ISLAMABAD: As the army began handing over security responsibility of areas cleared of militancy to civilian authorities, the top military command on Wednesday re-emphasised the need for mainstreaming the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) — an issue that is seemingly again on the back burner amid changing political priorities.

“Key dividend remains linked to mainstreaming of Fata in line with popular public sentiments,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release after the corps commanders conference held at the General Headquarters. The “key dividend” is peace and stability of the area.

The mainstreaming of Fata has always been a slow-paced process due to opposition by certain lobbies. The small steps taken so far have, moreover, been erratic.

Commanders deliberate on course of action to sustain achievements of military operations against terrorists

The National Assembly had in January passed a legislative bill extending the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the Peshawar High Court to Fata. But the bill was not subsequently tabled in the Senate.

The military has been a strong proponent of the Fata mainstreaming, but the urgency for forward movement in that direction is now greater as the process for handing over security of tribal areas to the civilian authorities has started. Security of Lower and Upper Dir, which are part of the provincially administered tribal areas, was on Tuesday handed over to civilian law enforcement agencies in the first phase of the transfer of security responsibilities.

The planning for the security handover of tribal areas had started towards the last quarter of 2017 and since then the issue has been looked at from various angles and it was decided that the process should be started from Malakand Agency, where the civilian law enforcement agencies (LEAs) were better poised to take over the responsibilities from the military.

As part of the security handover in Dir, the check-posts have been taken over by the police, while the military will remain available for assisting the civilian LEAs and controlling the border regions.

The success of the process in Dir will determine the pace of handover in remaining tribal areas that were once believed to be hotbeds of extremism and terrorism.

It is believed that the economic development of the area after its mainstreaming will reduce militancy in the area.

“COAS directed that the stability and development efforts must trickle down dividends of peace to the public while control of cleared areas is being handed over to civil administration with enhanced capacity,” the ISPR said.

No timeline has been given for the transfer of security responsibilities. The process will be contingent upon threat level in the region and the capacity of civilian law enforcement agencies in respective tribal areas.

The commanders deliberated on the future course of the security operations to sustain the achievements of the military operations against the terrorists, the ISPR said.

“Forum reviewed evolving geostrategic environment and security situation of the country. Progress of ongoing Operation Raddul Fasaad and Khushal Balochistan programme was also discussed.

“Forum concluded to continue efforts in support of state institutions which are taking Pakistan on a positive trajectory of peace, stability and prosperity,” the ISPR said without identifying which state institutions it was referring to.

Such assertions are usually made to back the Inter-Services Intelligence that quite often bears the brunt of public criticism.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2018