Knowledge-Based Poppy Cultivation Control in Pakistan: Reflections of Local Policing Practice

Fasihuddin & Dr. Geoff Dean

Abstract:
Pakistan, after receiving a ‘Poppy-free status’ certificate from the USAin 2001,experienced a
tremendously sharp rise in poppy-cultivation during 2003 and 2004 in all Tribal Agencies
near Afghanistan and semi-tribal (de-facto) areas adjacent to settled districts. Pakistan faced
serious concern by the international community. The Police Chief in District Charsadda, as
the principal author of this study is an experienced police officer who based on his tacit
knowledge of policing tribal communities engaged in a ‘participant-observation’ process that
is consistent with a grounded theory approach to qualitative research. The application of
Knowledge Management principles provided the theoretical lens through which an
explanatory framework of a number of strategic patterns for operationalising a Community
Policing approach is presented. The results of this study document the eradication of a
significant area of poppy cultivation in the district of Charsadda which had never done in the
past as well as wider community impacts. This study demonstrates how a cost-effective
policing strategy can be implemented without extra special forces or funding to deal with
adamant tribal growers of illicit poppy cultivation.
Keywords: Knowledge Management, Community Policing, Tacit Knowledge, Poppy-Cultivation,Defacto-Tribal Area, Tribal Agency, Momand Resistance Movement, VoluntaryDestruction.