The controversial “Social Agreement North Waziristan 2015”, which outlines responsibilities of the state and the tribes towards maintaining law and order in FATA, is essentially an admission of failure by the state and a reminder of the ineffectiveness of the draconian system in place. It would appear that the state remains uninterested in fixing fundamental problems and instead favours makeshift arrangements without much regard for the consequences for the concerned tribes. Extracting signatures from stranded IDPs will not solve the problem.
The document gives the false impression that the only reason why the situation got out of hand in FATA was because of cooperation between local tribes and outsiders. It is important to remember that militants residing in North Waziristan prior to Operation Zarb-e-Azb did not just belong to the anti-state Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Is it not true that members of the Haqqani network also enjoyed safe havens in the NWA? Who let that happen? Who is responsible for involving the tribal population in jihad? Did the state not previously sign ‘peace deals’ with militants allowing them to stay in the territory if they fulfilled certain conditions? Before the state questions the loyalty of tribesmen, seeks all sorts of guarantees from them and threatens them with dire consequences, it may want to engage in some serious introspection to understand its own role in creating and then exacerbating the crisis in FATA. While it demands unconditional loyalty and more from the people of NWA and other tribal agencies, it may want to consider how it has been failing them since the inception of this country. Before it threatens to cancel their NICs and passports, it should perhaps ask itself if the people of FATA have ever been treated as equal citizens in the first place?
The government must focus its attentions of bringing reforms aimed at changing the laws and governance system of FATA. Not just in Pakistan but tribal areas around the world have at one point or another become cesspools of terrorism. The government must enhance its role in the region, and attempt to bring FATA into the national fold. The process will not be easy or quick but it must take place. For far too long, the state has abdicated from its fundamental responsibilities under the pretext of preservation of culture and autonomy. It has cost everyone dearly. Instead of producing ridiculous documents, the government should present legislation and concrete development plans for FATA.