Encompassing the Inclusive Nature of Pakistan’s Western Periphery: An Analysis of Local Narratives

Abstract

Pakistan has faced border security issues since its inception, especially with Afghanistan, where Pashtuns live on both sides. Decades of spillover from Afghanistan's conflicts and migration have worsened challenges on its western periphery. This issue complicates Pakistan's efforts to maintain security in a region still facing significant terrorism threats. This study argues that the state primarily addresses this region through a state-centric security lens, prioritizing sovereignty over the border rather than local narratives. However, such securitized strategies often lead to unrest.  Using Zartman’s framework of Borderlands, the study identifies the main cause of this unrest: it is not just a border but a borderland where Pashtun communities share strong sentiments toward their ethnic kin across the border. Their economic and social lives are heavily influenced by their proximity to an international boundary. Utilizing a mixed-method approach and primary data gathered from respondents in the ex-FATA region, this paper identifies a gap between the state’s policies for establishing security and local narratives of Pashtun communities in the peripheral region.