No one in the world wants to confront the US. But there are many cards we can play if we want to like a major strategic shift in our internal and external policy or a token non-cooperation.

Talat Masood

Aren’t the people of FATA responsible for their fate? Foreign mujahideen — Uzbeks and Arabs—have been fighting for the Taliban. If the government attempts to cleanse its territory of disruptive foreign elements, why do the residents oppose the action?

These foreigners have now been living there for very long and have forged alliances with their families. As per Pakhtoonwali (the unwritten Pashtun code of conduct to grant refuge to anyone, even the enemy) prohibits them from offending these foreigners. Pashtuns realise that these foreigners left their homeland to fight for their cause. The Arabs brought money when they came to Pakistan. All these factors give them a cover.

Rahimullah Yusufzai