Tribes and intrastate conflict: using Indigenous methods for conflict resolution in Pakistan’s tribal frontier

Pakistan’s Pashtun ‘tribal’ areas, formerly known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), have faced a constant wave of militancy and violence since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001. This wave of militancy has not only affected the socio-political and cultural dynamics of the Pashtun ‘tribal’ areas but has also directly affected the security situation in Pakistan. This thesis discusses the history and background of the former-FATA region, the role of Pashtun conflict resolution mechanism of Jirga, along with the persistence of colonial-era Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) in the region. The thesis argues that persistence of colonial legacies in the Pashtun ‘tribal’ areas coupled with the overarching influence of the military on security policy had negatively impacted the security situation in the region. By focusing on the Jirga and Jirga-based Lashkars (or Pashtun militias), the thesis shows how, despite obstacles, limitations and attacks from militants, Pashtuns have engaged in their own initiatives to deal with the rise of militancy in their region.