Before the advent of foreign
forces in Afghanistan in 2001, the situations in FATA were comparatively
peaceful. Though the terrorists and anti state actors were present in a large
number in FATA. Political Agent was all in all and civil bureaucracy knew the
pulse of tribal people well. The system of Jirga institution was strong and
people got their disputes resolved immediately. Malik and sufaid resh that were
the integral part of political system in FATA also played their role and people
had to accept their authority. People in FATA are mainly attached with
agriculture profession. They used to grow their own crops and ate their own
food. The mobility was easy and there was no hindrance for people to meet each
other and discuss their important issues and found ways and means for their resolution.
Schools were opened and children could easily go to their schools. Hospitals
and other health related facilities served people day and night. The roads were
also safe. Badraga which is one of the important traditions of tribesmen was
there and people regarded it well and obeyed what their tradition taught them. Tribalistic
code was intact. The entire FATA was governed by only one secretary of the
governor. Today there are four secretaries who run the affairs in FATA. In FATA
an additional chief secretary has also been appointed who is the administrative
head of the FATA secretariat. FATA Secretariat was primarily set up to keep
FATA and settled areas separated and to create a sense of alienation among the
people of FATA and settled districts. It means people were divided and
distances among them were widened. FATA secretariat is such a place on the
surface of earth which is set up for the people who are not allowed. This can
be called a den of corruption. This is an indication for the people of FATA
that they will remain aloof from their brethren in province of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa. It can be easily understood that societies are broken and
integration is discouraged. When regular forces of Pakistan entered into FATA
after 2001 it took responsibilities of administration from the Political Agents
and it changed the political scenario in FATA. Major and colonel took the
charge from political Agents and political tehsildars. Terrorists and anti
state actors started killing pro government Maliks and elders. More than 3500
pro government and pro peace elders and Maliks were ruthlessly assassinated.
Many people were forced to leave the area and settle in comparatively safer and
more peaceful areas of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Had the Maliks not
been assassinated the peace would not have been threatened to so much an extent
today. The clergy is also responsible for the destabilization of the FATA. When
Mutahidda Majlis Amal or simply MMA won the general elections in 2002 in then
NWFP Assembly it formed the government which encouraged the Taliban and during
their time weapon was accumulated in FATA. People were recruited, trained and
funded. For long five years FATA remained calm and there was no or little
interference in Afghanistan by terrorists from FATA. As the government of MMA
came to an end and Taliban sensed that secular parties were to win the elections
then they started their subversive activities to create problems for the new
comers who they thought would be antagonistic against Taliban. There are
reports that more than 90 thousand people of FATA were killed and double of it
got maimed. The rest were forced to flee the area and started a life of IDPs in
camps in various areas which was really hard and difficult for the people of
FATA.
Border tribal belt is situated
along and across both sides of Durand line. On both sides tribes live which
enjoy same linguistic, cultural, ethnic and economic links with each other. When
the links between two sides were broken either by terrorists or the governments
of both countries especially Pakistan then it was natural that the area in
question got disturbed and the region was destabilized. It is said that
tribalism is the first step towards human civilization but it is also a fact
that tribalism has some positive points also like mutual sympathy,
participation in one another trouble and distress, hospitality, Provision of
asylum, Jirgas and resolution of disputes through it. These were the few
factors which kept FATA peaceful before 2001. As the aliens perched in FATA
from different areas of Pakistan and world then situations changed because the
out siders including Pakistan Army could not understand FATA and its people. There
was a vast difference between two people and their customs and traditions.
Suggestions for
promotion of peace in FATA
1.
It was a reality that FATA was a cradle of peace
before 2001 despite having political and administrative problems. No power
could succeed to destabilize the area.
2.
Absence of women in whole system is real cause
of instability in FATA. Women should be empowered to play their due role in
peace promotion.
3.
More than 3500 Maliks have been assassinated. The
killers should be arrested and be punished as per law of the land and heirs of
the Maliks should be compensated.
4.
The institution of traditional Jirga needs to be
corruption freed and strengthened.
5.
All camps of terrorism should be eliminated from
FATA.
6.
Afghanistan will be left to make progress.
7.
People living both sides of Durand line should
be given right to use both areas and they will be allowed to move freely from
one place to other.
8.
People need to be integrated and links be
increased.
9.
Sports activities should be accelerated for
peace promotion.
10.
Civil Society Organizations Networks need to be
established and strengthened in FATA.
Regards
Zar Ali Khan Afridi
Executive Director
Society for Rights and Development
SF-118, Deans Trade Center Peshawar Cantt.
+92-91-3015963337
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