Internal Displacement and Migration issues in FATA (2007-2016)

Abstract

With the start of the War on Terror in October 2001, the tribal belt of Pakistan, known as Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), witnessed a rise in militancy. Numerous military actions have been carried out in different agencies of former FATA to eliminate militants. Millions of people have been displaced from all seven agencies and six Frontier Regions. Many people have been displaced more than once, while others have returned to their homes only to face the mammoth challenge of restoring everyday life in their villages. Additionally, significant Bajaur, South Waziristan, and North Waziristan Agencies have also migrated to Afghanistan to avoid being targeted in the conflict between the militants and the military. This paper analyzes displacement from FATA and acrossthe-border migration into Afghanistan and its impact on the lives of the uprooted tribal people from the area. An attempt has also been made to gauge the government response towards the dislocated people from the tribal areas.