When the Pakistani army launched its assault on the Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan in mid-October, most analysts (including me) expected the militants to offer considerable resistance. Instead, the campaign achieved its aim inside three weeks. But while credit must be given to the commitment of the ground and air forces, perhaps there is more to this swift and easy conquest than meets the eye.
If, as I have written before, the reason US forces vacated seven Afghan border posts next to South Waziristan on the eve of the operation was to allow Taliban reinforcements to enter before sealing the opening, it backfired; instead, the open rear door permitted many of the Taliban to escape into Afghanistan.
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