War on Terror and its Implications on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

Pakistan’s role as a front-line country for the US in the War on Terror has profound implications for its domestic politics and foreign policy. With a majority Pashtun population, KPK has been a target of the War on Terror because of its social setup, cultural restraints, and the faith of its population at the boundary with Afghanistan. The socio-cultural similarities and geographical proximity with Afghanistan have made it important for Al-Qaeda militants. The War on Terror in KPK had negative political, economic,and social repercussions for the area and as a result, created hatred in the Pashtuns. This paper is an attempt to analyze the elements which made the Pashtuns of this place vulnerable to militancy. It explores the political, economic, and social implications of the War on Terror for KPK and its Pashtun populace specifically.