Causes and Impacts of Terrorism in Pakistan After 9/11: A Case Study of FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

Terrorism has strong effects on the behavior of people and the main factor to disturb the social, political and economic life of the people. It also disturbs the government and their routine activities in occupied region. After 9/11 attacks Pakistan joined the block formed in the war against terrorism like the United States and their allies. Pakistan gave much support to them against terrorist and insurgent groups in Afghanistan. Therefore Pakistan faced difficulties and complexities, like death, destruction and other sociopolitical impact because of Frontline ally in the anti-terrorist campaign. The consequences of those policies also brought terrorism in Pakistan, to counter that terrorism; Pakistan uses hard power and military operations. Military operation has also strong effects on the behavior of people and it played a destructive role in the disturbance of people’s lives and government activities in the FATA and KP. In FATA and Malakand Division-KP where the literacy is low and people have a strong belief in religion, they have strict culture norms. It was therefore easy for terrorist groups to mold people towards anti-state activities. As per this research the government carelessness, ideological clash between state and society, lack of public rights, illegal FM broadcasting and many other socio-political and economic factors were the reasons for the attraction of terrorism in the region. Peace building without hard approach, i.e. military operations were possible in FATA and KP. Other measures, particularly diplomatic means, proper mediations or peace deal could be applied before resorting to military operations. However the government did not try them and went to full scale war. The unwise behavior of government opened room for terrorist groups to have footing there in FATA and KP