Terrorism, Tribal Identity, and Women in the Merged Districts of KhyberPakhtunkhwa: From Militancy to Marginalization and Resistance

Abstract

This article analyzes the interaction of terrorism, tribal identity, and women in Pakistan’s merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly FATA) while tracing historical trajectory from militancy to systemic marginalization and resistance. It employs qualitative methods, an analytical approach and historical methodology and argues that post-9/11 militarization and the militant exploitation of Pashtunwali and its structure, transformed traditional governance, displaced millions and institutionalized gendered-based violence. However, Pakistan’s counterterrorism policies and systematic securitization have deepened socio-economic exclusion, and reinforced strict segregation system for women. Due to these dual oppressions, women faced rigid patriarchal-militant narratives and interpretation of both customary and Sharia law while resisting their marginalization. Though the 2018 administrative merger of FATA symbolically integrative but failed to address structural inequities, and systematic cycles of violence. The core of tribal communities’ resilience and women’s mobilizations, this article challenges reductive victimhood frameworks, contribution to the discussion into post-conflict recovery that prioritizes cultural reclamation, gender-responsive policies, and inclusive governance to dismantle the legacies of militarized marginalization.