A Study On The Legitimacy Crisis In The Tribal Areas (Erstwhile FATA) Of Pakistan Bordering Afghanistan

The Newly Merged Districts(NMDs)of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa(previously known as Federally Administered Tribal Areas(FATA)of Pakistan.The area stretches adjoining both countries Pakistan and Afghanistan.These regions persist as unfledged areas of the country,lasting and continuing epochs of sidelining,ostracism,financial crunch,and deficit in trade and industry.Sources of revenue means of support,and engagement opportunities go on perilous problems linked to collective and fiscal progress;and concerns of control and authority.This study answered the research question that “How do people develop confidence and trust the government organs and how the government makes provision of basic facilities to win the hearts of the people and bring state legitimacy? Why Pakistani state is facing a legitimacy crisis in some portions of the state,especially in the border regions(erstwhile FATA)of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan? What are the factors that lead to the low legitimacy of the state in the tribal areas(erstwhile FATA)Pakistan bordering Afghanistan?”A mixed-methods approach was adopted for this study.Multistage sampling techniques were employed to select a sample [n=768+76].The investigation instruments employed for this study were surveys and face-to-face sessions.It was found that Pakistan as a state employs strategic techniques to make and implement decisions or use of force in erstwhile FATA.This study argued that shorn of lawfulness,and acceptability,authority is exercised via strong-arming and force which leads to governance crisis;with legality/legitimacy,the command may be put forth via controlled or would-be-controlled acquiescence that leads to effective governance.The key findings of this investigation are that the ruling elite is involved in rising corruption and profiteering and limited political representation,transparency,and accountability;the role of the police force and levies is not positive;the role of the judiciary is not up to the mark;the majority of the people are tax evaders;people are satisfied from security;health,education,and infrastructure are not completely available;state authority and control ensure state legitimacy;people trust institutions for ensuring state legitimacy;people are deprived of socio-economic facilities;high relationships were found among governance and legitimacy;service delivery and legitimacy;citizens’ positive perceptions of legitimacy and service delivery;effective governance and high legitimacy;while the medium level correlation between citizens’ perceptions of legitimacy and service delivery;between Citizens’ positive perceptions of legitimacy and service delivery.Political unrest,governance issues,and weaker political institutions are the main indicators of legitimacy crisis;legitimacy crisis,and weak governance issues engender terrorism,crimes,poverty,civil wars,and a bankrupt/ weak economy.Obedience of citizens to the state creates trust,and socio-economic development;issues of women,young people,and minorities among various communities must be taken as state priority while making policies;and communities living on borders areas of the state must be given due attention as these communities lack established legitimacy by the state and without a share in the development,can create a serious security risk to the state system.The reign of Malaks leads to a lot of injustice and inequality in the area and the families of these Malaks run the economy and politics of the whole area leading to undemocratic norms prevailing in the tribal system of these areas ultimately such inequality and deprivation brought more distrust towards the state of Pakistan.