Peace operations: Funds for militancy-hit areas lie dormant at FATA Secretariat

Awaits finance division approval to utilise Rs500m.

PESHAWAR:

The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) Secretariat awaits Finance Division’s approval for over Rs500 million in funds to ensure peace and stability in the tribal areas.

Fata Directorate Information Director Omer Khan said the funds are lying unused with the secretariat. Once the finance division gives assent, the funds will be shared and distributed in Khyber, Bajaur and Mohmand agencies.

This funding was also discussed at the federal level and the approval of the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) was accorded. As endorsed by SAFRON, the principal accounting officer, in this case the Fata Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), has the authority to allocate funds. However, the secretary sent the case to the Finance Division for this money to be utilised between the agencies, Khan said.

Talking about the background of the funds, Khan said during the height of militancy in tribal areas 2009, the Fata Secretariat, with the support of the federal government and in collaboration with security forces, conceived a comprehensive strategy of building peace militias and strengthening the political administrations (PA) in order to counter the adverse affects of militancy. “The strategy was aimed at rehabilitating the area after the military operation and restoring civil dispensation,” he added.

The information director said due to the critical nature of conditions in South Waziristan (SW), it was decided that the blueprint would be launched there first, wherein an amount of Rs239 million was spent.

Khan further added there were positive results in SW where fortified pickets were constructed to support security forces and equip levies and khasadars.

“Due to the large migration of tribesmen, however, able militias could not be formed and hence the money was not utilitised,” he said, adding the political administration felt that in such circumstances further funding and support to militias was neither useful nor needed and these resources could be better used for more affirmative action.

Now, a committee comprising representatives from Fata Secretariat, Frontier Corps, 11 Corps and the PA has decided to divert and spend this money in other agencies of the tribal belt, primarily Khyber, Bajaur and Mohmand agencies.

Khan said the reason behind this initiative was that under the tribal custom of collective responsibility, a particular tribe is responsible for maintaining peace and security in their area. Hence with the cessation of military operations, the various tribes with reinforcement and assistance from the political administration and security forces would be able to effectively manage the security of their respective areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2013.