CHALLENGES TO REFORMS IN THE ERSTWHILE FATA REGION OF PAKISTAN: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE AFGHAN FACTOR

Abstract

Reforms process in the erstwhile FATA region is a work in progress that goes with a very slow pace. Successive Pakistani regimes have attempted different reform packages and development strategies but it did not substantially transform the region and its governance issues continued. There are some serious challenging factors that have been blocking the road to its reforms and normalization. The Afghan factor is one among these hindering factors. This study seeks to discuss the Afghan factor as a major barricade to the FATA region reforms and development. Afghanistan is an unstable stable state and FATA shares a long border with her. Due to geographical proximity with Afghanistan, the region has consistently been remained in a perpetual state of crises and conflicts and its development has always taken a back seat.