The War on Terror and its Implications on the Social Life of the People of South Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – Pakistan

Abstract

Aim of the Study: The aim of this study is to examine the repercussions of the War on Terror, Tehreek-e-Taliban, and the armed operation on the social life of the people of South Waziristan with a focus on few of the basic elements of the Pakhtun code of conduct, called Pakhtunwali, such as Jirga (Council of elders), Badal (Revenge), Melmastya (Hospitality), and Nanawatay (Asylum/Begging Pardon) which have been affected to an extent that would not be restored soon. In this mini-war game the Mehsud tribe suffered the most and therefore, the focus will be the Mehsud tribe, living in the three sub-divisions i.e., Ladha, Sarwaikai, and Makeen.

Methodology: Besides secondary sources, this qualitative paper is mostly based on primary sources wherein n=30 unstructured but rigorous interviews were conducted by selecting those families who are internally displaced after the operation of Rah-e-Nijat 2009 (path to salvation). An open-ended questionnaire was prepared, containing 10 thematic questions, for interviewing the interviewees.

Findings: The paper found out that some of the elements of Pakhtunwali such as Jirga, Hospitality are affected negatively while Badal and Nanawatay reformed positively.  

Conclusion: It is concluded that the War on Terror, Tehreek-e-Taliban, and the armed operation left, both negative and positive, impacts on the social life of the people of South Waziristan. It would take to time to restore some of the practices of Pakhtunwali.