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Politically the term "Ungoverned spaces "is new and a dangerous threat to the security of states and the whole international system. It is usually associated with "frail states". Ungoverned territories - failed or failing states or ungoverned areas within otherwise viable states - generate all manner of security problems and can become terrorist sanctuaries. The developed states are trying to help the national governments of developing countries to improve their governance in these spaces in order to prevent all sorts of intervention. From a policy perspective these areas provides shelter to terrorist organizations. Different many other criminal activities-drugs and human trafficking, weapons smuggling, and fake currencies- are organized from there, which poses a great threat to a country's national government. It is indeed a potential threat for developed and developing countries. These spaces in developing countries or weak states are also called "lawless area" .
In this paper an effort has been made to discuss the ungoverned spaces in Pakistan and in the region along with their character, dynamics and their implications on Pakistan as a country.
Pakistan, since its creation, is facing serious problems with respect to its internal and external security. After its independence in 1947, it got into a crucial conflict with its neighboring country India over the issue of Kashmir. There was a serious problem of immigration of Muhajiren (Refugees) from India but despite a very weak economy, Pakistan managed to survive and provided the Muhajiren with safe havens. Pakistan had border disputes with its immediate neighbor; Afghanistan, which is seen as 'Safe havens 'for Taliban and Al-Qaeda by Americans and the world at large. This area along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan is called FATA-Federally Administered Tribal Area. Till the outbreak of war on terror, this territory was very calm and peaceful. However, lack of good governance has turned it into a very dangerous place for the country.
FATA consists of seven different agencies Mohmand, Kurram, Khyber, Bajaur, Orakzai, North and South Waziristan. Between 1972 and 1977 Pakistani government provided FATA with assistance in industrial development, providing water, education and medical services and this slowly led to the fading of the idea of independent state of "Pashtunistan". The slogan of Pashtunistan was very attractive to the people of tribal...