Pakistan is trying to integrate the most dangerous place on Earth
Pakistan’s attempt to integrate its former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), often called one of the world’s most dangerous regions, into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is facing serious setbacks as of March 25, 2025. The 2018 merger aimed to bring governance and development to this lawless borderland with Afghanistan, historically a hub for militants like the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and Al Qaeda. However, violence has surged since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover in Afghanistan, with over 1,000 deaths from attacks in Pakistan in the past year, up from 250 in 2019, per the Institute for Economics and Peace.
The government’s heavy military presence—around 140,000 troops—hasn’t curbed the TTP’s growing insurgency, which seeks to overthrow Pakistan’s leadership. Local frustration is mounting over unmet promises of jobs and infrastructure, with some advocating to undo the merger. Poverty, a 17% literacy rate, and tensions with Afghanistan, where Pakistan accuses the Taliban of sheltering TTP fighters, further complicate the situation. Integration efforts are faltering, destabilizing the region and Pakistan’s security.
