The erstwhile tribal areas are once again on the edge; the specter of rampant terrorism has reemerged.

In 2018, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas were merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in an historic attempt to integrate the regions economically and politically. The merger was initially seen as an opportunity to redress decades of neglect and underdevelopment. However, the provincial government’s performance in the merged districts has failed to live up to expectations. Six years later, many residents of these areas are left feeling disillusioned and marginalised.

The dismal performance in governance; infrastructure development; law enforcement; provision of education and health services; and economy sectors has also had a negative impact on the counter-extremism efforts. The KP government’s failures have not only led to the region’s stagnation but also spurred radicalism and militancy.

The principal objective of the merger was to replace the colonial-era Frontier Crimes Regulation with modern governance structures. Yet the KP government was unable to introduce the administrative mechanisms required by the merged districts. The poorly managed shift from a tribal structure to a modern state has led to confusion, creating many zones of missing platforms like regional workplaces, courts and municipal administrations. The lack of an effective bureaucratic apparatus has hindered service delivery and led to corruption and local power struggles.

The merger was aimed at bringing major reforms in law enforcement by replacing the Levies and Khasadar forces with a formal police system. That said, the KP government has not delivered substantial police reforms. Crime and militancy thrive, causing the public to lose confidence in the government. The power vacuum has enabled some extremist groups to spread their influence.

Higher education is an important component of development efforts needed in the merged districts where no such institutions currently exist. The lack of universities close at hand is depriving thousands of young people of the opportunity for first-rate higher education. This threatens to perpetuate and deepen the cycle of poverty. Students are forced to commute long distances for higher education, often at considerable expense. The consequent absence of educational structures lays waste to the future of KP. This also makes the youth a prime target for extremist recruitment.

Health care service delivery in the merged districts is no better. There is a severe shortage of hospitals, clinics and trained medical personnel in the area, making its residents vulnerable to preventable diseases, suffering and deaths. The Sehat Card programme is a provincial government scheme that allows citizens free access to medical care and services. However, most people in the merged districts are either unaware of it or unable to benefit from it on account of red tape and corruption.

The KP government has also failed to cultivate the enormous potential of local industries and small enterprises. There has been no facilitation of local entrepreneurship or training to alleviate poverty and improve job prospects. This neglect has made many of the unemployed youth an easy prey for recruiting agents of the extremist groups.

Unemployment continues to be a major problem, especially amongst the youth. Disengagement is a result of the provincial government’s failure to provide opportunities and skill development programmes for the youth.

Located along the border with Afghanistan, the merged districts have significant potential for border trade. However, the KP government has yet to develop the required infrastructure for trade. This includes border marketplaces and transportation systems.

Unemployment continues to be a major problem, especially amongst the youth. Disengagement is a direct result of the lack of training and employment opportunities for the youth.

The absence of a sustained strategy to deal with extremism too is making the region vulnerable to conflict and violence.

Deradicalisation (rehabilitation of extremists) is clearly the curb extremism. However, no significant programme has been launched by the KP government in this regard. The militants need re-education as well as re-integration into the society.

These failures have not only alienated many people; they also feed extremist activity. For the merger to be successful and attain the desired outcomes, the KP government needs to take quick and effective steps to counter the multi-faceted challenges and push for rapid development.

Given the rising tide of terrorism in the merged districts of KP, there is a dire need to do away with half-baked ideas and adopt a comprehensive, long-term strategy. This requires holistic solutions with a long-term approach to good governance, education, economic prosperity, security and community engagement to really counter the extremism drivers.

Decent administrative structures are crucial for rebuilding public trust.

Education is most important to counter extremism. The government needs a long-term vision that goes beyond short-term fixes. The school curriculum should produce a generation that can withstand and defeat the challenge of extremist ideologies. Community resilience can be built through initiatives that promote social cohesion and interfaith dialogue.

Extremism is also driven by poverty and unemployment. The KP government should encourage local industries, assist small enterprises and offer vocational training.

To maintain law and order, the government must modernise the police and equip them with adequate tools in the war against militancy.

Ideological deradicalisation programmes are critical. The government needs to work on a programme to rehabilitate former militants and counter extremist narratives through education, media campaigns and community engagement. Encouraging tolerance and coexistence among local political and civil society actors can also promote social cohesion.

For now, the population of the merged districts is caught between a government that has failed it, and extremist groups that thrive on its despair. The time to act is now.

The writer is the central information secretary of the Awami National Party. He can be reached at anpspox@gmail.com