A cautious optimism

Good news from the Tribal Areas is a rarity, beset as they are by any number of difficulties from developmental to extremism and everything in between, but a cautious welcome has to be given to reports that the number of check posts in South Waziristan has been reduced to 32. Additionally, almost 30kms of the Afghan border has been fenced to attempt to stop unauthorised cross-border movements. Of themselves, these may seem minor developments, but they are not and they carry significance that is both symbolic and concrete.

South Waziristan has been a hotbed of violent extremism and a base for groups bent on the destruction of the state — to say nothing of the terror they brought to those parts of Afghanistan that they could reach. The army would not be reducing its activity if it did not feel it was safe to do so — safe for itself and safe for the civilian population. Pashto-speaking troops are deployed to the better, to communicate with local people and while there remain concerns about cross-border threats they are being credibly addressed.

Communication is further to be enhanced by the restoration of mobile phone networks in the area starting in the next week and the cellular providers have decided to exercise their corporate social responsibility by investing a portion of their considerable profits in the health, education and communications sectors. This is of particular note. For the corporate sector to make a move like this it is a confidence-building signal to other potential investors in the region. The move was made with the cooperation of the military and there is a three-year implementation plan.

Peace and stability were always going to be hard to find in South Waziristan and it has been achieved at the expense of blood and treasure, not cheaply bought. There is perhaps a template here for similar actions in other areas, where civilian, military and even political players can effectively work in partnership that has outcomes to the satisfaction of all sides. The art of the possible is not dead after all, now let us see the same trick pulled elsewhere. Soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2018.

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