The consequences of Pakistan’s counterterrorism policies: socio-cultural and political transformation in tribal districts

Counterterrorism (CT) policies are a primary subject in security studies. However, the consequences of their implementation on the socio-cultural milieu of the local populations are rarely explored, particularly in the context of the Global South. This study examines the effect of CT policies on the socio-cultural and socio-political transformation of Tribal Districts in Pakistan. Like many other countries, Pakistan has approached countering terrorism in the post-9/11 era through the adoption of a war model, which has led to a number of serious consequences for the local population in conflict-affected areas. The study relies on original interview data with hard-to-access informants from the Tribal Districts of Pakistan to reveal the previously underexplored impacts of CT policies and military operations. These impacts are termed “side effects” and are socially perceived as either positive or negative. This study postulates that these “side effects” of CT policies have resulted in a number of far-reaching socio-cultural and political transformation of the conflict-ridden regions of Pakistan.