Journalist Ahmed Rashid interviewed veteran Pashtun nationalist politician Afrasiab Khattak on February 12, 2007. In discussing the resurgence of al Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan, he said: ” ‘Safe passage was provided to al Qaeda by not deploying Pakistani forces on the border in South and North Waziristan, although troops were deployed in Khyber and Kurram agencies… Thousands of al Qaeda and Taliban were allowed to settle in Waziristan, create bases, and restart military operations.’ ”
– Ahmed Rashid, Descent Into Chaos, Page 268