Extremism in Pakhtun Society

Ihsan Ghani

Abstract
The deteriorating law and order situation in the NWFP and FATA has some intrinsic
causative agents and many more contributing factors. A number of research articles have
been published on the issue, but rarely the problem of extremism has been studied and
analysed in its socio-economic and historical perspective. This paper critically examines the
various extremist trends and policies in the last thirty-five years, with their implications for
law-enforcement and administration in the conflict-ridden areas of the NWFP and FATA. A
critical evaluation of the past and present counter-terrorism approaches is also presented.

Keywords: Extremism, FATA, NWFP, PATA, Pukhtun/Pashtun/Pathan, Levies, Khasadar, Frontier Corps, Frontier Constabulary, Police, Pukhtunwali