Fateful Complexity: Genesis of Unplanned Interconnectedness of Pakistan’s Tribal Areas to Talibanisation & Other Conflicts

Foreign media portray Pakistan as a terrorist hotbed and its northern peoples as colluders with the Taliban. But if we look at their recent history with its territorial changes, geosocial intertwining with Afghanistan, population displacements due to natural disasters and militancy, all compounded by government neglect, exploitation, incessant conflict and the undue influence of foreigners, we find that these peoples--100 tribes--are caught within a maelstrom not all of their own making. This brief orientation is meant not to necessarily justify the actions of one side or the other, but rather to try to create the context in which the present challenges occur more understandable.

Ivan G. Somlai, MA., CIM., is Director of Global Collaboration and an Associate of CAPI. He recently returned from three years working within the geopolitical arena of the former North West Frontier Province, now called Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. His management of Canada's only development project in the sectors of governance, health, education and community-managed water supply with an excellent team of local colleagues and access to all levels of government and civil society gives him a thorough understanding of Pakistan. Ivan's previous involvements have included 18 years with universities; consultations in Mongolia, Russia, Slovakia, Nepal, Indonesia, North Korea and elsewhere; and experience with several environments of insurgency and migration. He currently continues shorter-term international consulting.