ByPROF. DR. ZAHID ANWAR

Department of Political ScienceUniversity of Peshawar, Pakistan

THE EMERGING REGIONAL POLITICAL SCENARIO AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR KHYBER

PAKHTUNKHWA Presentation in the International Conference on “The Dynamics of Change in Conflict Societies:

Pakhtun Region in Perspective” (June 25-26,  2013) jointly organized by Hanns Seidel Foundation (Islamabad) and the Department of Political Science, University of Peshawar, PAKISTAN.

•This paper explores the impact of regional political developments on the socio- economic and political life of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. •To understand the dynamics of change among the Pakhtuns of KP it’s worthwhile to study the current

scenario in historical perspective. •In this contest analyzing the political

dynamics in KP in global, regional, national, and local perspectives will help in grasping the ground reality.

• The NATO will considerably minimize its footprints in Afghanistan in 2014. •What will be its impact on the area along the Durand Line? •Will it help in the political stabilization of the region or will it be a harbinger of a new phase of violence?

• From time immemorial the area has been crisscrossed by many great invaders and remained a highway of conquest as well as a graveyard of empires. • Its inhabitants are custodian of a splendid heritage. Pakhtunwali is a rich tradition and Islam is not just a religion of peace but of freedom and self respect.

• The majority of people of KPK are Pakhtuns other ethnic groups are Gujar, Awan etc. • Yousefzai, Mohmand, Afridi, Shinwari,

Mohmmadzai, and Durrani are some of the major tribes of Pakhtuns living in the

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.• It has rich natural and human geography.

Wheat, maize, tobacco and sugarcane are some of the major crops and small scale industries are producing fabrics, caps, shoes, embroidery etc.

• Industrial zones have been created to galvanize industrial development nevertheless it remained backward in both agricultural and industrial sectors. • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has produced great

leaders and contributing hugely to nation building through its rich and talented human resources.

• Afghanistan was the last battlefield of the Cold War.

• Saur Revolution (April, 1978) and the Soviet

invasion of Afghanistan in its wake (December, 1979) made life gloomier for the people of this area. • The important events which took place in

neighboring Afghanistan in 1978, 1979, 1989 and 2001 impacted the people of KPK to a great extent.

• Pakistan was the front line state in the 1980s against the Soviet troops in Afghanistan. • In that time regional war economy

developed, narcotic, weapon, timber and transport mafia strengthened and exploited the situation. • KP became a corridor for transfer of

weapons, money and food to those forces which resisted the Soviet troops in Afghanistan. • KP gave refuge to millions of Afghans. After

9/11 again Pakistan became frontline state this time an important partner in the war against global terrorism. KPK bore huge human and material losses.

• In this point in time Pakistan is caught in crisis and it is struggling within and without to cope with it.

• KP is part of the federation of Pakistan which

is comprised Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, federal capital, Northern Areas and Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

• The implications of the war on terror are more serious for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) due to the socio- cultural similarity, geographic proximity with Afghanistan and vulnerability of the porous border which is stretched over more than 2400 km with more than 300 passes.

• It was Peshawar, the capital of KP that was the largest concentration camp of foreigners in the 1980s which again became a very big camp of foreigners in the first decade of the 21st century when Pakistan became the frontline state in the war against terrorism. • KP became the frontline province and

Peshawar the frontline city in the war against terrorism.

• The war on terror and its ripple effects have worsened the socio-economic

conditions of the North West Pakistan and there is hardly any aspect of their lives which is not affected by terrorism and counter terrorism.

• Radicalization, intolerance, suicide

bombing, the feeling of insecurity, kidnapping and killing of professionals, of the Pakhtun elders, of the

members of political parties, the destruction of educational institutions and other government facilities have galvanized this deterioration.

• In the first decade of 211st century Pakistan and particularly its north western regions have suffered economically, politically, strategically, socially and psychologically due to regional political turbulence. • For the last dozen of years the region is in

political commotion with Afghanistan it’s centre. • The war against terrorism has cast its

shadow on Pakistan generally and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa particularly.

• Both sides of the Durand Line are arena of violent conflict and the clash of interests of the regional states has negatively affected KPK people and their habitat. • The global and regional political

developments in the wake of the tragic events of 9/11 further increased the suffering of the inhabitants of this region. • The global war against terrorism has

damaged agricultural and industrial sectors of the provincial economy considerably.

• The convergence and divergence of interests of regional and global powers are shaping the Political scenario in the region. • The recent regional political developments

affected the thought processes of local people very much. • People have become victims of militancy,

insurgency and terrorism. • What are the causes of KP social, economic,

cultural, and political suffering? • Broadly they can be divided into internal

and external causes.

• Internal causes:• Rampant corruption, pervasive ignorance,

groomed violence, poor rule of law, Poverty, Lack of industrial and Agricultural Development, Colonial Legacy, flaws of Social, Political, Economic and administrative systems, and lack of internal cohesion are some of the internal causes of this suffering.

• Internal feuds, sectarianism, regional disparity, political discrimination exacerbated the situation in the province. • Such factors kept the region and its people

backward and galvanized its suffering. • Besides, the area was also kept backward

in the pretext of religion, Pakhtunwali, and development.

• External Causes: • Some of the external causes which

influenced the area in one way or the other were the end Cold War, the Middle East Situation, Afghanistan`s pandemonium, war against Global Terrorism, Pakistan & India relationship based on traditional rivalry, regional zero-sum perspectives, divergence of interests of great powers regarding regional development.

• In 2002 elections MMA come out as largest political force in KPK and formed Government. • One important point in this emergence

was its anti- American stance during the election campaign. • In 2002 election in KPK ANP and PPP

emerged as big provincial parties. • The political scene was dominated by ANP

which consider itself the protector of the rights of Pakhtuns which is the largest ethnic group of the province. • In 2013 elections PTI surfaced as the

largest party and succeeded in depicting itself as a party that is struggling to restore national pride and sovereignty.

• It has become a fashion to blame Pakistan for all regional failures and it has become easy recipe to consider Pakhtuns the perpetrator of regional clutter.

• Its time to pause and think why Pakistan is suffering like a tragic hero?

• What is its hamarsha (Tragic flaw)? Is it blind following or something else?

• Political instability in Afghanistan will keep the region disturbed. Its impact will be definitely negative on North West Pakistan. Regional engagement will help in the management, transformation and resolution of Afghanistan`s muddle. All stake holders should be involved in the peaceful settlement of the Afghan conflict. And this can be done through persistent and consistent efforts

• The need of the hour is to think critically and independently to create win win situation?• In the strength and weakness of a nation

internal unity plays vital role. • Unity in diversity, flexibility and

accommodation strengthen national unity. • United stand protect internal and external

sovereignty of a state. • Our actions design our future, we are the

makers of our heaven and hell, we are our foe and friend, the options we choose, the decisions we make, our thinking and feeling shape our fate and future.

THANKS