Resurgence of Militancy in District Bajaur: An Analysis of Geopolitical Drivers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70670/sra.v4i2.2287Keywords:
FATA, Militancy, Bajaur, TTP, ResistanceAbstract
The resurgence of militancy in Bajaur District has been the focus of this research project from 2024 to 2026 against the backdrop of the Taliban regaining power in Afghanistan in 2021. A major component of this research study will be the exploration of how the regional geopolitical environment, militants’ movement across international borders, challenges to governance, and social and economic conditions contributed to the increase of insecurity in the District of Bajaur. This will be achieved by using qualitative approach which combines secondary data (including academic literature, policy documents, and assessments on security) and primary data collected from the interviews with political leaders, tribal elders, and civil society leaders in Bajaur. Based upon the analysis of regional instability following 2021, the re-organization of traditional militant groups like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the weaknesses in governance produced by the merger of FATA and KP; our results will demonstrate how these three factors (but not only these three) have led to a resurgence of militancy. The emergence of local resistance movements (e.g. peace marches, jirgas, and civil activism) is also addressed. Ultimately, the resurgent militancy in Bajaur is caused by a combination of geopolitical, governance and socioeconomic conditions and therefore it is suggested that sustainable peace in Bajaur requires strengthening local governance structures, socio-economic development, community based peace building initiatives and cross border cooperation.
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