The writer has served as ambassador to Afghanistan and chief secretary of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He is a nominee of the Government of Pakistan in talks with the TTP
Rather than addressing the root cause of militancy, refuge is sought in launching military operations — as if that is a panacea for the myriad problems that the tribal areas confront. The Swat operation of 2009, for instance, caused the displacement of three million people in a span of 30 days for the cause of chasing out just 400-500 militants. Operations in other areas, such as Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram and Waziristan, had the same effect — displacement of people, suffering of the rank and file of tribesmen, destruction of villages, houses, markets, collapse of the economy, closure of educational institutions, hospitals, and above all, a permanent alienation of the tribes from the Pakistani state. That is what military operations deliver if they are carried out without any coherent, consistent and well-thought-out strategy that is based on the recognition of ground realities and encompasses the broad vision of disengaging the tribal areas from the so-called war on terror.
The insurgency we face is rooted in the needless meddling in the affairs of the tribal areas, unwanted military ingress, destruction of institutions, demolition or weakening of the tribal Maliks, dismantling of the institution of the Political Agent and using the tribal areas as a scapegoat to promote the interests of the coalition forces in Afghanistan. It is seldom realised that peace in the tribal areas would have provided more leverage to the Pakistani government in dealing with the security situation, as well as helping to create an environment that would have helped rapprochement between the US and the Taliban.
First, the state should address the root cause of the insurgency. That would mean the country being disengaged from the so-called war on terror. This can be done once the tribes are taken into confidence, because once fully on-board, they and not the security forces would be the vanguards of the fight against those who wish to establish their regressive control in the tribal areas. Second, the systems that had delivered in difficult circumstances (remember 1965 and 1971 wars) should be resurrected. Foreign militants would then be called upon by the tribes to surrender, leave or give sureties for maintaining peaceful conduct. Fourth, each tribe would reach an agreement with the administration that would ensure that no undesirable element or group stays on its soil; if the tribe is weak, the administration could proceed to deal with such people in accordance with the systems in vogue in the tribal areas. Fifth, the army would be pulled out of the area as soon as peace and security agreements have been signed with all major tribes in all agencies. Sixth, the matter of compensation should be taken up and with the help of the local elders, a comprehensive compensation plan should be drawn up and executed by trustworthy and competent officers. Seventh, international assistance should be sought to execute an ambitious infrastructure development project for the tribal areas. Eighth, a plan should be drawn up for the return of nearly 1.6 million displaced tribesmen to their homes.
The state’s duty is to heal not deepen wounds. Its duty is to leverage the existing potential and the strengths of the tribes for accomplishing the goal of establishing peace. The state must not do anything that promotes instability, hatred, injustice and the alienation of the poor, as this can cause irretrievable damage to state institutions themselves.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (15)
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Unbelievably immature commentary on a complicated and much deeper issue that just tribal structure and political dynamics. The democratic system of which Mohmand is also a product, can never be progressive if governments bowed down to small groups of people that would take up arms just because they didn't like one policy or the other.
Tribal areas have representation the democratic structure of Pakistan and if any group has any qualms, relevant forums are available to them just like anyone in the rest of the country. Tribal area is not the only place that has traditions and culture unique to itself. Every region of Pakistan is distinctive and if this became the basis for everyone to pick a fight with the government, there will be nothing but chaos.
There hasn't been good governance in the country since its independence. Going by the writer's rationale, all the different ethnic regions here should start a free-for-all killing, plundering and looting others if the government doesn't heed them or makes policy decisions that they are not in favour of.
A well written article. If we understand this issue then we can approach towards a durable peace process. Unnecessary military operations are not the right thing to resolve the issues.
As other people have mentioned, it is good to hear from someone who is familiar with tribal areas and their traditions. However, the flip side of that 'local' perspective is also apparent in this article. Since the author's own values are derived from those of the tribal system he represents, he seems to think that the way women are treated there is 'respect', not dependence, lack of autonomy and a second class citizen status. He also seems to think that collective justice is a good idea, although it is universally considered to be an unjust practice in the modern world because it is deemed unfair to punish a whole community for individual transgressions. By the author's argument, drone attacks, as a form of collective justice and (what he calls) "a strong system of retribution", would be justified if anyone from tribal areas is found to be involved in terrorist attacks elsewhere. Would the author support them? As they say, problems can't be solved using the mindsets that create them.
Respect for women is when arrogant tribes fight, end up exchanging women...their wisdom says its long term political solution.
A tribal friend said his one of grand father had 3 wives (interestingly all living in same house), and 3rd wife was came as an exchange for peace settlement, her tribal clan had killed one of their tribal person.
He said, she was brutally tortured and kept like slave by other wives and his grand-father completely unjust to her....
In fact, tribal system consider women as their pride, and prefer keeping them behind walls. resulted famous social ill "Bacha Bazi" popular in Afghanistan , holds similar roots in Pakistani tribal belt.
Government is failed to introduce democratic institutions 6 decades back, used british colonial policy for these buffer zones, and used these tribal militias for political gains.
I wish if the problem under consideration is so simple and will be resolved in an eight point agenda or action plan. Things have changed drastically over the past decade, despite of the fact that some of the strategies mentioned by the author do need serious thoughts.
The author writes: Respect for women, a strong system of retribution, institutionalised accountability and collective liability for offences that occur in the territory of a particular tribe are some of the famous hallmarks of the way of life in the tribal areas.
Wow - I feel deep sympathy for the women in the tribal areas if the author is their spokesman.
the third point is missing...sir...
Great to see tribune put in print the words of someone who actually knows something about the tribal areas. We don't want martial law in the settled the settled areas of the country and I'm sure the tribal people do not like it in their land as well. The Pakistani public, both of the settled areas and the tribal areas, are united in their opposition to the so-called "war on terror". It's time the democratic government delivered on the wishes of the public and distanced themselves from this shameful war.
@numbersnumbers The problem with pro-war people like you is that you thrive on ignorance of the uninformed masses (pertaining to war on terror) For instance your comment gives an inaccurate timeline, the casualty figure is a sum of 10+ years of war. Why don't you talk about the early years when Pakistan sent it forces to the tribal areas. Similarly the killing of Maliks came AFTER the 1st military operation (which destroyed the Tribal institutions)
very good article.but there is always an element of using our weaknesses by foreign elements like in 1971 by our enemy. But unfortunately we are not ready to learn and correct from our previous mistakes.
What is the root cause of insurgency in Pakistan, or in other words - What is the root cause of Islamic Fundamentalism in Pakistan?
This same question can be asked with the name of the country changed to US, UK, India, Nigeria, Somalia.. The list is long.
Education? Naaah. 9/11 hijackers were well Educated. So is the head of Al Qaeda. Poverty? Nope. Many Terrorists come from good economic backgrounds. Fight against injustice? What injustice has the UK perpetrated on its Muslim populace or for that matter US?
There is no plausible reason, which is politically correct, to explain Islamic Fundamentalism.
Islamic Fundamentalism feeds of its velocity and has no antidote. It is slowly but surely engulfing one region at a time. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Yemen, Mali are undergoing this change.
Can it be stopped? In a Muslim majority nation, No.
Author neglects to mention that the Taliban have killed off all the tribal Maliks over the years to destroy the tribal system! No mention of the Taliban "MEDDLING" in tribal affairs! Author neglects to mention the 50,000 plus Pakistanis maimed and slaughtered by the Taliban over the last decade! I would guess that only Taliban assets deserve "compensation"! Author also neglects to mention the states support for the "Good Taliban", and all the peace deals signed with them to provide Pakistan's beloved "Assets" a secure base in "sovereign" Pakistan!