The 29th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on August 03, 2018, on the topic of “Merger of FATA, a Step Towards Inclusion”.
The programme was primarily focused on the report “FATA Tribes: Finally Out of Colonial Clutches? Past, Present and Future”, launched by the CRSS as part of its special publication series. It is the first report of its kind which provides an introduction to the history, culture, traditions and demographics of the ethnic Pashtun tribes inhabiting the north-western border regions of Pakistan. The focus of this report is on the tribes, sub-tribes and notable families residing in the seven administrative units that make up FATA. It also looks at the various traditional conflict mitigation and resolution mechanisms that these tribes have practiced for centuries where an overview of economic, demographic, and geopolitical dimensions of FATA is also provided.
The guest on phone, Mr. Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director, CRSS, noted that the recent publication by CRSS was initiated to bridge the gaps between the people residing in FATA and the other parts of the country as it had been – for long – presented as a no-go area and a nursery for extremist activities. The state must make efforts to uphold rule of law in the tribal areas and introduce alternate dispute resolutions mechanisms like the ones deployed in the other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – such as Dispute Resolution Councils, besides modifying the existing conflict resolution mechanisms in the region.
“The first and most important step towards inclusion of the ex-FATA in the political stream is to hold local bodies’ elections in these areas to speed up the development activities,” said Mr. Iftikhar Firdous, Bureau Chief, Express Tribune, Peshawar. The policy planning for the development of FATA ought to take into consideration the local culture, traditions, values and sensitivities. He emphasized that there is a long way to go to mainstream the tribal areas and people; especially the female population to ensure their equal access to fundamental human rights enshrined in the constitution.
The CRSS Program Manager, Mr. Shams Mohmand said that it is the need of hour that state should take concerted steps with research based planning at the core for the development of FATA and ensure a more connected future.
About Ulasi Taroon
Ulasi Taroon is a counter radicalization initiative of Center for Research and Security Studies that aims to address the radicalization challenges, extremist ideologies and foster social cohesion through a discourse anchored in the core constitutional values which are fundamentally essential prerequisites for social peace and harmony. The endeavor aims to cultivate and sensitize the people of KP in the core values in the Pakistani constitution and our social contract. It’s an attempt to highlight the criticality of abiding by these ideals – such as adherence to rule of law, primacy and sanctity of constitution, equal citizenry, responsible citizenship, respect for fundamental human rights, tolerance for diversity and different opinions, inclusive democracy and good governance – as a measure of fostering social cohesion and peaceful co-existence.