Fazal Wahab

Research

Title of Research:

Counterterrorism policies of Pakistan; How does a war generation survive and resist the armed conflict in the Tribal districts?

Brief overview of research topic:

Terrorism studies have often focused on terrorism as the only problem and state responses as the solution but sometimes state counterterrorism measures can contribute to the problem. Critical Terrorism Studies (CTS) have shown that violent counterterrorism measures are often ineffective, and counterproductive and exacerbate the suffering of Indigenous Local Communities. In particular, from a postcolonial perspective, we can see how these measures can end up reproducing imperial power relations. For example, the FATA region (now Tribal districts) in Pakistan has been created as a buffer zone for centuries and communities there are still marginalised. Yet, local communities are not just passive victims of non-state terrorism or state counterterrorism violence. We know that they also have rich arsenals of resistance in everyday ways, for example, the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement. Existing research in orthodox, as well as CTS, often focuses on policies in Western countries and there has been very little research on local communities not just as victims but as political actors. Building on postcolonial approaches and CTS the project focuses on the notion of how civilians survive and resist armed conflict – terrorism and counterterrorism – in Pakistan, which not only contributes to academic research but also has policy implications.

Qualifications/Awards

International Master in Security Intelligence and Strategic Studies (IMSISS), University of Glasgow, UK, Dublin City University, Ireland, and Charles University, Czech Republic.

BS (Hon) in Political Science, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.

Publications / conferences

• ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7072-9786
• Azim, Syed Wasif, Yaseen Ullah, Wahab, Fazal (2021). “Religion, Conflict and Identity: Islam, Pakistani identity and the conflict in Swat” Journal of Peace, Development and Communication, vol. Volume 5, no. Issue 1, 2021, pp. 416-427, https://doi.org/10.36968/JPDC-V05-I01-35
• Wahab, Fazal, Syed Wasif Azim, Muhammad Ayub Jan. (2020). “The Testimony of Traumatic and Violent Conflict: Pukhtu Poetry in Swat in Retrospect.” Journal of Peace, Development and Communication, vol. 04, no. 02, 2020, pp. 16–42, https://doi.org/10.36968/JPDCV04-I02-02.

Conference papers

• Wahab. Fazal, (2022) “Violent Conflict, Ethnic Identity and Pashto Poetry in Swat Pakistan” in Two-day International Conference on Mapping the wounded landscape of Swat Valley: From Taliban Violence and Iconoclasm to social growth and Reconciliation organized by the University of Malakand in collaboration King’s College London, SOAS University of London (Jun. 2022).

Op-ed

• “Tribal Districts of Pakistan – A Safe Haven for Terrorists or Misused Piece of Land?” publication by publication The Security Distillery Oct 2020.
• “Pakistan Needs a National Security Strategy” published by publication Atlas Institute International Affairs House July 2020.
• To What Extent has the UN Failed in its Core Mission “To Save the Succeeding Generations from the Scourge of War”? published by publication Atlas Institute International Affairs House July 2020.

Teaching

Visiting Lecturer, Government AKL Postgraduate College, Matta Swat, Pakistan

Subject taught

• Introduction to Political Science
• International Humanitarian Law in Islam Civics

Visiting Lecturer (distance learning program), University of Peshawar, Pakistan.

Subject taught

• Introduction to Research Methods