POLICY AS PROMISE, PRACTICE AS PARADOX: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PAKISTAN’S NATIONAL POLICY ON PREVENTING VIOLENT EXTREMISM (NPVE) 2024 IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

Abstract

This study offers a qualitative exploration of the implementation of Pakistan’s National Policy on Preventing Violent Extremism (NPVE) 2024 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), a province deeply affected by violent extremism. Utilizing thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with a diverse range of stakeholders—excluding bureaucrats to ensure impartiality—the study examines how the policy is perceived, interpreted, and operationalized at the provincial and community levels. The findings reveal significant gaps between policy intent and practice, highlighting issues of awareness, coordination, cultural legitimacy, and resource constraints. The study concludes with recommendations for a hybrid governance model that integrates top-down policy coherence with bottom-up community ownership, emphasizing the need for cultural sensitivity, resource allocation, and inclusive participation to enhance the effectiveness of CVE initiatives in KP.