ISLAMABAD, Sept 8: Indepth studies should be conducted for understanding the socio-cultural ingredients of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) before labelling the tribesmen as "fanatics" or introducing reforms in the hundreds of years old tribal system.
These views were expressed by the participants at the final day of a two-day national seminar on "Tribal Areas of Pakistan, Challenges and Responses" organised by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) in collaboration with Hanns Siedal Foundation, Munich, here on Wednesday.
The speakers warned the government against framing its foreign policy and its strategy for Fata in the context of the so-called US war on terrorism because Pakistan would have to encounter the "injured" tribesmen alone if the US packed up from Afghanistan or changed its foreign policy in case President Bush lost the November general elections.
Delivering his paper on "FCR and Jirga System", former NWFP chief secretary Khalid Aziz said from Mr Churchill to the present policy-makers Pakhtoons had been labelled as fanatics.
However, the history showed that Pakhtoons were the greatest patriots, had defended their land against foreigners before the creation of Pakistan and remained loyal to Pakistan even in the time of crisis since 1947.
Unfortunately, those, who did not know about the nature and psychology of Pakhtoons or even the geography and life style of the FATA people, were trying to change them through their own policies.
The implementation of the Frontier Crimes Regulation, 1901, he said, was aimed at safeguarding the benefits of Khans in the settled districts and Malaks in FATA through the economic strangulation of the ordinary people. That's why crime witnessed an increase after the enforcement of regulation, he added.
Former ambassador Dr Hamayun Khan said if the US obsession with terrorism went on for a long time, the government could expect greater pressure on bringing the tribal areas under more effective control.
