KARACHI:
Waziristan has always been plagued with terrorism and instability. Despite having ample natural resources and untapped or partly tapped reserves of gas and minerals, this hapless region is marred with unending terrorism. As a result, the potential and prosperity of the region are at stake.
Waziristan, despite having an abundance of agriculture, gas and mineral produce, is unable to feed its own people who live a substandard and impoverished life. This is because a major extraction of these resources go unchecked and unaccountable due to the absence of freight security.
Waziristan has such an abundance of resources that if tapped fairly and efficiently, not only can it make the region prosperous but will also help mitigate the curse of extremism and terrorism; there is no denying of the fact that terrorism and extremism have roots in economic inequality and abject poverty.
The concerned authorities should mull over solutions beyond a kinetic operation to ensure peace and prosperity in the region. Had merely short-sighted approaches and strategies been effective to steer this region out of conflict and violence, they would have done this so far. It must be remembered that Waziristan entitles to have its resources invested on its own people rather than an unfair mechanism of exploitation and extraction.
Amjid Aziz Wazir
Waziristan
Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2024.
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