While it is physically part of Pakistan , it is not necessarily to be construed as under the control of the Pakistan government. See http://www.fata.gov.pk/ for more info on the history of this locale.
It is also, to say the least, some pretty rugged country. Two frequently mentioned areas of primary concern are North and South Waziristan.
Norm, you’ve got that right...When you see pictures of those huge mountains in that area you realize what a terrible place it is, nearly impregnable..Many of the villages are at the base of the mountains,very hard to get to unnoticed...
I have seen several bombing runs on the mountains in the Central Highlands of Vietnam from a distance and when you saw the explosion on the mountainside, it was like looking at a match struck on a football field from way up in the stands—barely noticeable in other words..I feel sorry for our guys in Afghanistan- maybe one of the worst countries in the world to try and fight a war in...