Crises and Reconciliation in Swat

Abstract

Swat has held prominence for its known history. In 1915 Swat State came into being after which Swat tremendously progressed in fields of education, health care services, peace, communication and judicial system. The State was brought to an end in 1969 with which drastic changes occurred in all respects. A new and alien administrative apparatus was brought, characterized by federal and provincial centralization, bureaucratic mindset, red-tape and dilly-dally, which proved unresponsive and hence generated sense of deprivation and resentment. With each passing day, the people saw to the state period with nostalgia and aspired for a positive change, especially in the judicial arena. This boosted Tahrik Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) and its demand for making the judicial system conform to Islamic laws. Some other factors, internal and external, also worked in their own ways. All these culminated into the Taliban upsurge in 2007 and the resultant fighting, military operations, destruction and displacement of millions of people. By July 2009, the Taliban were defeated and the situation brought under control by the security forces, but the Taliban and their ideology have not perished. Therefore, for a durable peace, the core issues needs to be addressed spiritedly and the Taliban brought to the mainstream.