Flashpoint FATA

Last week’s bomb blasts in the heart of Islamabad have sharpened international focus on Pakistan. Once again, the needle of suspicion is turning towards Pakistan’s restive tribal areas. The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have been on the frontline since the US-led war on Terror began in Afghanistan. Located on the north-western border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, FATA is a club of seven tribal agencies which form the fifth territorial component of Pakistan outside its four provinces. The region is beyond the jurisdiction of the laws that govern Pakistan. FATA is still governed by the Frontier Crimes Regulation introduced by the British. Parliamentary representatives are barred from being affiliated to political parties and the writ of tribal chieftains prevails. The fall of the Taliban across the Durand Line has unleashed an avalanche of violent defensive action by the primarily Pashtun people of FATA, who nurture a very strong sense of community with the Afghans. Kurram Agency is simmering with sectarian violence between Shias and Sunnis, the US is fighting the remnants of the Taliban and the Pakistani Army is now retaliating against US incursions, which brings region close to a civilian uprising. With experts from Pakistan, Ruchika Talwar takes stock of the situation.

Three days have passed since bomb blasts rocked Islamabad. No one has claimed responsibility yet. Militants in FATA are known to be well equipped; and given the sophisticated material used on Saturday, does FATA come under the lens before any other place?

Recently all major militant groups based in Pakistan have shifted base to the tribal areas. Mainstream groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban, splinter groups operating in Kashmir and Punjabi-speaking outfits like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Jaish-e-Mohammad — operate from FATA now, making it the obvious target of suspicion.

Brig (Retd) Mahmood Shah, former security chief, FATA

What is the conflict in FATA all about? Is the ‘non-mainstreaming’ of FATA a cause of discontent?

It is an underdeveloped area with the lowest socio-economic indicators in Pakistan. The border with Afghanistan is non-existent. After the fall of the erstwhile USSR, Afghan mujahideen kept crossing into FATA and have stayed back since. At the behest of Pakistan and the US, this area became a sanctuary for them. They use this part of Pakistan to operate in Afghanistan. Whoever is out of power in Kabul, seeks refuge in FATA and NWFP. Since the Taliban are out of power in Afghanistan, they are here and hence the conflict.

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