Recently all major militant groups based in Pakistan have shifted base to the tribal areas. Mainstream groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban, splinter groups operating in Kashmir and Punjabi-speaking outfits like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Jaish-e-Mohammad — operate from FATA now, making it the obvious target of suspicion.

Brig (Retd) Mahmood Shah, former security chief, FATA

What is the conflict in FATA all about? Is the ‘non-mainstreaming’ of FATA a cause of discontent?

It is an underdeveloped area with the lowest socio-economic indicators in Pakistan. The border with Afghanistan is non-existent. After the fall of the erstwhile USSR, Afghan mujahideen kept crossing into FATA and have stayed back since. At the behest of Pakistan and the US, this area became a sanctuary for them. They use this part of Pakistan to operate in Afghanistan. Whoever is out of power in Kabul, seeks refuge in FATA and NWFP. Since the Taliban are out of power in Afghanistan, they are here and hence the conflict.

A majority of the people would want to preserve their special status. Most of them are now fed up of the strife and want to lead normal lives, though with traditional style. They want roads, electricity and education. Interestingly, the demand for girls’ schools has increased.

Rahimullah Yusufzai, Peshawar-based resident editor of The News.

The US military is now going to train Pakistan’s Frontier Constabulary, which operates in FATA. Isn’t Pakistan asking for trouble by letting the US physically into FATA?

I think so. This would exacerbate the militants’ anger. Also, the US and Pakistani armies aren’t ideologically congruous. Pakistani army, like the Indian army is essentially a British-style force which focuses on maneouvers whereas the US army stresses the use of force and ammunition. In Iraq, despite being more sensitive, Basra was controlled faster by the British troops than Baghdad which was under US forces.

... contd.