Former security chief of the tribal areas Mahmood Shah talked to VOA about the development.

VOA: standard.2009.10.24

Philip Mudd,former chief of the FBI's National Security Division, says the Pakistani Taliban, based in Pakistan's tribal areas, has drawn close to Al Qaida and now has international aspirations.

VOA: standard.2010.05.18

Former security chief of Pakistan's tribal regions, Mahmood Shah,says the military is better placed today to extend the Swat anti-insurgency offensive into other Taliban strongholds, like the Waziristan region on the Afghan border.

VOA: standard.2009.09.14

It has similarly failed to respond to an invitation by European Union Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana for a new round of talks on its nuclear program with the five permanent U.N.Security Council member countries and Germany,the P5+1.

VOA: standard.2009.06.24

Tens of thousands of civilians have fled the area. The former security chief of Pakistan's tribal regions, Mahmood Shah, tells VOA the recent attacks, including Saturday's audacious assault, show the militants are united and may want to antagonize the international community.

VOA: standard.2009.10.12