Pakistan (and then, Bangladesh), reactionary racism against the steady stream of immigrants in 1960’s England, the havoc wreaked by the Cold War in Afghanistan, and then again by the War on Terror, and the growing Islamophobia and decaying promises of multiculturalism in post-9/11 England.
    [Show full text]
  • Situation Des Musiciens Traditionnels Dans La Province De Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2007-2021)
    Division de l’information, de la documentation et des recherches – DIDR 17 mai 2021 Pakistan : Situation des musiciens traditionnels dans la province de Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2007-2021) Avertissement Ce document, rédigé conformément aux lignes directrices communes à l’Union européenne pour le traitement de l’information sur le pays d’origine, a été élaboré par la DIDR en vue de fournir des informations utiles à l’examen des demandes de protection internationale. Il ne prétend pas faire le traitement exhaustif de la problématique, ni apporter de preuves concluantes quant au fondement d’une demande de protection internationale particulière et ne doit pas être considéré comme une position officielle de l’Ofpra. La reproduction ou diffusion du document n’est pas autorisée, à l’exception d’un usage personnel, sauf accord de l’Ofpra en vertu de l’article L. 335-3 du code de la propriété intellectuelle. Pakistan : Situation des musiciens traditionnels dans la province de Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Table des matières 1. Les musiciens traditionnels de Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – FATA ........................................................ 3 2. Le TTP et les musiciens .................................................................................................................. 3 2.1. De 2007 à 2017 : le TTP et la « guerre contre la musique » .................................................. 3 2.2. La perte d’influence du TTP et le ciblage des musiciens ........................................................ 5 3. Les perceptions sociales et familiales des
    [Show full text]
  • EASO Country of Origin Information Report Pakistan Security Situation
    European Asylum Support Office EASO Country of Origin Information Report Pakistan Security Situation October 2018 SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION European Asylum Support Office EASO Country of Origin Information Report Pakistan Security Situation October 2018 More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). ISBN: 978-92-9476-319-8 doi: 10.2847/639900 © European Asylum Support Office 2018 Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged, unless otherwise stated. For third-party materials reproduced in this publication, reference is made to the copyrights statements of the respective third parties. Cover photo: FATA Faces FATA Voices, © FATA Reforms, url, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Neither EASO nor any person acting on its behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained herein. EASO COI REPORT PAKISTAN: SECURITY SITUATION — 3 Acknowledgements EASO would like to acknowledge the Belgian Center for Documentation and Research (Cedoca) in the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons, as the drafter of this report. Furthermore, the following national asylum and migration departments have contributed by reviewing the report: The Netherlands, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Office for Country Information and Language Analysis Hungary, Office of Immigration and Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Office Documentation Centre Slovakia, Migration Office, Department of Documentation and Foreign Cooperation Sweden, Migration Agency, Lifos
    [Show full text]
  • Researched and Compiled by the Refugee Documentation Centre of Ireland on 29 June 2016
    Pakistan – Researched and compiled by the Refugee Documentation Centre of Ireland on 29 June 2016 Information on lawyers/advocates who practice in Pakistan, in particular Dir Lower in Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa (Pakhtunkhwa). Is there country of origin information showing that advocates/lawyer have been targeted by extremist religious groups, and terrorist groups, including the Taliban. A report published by the UN Human Rights Council, in a section titled “The situation of lawyers” (paragraph 88), states: “There are four categories of lawyers in Pakistan: ordinary advocates, advocates of the High Courts, advocates of the Supreme Court and senior advocates of the Supreme Court. Lawyers are organized in two types of professional associations. Bar Councils, at both Federal and provincial level, are statutory bodies that exercise public functions, such as admission to the Bar and disciplinary proceedings against lawyers. Bar Associations are professional associations of lawyers that exist at both lower and superior court levels.” (UN Human Rights Council (4 April 2013) Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Addendum : Mission to Pakistan, p.17) In a section titled “Lack of protection, threats, attacks and killings” (paragraph 52) this report states: “The judiciary, legal profession and prosecution services in Pakistan regularly come under pressure from all kinds of public and private actors, including non-State actors such as extremist religious groups, insurgents and terrorists. The Special Rapporteur is seriously worried by the number and nature of reported cases of threats, attacks and killings of judges and lawyers. In the face of such criminal violence and intimidation, the State seems to have been unable to provide protection and secure the lives and safety of some of its citizens, judges in particular.
    [Show full text]
  • Marble Industry Role in the Socio Economic Development of Marble Industrial Owners of District Mohmand Federal Administered Tribal Area-Pakistan
    Industrial Engineering Letters www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-6096 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0581 (online) DOI: 10.7176/IEL Vol.9, No.3, 2019 Marble Industry Role in the Socio Economic Development of Marble Industrial Owners of District Mohmand Federal Administered Tribal Area-Pakistan Sajjad Ahmad Institute of Development Studies, The University of Agriculture Peshawar Dr.Naushad Khan Institute of Development Studies, The University of Agriculture Peshawar Abstract The study was carried out in District Mohmand in August, 2018. The major objective was, to find out marble industry role in the socio-economic development of District Mohmand. The study area consists of 7 tehsils while three tehsils namely Safi, Pandiali, Khwezai Bazai were selected on the basis of more marble industries . The total number of marble industries in these tehsils were 140, Safi 40, Pandiali 48 and Khwazia Bazai 48 while all were selected for the present study. Data were collected though questionnaire while Descriptive statistic and paired T-test were used for data analysis. The mean monthly income of the respondents after marble industry was Rs.97286 and before was Rs.49843 while mean monthly expenditure after was Rs.51714 and before was Rs.39479.Similarly the mean monthly saving after marble industrial owners was found Rs.45500 and before was Rs.10786 and the school children were found more than before. Similarly the private school number was found more than before. The monthly mean expenditure on education after marble industry was found Rs.6151 and the expenditure before was Rs.4361. Subsequently the private hospitals were found more than before.
    [Show full text]
  • Tabai Dam (Khyber District) Sep, 2018
    Initial Environmental Examination Report ________________________________________ Project Number: 47021-002 Loan Number: 3239 PAK: Federally Administered Tribal Areas Water Resources Development Project Initial Environmental Examination Report for Tabai Small Dam, District Khyber Prepared by Project Management Unit, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan For the Asian Development Bank Date received by ADB: Jan 2020 NOTES (i) The fiscal year (FY) of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and its agencies ends on 30 June. (ii) In this report “$” refer to US dollars. This initial environmental examination report is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Project Management Unit PMU FATA Water Resources Development Project FWRDP Merged Areas Secretariat FEDERALLY ADMINISTERED TRIBAL AREAS WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PROJECT INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (IEE) TABAI DAM (KHYBER DISTRICT) SEP, 2018 FATA WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PROJECT CONSULTANTS House # 3, Street # 1, Near Board Bazar, Tajabad, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Tel: +92 91 5601635 - 6 Fax: +92 91 5840807 E-mail: [email protected]
    [Show full text]
  • Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    GOVERNMENT OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Qabail Led Community Support Project (QLCSP) Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) Public Disclosure Authorized December 21, 2019 To be executed By Planning & Development Department (GoKP) Through Public Disclosure Authorized Directorate of Projects under the Merged Areas Secretariat (MAS) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (GoKP), through Directorate of Projects Planning & Development Department (DP&DD), intends to implement “Qabail Led Community Support Program (QLCSP”) in Khyber district of merged areas (MA) – the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)1 – and Peshawar and Nowshera districts of KP with the proposed assistance of the World Bank (WB).2 This Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) has been prepared to meet requirements of national legislation of Pakistan and World Bank environmental and social policy requirements to address potential negative impacts from the proposed project. Project Overview Background The Central Asia-South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA1000) aims to facilitate electricity trade between Central Asia and countries in South Asia by putting in place transmission infrastructure. As part of CASA1000 project, each participating country3 is implementing Community Support Programs (CSPs) to share the benefits associated with the project and to generate support among local communities. Project Area In Pakistan, the CASA1000 transmission line (TL) will pass through approximately 100 kilometer long territory passing through various parts of KP province. The project area accordingly lies in/includes Peshawar and Nowshera districts and Khyber district4 of merged areas (MA). Project Components The Project has four components as briefly described below; and its Project Development Objective (PDO) is “improve access to local infrastructure and strengthen community engagement in the project areas”.
    [Show full text]
  • Gathered Wild Food Plants Among Diverse Religious Groups in Jhelum District, Punjab, Pakistan
    foods Article Gathered Wild Food Plants among Diverse Religious Groups in Jhelum District, Punjab, Pakistan Muhammad Majeed 1, Khizar Hayat Bhatti 1, Andrea Pieroni 2,3 , Renata Sõukand 4 , Rainer W. Bussmann 5 , Arshad Mahmood Khan 6 , Sunbal Khalil Chaudhari 7, Muhammad Abdul Aziz 2 and Muhammad Shoaib Amjad 8,* 1 Department of Botany, Hafiz Hayat Campus, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Punjab 50700, Pakistan; [email protected] (M.M.); [email protected] (K.H.B.) 2 University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, 12042 Pollenzo/Bra (Cuneo), Italy; [email protected] (A.P.); [email protected] (M.A.A.) 3 Department of Medical Analysis, Tishk International University, Erbil 4401, Iraq 4 Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Mestre, Italy; [email protected] 5 Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia; [email protected] 6 Department of Botany, Govt. Hashmat Ali Islamia Degree College Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan; [email protected] 7 Department of Botany, Sargodha Campus, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Sargodha 40100, Pakistan; [email protected] 8 Department of Botany, Women University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bagh 12500, Pakistan * Correspondence: [email protected] Citation: Majeed, M.; Bhatti, K.H.; Abstract: Recent ethnobotanical studies have raised the hypothesis that religious affiliation can, in Pieroni, A.; Sõukand, R.; Bussmann, certain circumstances, influence the evolution of the use of wild food plants, given that it shapes R.W.; Khan, A.M.; Chaudhari, S.K.; kinship relations and vertical transmission of traditional/local environmental knowledge.
    [Show full text]
  • Special Report No
    SPECIAL REPORT NO. 494 | MAY 2021 UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE www.usip.org The Evolution and Potential Resurgence of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan By Amira Jadoon Contents Introduction ...................................3 The Rise and Decline of the TTP, 2007–18 .....................4 Signs of a Resurgent TPP, 2019–Early 2021 ............... 12 Regional Alliances and Rivalries ................................ 15 Conclusion: Keeping the TTP at Bay ............................. 19 A Pakistani soldier surveys what used to be the headquarters of Baitullah Mehsud, the TTP leader who was killed in March 2010. (Photo by Pir Zubair Shah/New York Times) Summary • Established in 2007, the Tehrik-i- attempts to intimidate local pop- regional affiliates of al-Qaeda and Taliban Pakistan (TTP) became ulations, and mergers with prior the Islamic State. one of Pakistan’s deadliest militant splinter groups suggest that the • Thwarting the chances of the TTP’s organizations, notorious for its bru- TTP is attempting to revive itself. revival requires a multidimensional tal attacks against civilians and the • Multiple factors may facilitate this approach that goes beyond kinetic Pakistani state. By 2015, a US drone ambition. These include the Afghan operations and renders the group’s campaign and Pakistani military Taliban’s potential political ascend- message irrelevant. Efforts need to operations had destroyed much of ency in a post–peace agreement prioritize investment in countering the TTP’s organizational coherence Afghanistan, which may enable violent extremism programs, en- and capacity. the TTP to redeploy its resources hancing the rule of law and access • While the TTP’s lethality remains within Pakistan, and the potential to essential public goods, and cre- low, a recent uptick in the number for TTP to deepen its links with ating mechanisms to address legiti- of its attacks, propaganda releases, other militant groups such as the mate grievances peacefully.
    [Show full text]
  • Download 2.26 MB
    Initial Environmental Examination Report ________________________________________ Project Number: 47021-002 Loan Number: 3239 PAK: Federally Administered Tribal Areas Water Resources Development Project Initial Environmental Examination Report for Warsak Left Bank Canal, District Mohmand Prepared by Project Management Unit, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan For the Asian Development Bank Date received by ADB: August 2020 NOTES (i) The fiscal year (FY) of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and its agencies ends on 30 June. (ii) In this report “$” refer to US dollars. This initial environmental examination report is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Project Management Unit PMU FATA Water Resources Development Project FWRDP KP P&D Department FEDERALLY ADMINISTERED TRIBAL AREAS WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PROJECT INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (IEE) COMMAND AREA DEVELOPMENT OF WARSAK LEFT BANK CANAL (MOHMAND DISTRICT) August, 2020 JOINT VENTURE: FATA WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PROJECT CONSULTANTS House # 3, Street # 1, Near Board Bazar, Tajabad, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Tel: +92 91 5601635 - 6 Fax: +92 91 5840807 E-mail: [email protected] Initial Environmental Examination: FATA Water Resources Development Project CADWLBC subproject TABLE OF CONTENTS S. No Description .................................................................................................... Page No. INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]