Since the 2018 merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, there have been numerous claims from top governmental authorities asserting that peace has been fully restored in the now-renamed Merged Tribal Districts (MTDs). While there are indications that these official contentions hold some substance, recent regrouping and resurgence of terrorist and militant groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the tribal districts suggest otherwise.

It is crucial to acknowledge the historical unpredictability of the region encompassing the MTDs, making terms like ‘peace’ and ‘development’ subject to cautious usage. Moreover, the nature of conflict in the tribal areas, spanning Pakistan’s western borders, is exceptionally complex, making it challenging to assert with certainty the achievement and sustainability of peace. Currently, one can argue that peace may not have been completely restored, but there has been a general maintenance of order, which is no small feat.

Nevertheless, the paramount concern at this juncture is the establishment of lasting and sustainable peace in the region. The much-needed development in the tribal region hinges upon the attainment of sustainable peace and serves as the guarantor of continued tranquility. In light of this backdrop, the regrouping of militants and terrorists in the MTDs is understandable but deeply concerning.

The tribal regions of KP have endured continuous violence and conflict over the past two decades, primarily stemming from the political, legal, administrative, and governance vacuum in the area. This vacuum, in turn, was a result of the uncertain status of FATA. While the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan recognized FATA as an integral part of the country, the region remained exempt from the application of national law. Instead, it was governed by the archaic British Colonial-era legal framework known as the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR). Successive governments and regimes paid little attention to addressing this legal and administrative inconsistency.

The 25th Constitutional Amendment, passed unanimously by Pakistan’s parliament on May 30, 2018, marked the hurried merger of FATA into KP. While this merger did bring about some improvement in the law and order situation in the tribal region, the development process has left much to be desired. This underscores the fact that the merger alone was not the panacea, and a comprehensive strategy for the development of the previously severely underdeveloped tribal region has always been necessary.

The government of Prime Minister Imran Khan initially allocated Rs 150 billion for the development of MTDs, but this allocation significantly diminished during the 16-month rule of the alliance led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. While development funds may be in the pipeline and some may have been spent, tangible progress on the ground in the tribal region remains elusive. This is due to the absence of a comprehensive development strategy, despite claims by government officials, particularly civilian bureaucrats.

Former PTI KP Chief Minister Mahmud Khan and current caretaker CM Azam Khan, both former bureaucrats, have shown a disturbing level of indifference towards the development of the Merged Tribal Districts (MTDs), opting to delegate responsibilities to the bureaucracy, which has its own agenda of neglecting the region.

On paper, numerous development strategies have been proposed by government departments like the Federal Ministry of State and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) and the KP Planning & Development Department. However, these documents have had limited practical impact. To formulate a comprehensive strategy for the development of the tribal region and the establishment of sustainable peace, it is essential to delve into the historical roots and key reasons behind the crisis and conflict in the area.

The policies pursued by successive governments and military regimes are largely responsible for the challenges in the MTDs. Past Pakistani strategists lacked foresight regarding the tribal areas, as evidenced by their assumption that leaving the region to self-regulate its affairs would have no repercussions on the rest of the country. These strategists were fundamentally mistaken, as events over the past two decades have unequivocally demonstrated. The militancy and terrorism emanating from former FATA have left the entire country vulnerable and resulted in a significant loss of life in Pakistan’s war against terror, surpassing the death toll of all other wars the country has fought. Consequently, Pakistan’s military had to launch large-scale military operations in the tribal areas.

During British colonial rule, FATA was intended to serve as a buffer zone between mainland India and Afghanistan, extending beyond Czarist Russia and later Soviet Russia. Hence, the region was not institutionalized, and attempts were made to change the tribal character of its inhabitants through civilized governance structures. Regrettably, successive Pakistani governments adopted a similar policy and attitude towards the tribal areas. This attitude must be revised, and the historical injustices committed by our strategists and policy formulators regarding the tribal areas must be rectified. Failure to do so could lead to a catastrophic disaster that would jeopardize the entire country’s security once again.

Our strategists must recognize that the issues in the MTDs are not isolated; they have far-reaching negative consequences for the entire country. Whether it’s terrorism, illicit arms trade, drug smuggling, or the patronage of criminal activities and militancy, the tribal regions have significantly impacted Pakistan’s security.

The sole strategy applied in the tribal region has been its merger with KP. While the merger may not have been the ideal solution, as it failed to address the core issues, conflicts, and crises in the tribal region, it is now a reality. There is no doubt that this merger was hastily executed to transfer responsibility and create an appearance of change, but this change has largely been superficial. Even if the former FATA was always interconnected with KP, the dependency alone did not foster development, and this remains true today. Consequently, the government must grasp the intricacies of the issues, and although the MTDs are part of KP, a distinctly tailored development strategy must be devised for the tribal region, taking into account the ground realities.