Broken Promises and Burning Borders: The Struggle for Mohmand's Soul (2001-2018)

Abstract

This article explores the complex social and political transformation of Mohmand Agency during a period marked by war, reforms, and unrest. Once governed by traditional tribal systems rooted in the Jirga and Pakhtunwali code, Mohmand faced dramatic changes after 2001 when the U.S-led War on Terror spilled into the region. As militants fled from Afghanistan, the agency became a stronghold for Taliban activity, with many locals especially youth drawn into militancy due to ideological, social, and economic pressures. Military operations by the Pakistani state disrupted the local power structure, resulting in widespread displacement, violence, and the collapse of long-standing tribal order. In response, the government introduced administrative and political reforms, including the formation of the FATA Secretariat, partial amendments to the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), and the extension of political party rights to the region. While these steps signaled a shift toward integration, their limited implementation and continued reliance on outdated systems like the Political Agent model left much of the region’s population politically marginalized. The study highlights how decades of isolation, poverty, and religious influence shaped the region’s response to external pressures and underscores the need for more inclusive and ground-level governance in tribal areas like Mohmand.