Strategic Panorama 2009 - 2010 - IEEE

The AF PAK scenario
ral issues such as the development of trade relations, migration, support
for institutions and democracy, among others.
This summit, to which Pakistan had long aspired, is the first result
of the EU’s new AF-PAK strategy which was established in the joint
Commission/Council paper entitled «EU engagement in Afghanistan and
Pakistan» and is also reflected in the Council Declaration of June on both
countries.
Together with several Member States individually, the EU also takes a
very active part in the «Friends of Democratic Pakistan Group», which was
set up in 2008 as a strategic political forum to act in parallel to the donor
groups such as the recent Tokyo Conference or the Pakistan Development
Forum.
In addition to the dialogue on fighting terrorism and on support for civil
society and capacity building for the security forces, the EU will also engage
in the long term in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the areas
affected by fighting against the Taliban and other extremist armed groups,
especially in the so-called Malakand Plan in the NWFP. In addition, the EU
already provides humanitarian assistance to alleviate the situation of the
almost two million people displaced by army operations in several areas
of the country.
The reform of the colonial structures and laws in order to integrate the
tribal border areas into the rest of the country and the institutional normalisation
of these territories is one of the pending issues in Pakistan for which
donor aid will be essential. The Talibanisation of the FATAs is not so much
the result of local traditions as of unambitious policies and the shortage of
reforms and opportunities and the continuance of the colonial structures
which isolate this region from the rest of the country and separate it from
the NWFP, as stated in the October 2009 report of the International Crisis
Group. Likewise, the reform of the system of government of the northern
territories such as Swat and the implementation of the Malakand Plan with
international support will be necessary to help these other areas of the
country break out of the marginalisation and isolation which are conducive
to the presence of Taliban groups.
Pakistan is a forgotten political and diplomatic issue to which attention
needs to start to be given. The internal political game of this great Muslim
country must be monitored and studied with interest in order to help
consolidate the democratic system, promote universal values and rights,
and foster the economic and social development of a stable and predic-
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