good reporting

and then we wonder why there is antipathy against west in countries like pakistan. Its obvious that amongst the drone attack and western supported govt is managing only to alienate and displace the locals. How can this strategy ever work?anyhow still appreciate sbs running a documentary that doesnt follow the usual hum drum of our media .

I totally agree with with Beck from Darwin. What hope do the Palestinians have with someone like Blair , not prepared to ask for anything from Israel. No talk of ending the settlement expansion , nothing about ending the blockade and no appreciation of the historical context of the current crisis. For Blair its as if the Palestinians just woke up one day and decided "why don't we just fire our little over sized fireworks at helpless Israel for no reason". Blair and the whole charade are a joke , the world will only begin to take notice when the Palestinians are corralled into little reserves or dare I say it "camps" and slowly made to simply disappear.

Tony Blair knows ME and Pakistani history better than most, being British.Religion had the biggest role to play in forming both Israel and Pakistan, as well as Bangladesh as separate entities from India. During the Mandate period in Palestine, Arabs refused to carry ID cards that labelled them "Palestinian", so Jews were indeed Palestinians, whilst Arabs carried IDs that simply said "Arab". While the area "Palestine" featured amongst terrorists, PLO ...Palestine Liberation Organization, PFLP ... Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, etc, the first time any Arab person was called a Palestinian was the late 1960s, in a cynical move to associate the territory with the people. This was followed by inverted arguments that "Palestine is named after us". It was a whole policy that included removing Jewish artifacts from the Temple mount and claiming Jews had never been there. Revisionist historians abound everywhere,- particularly where the Jewish people are involved. It is so easy for the Arabs to play to the inherent racism against the Jews.

Another great piece on the miserable mess that is Pakistan. Already touted as a failed state in many circles Pakistan certainly is attracting lots of attention from rest of the world lately. Too bad no body really cared about this mess when the US of America was supporting Pakistan and Afghan Mujaheddin to ward off the almighty USSR. Most of the Mujaheddin went on to become Taliban and Pakistan it's guardian angel, Taliban would later wadge war on USA Who would go back to Pakistan for help to eradicate this monster that they had created so many years ago, ironic isn't it? The only problem is that Pakistan is in no shape to deal with this Frankensteinish conundrum, well at least not peacefully because the only stable and effective organization in Pakistan the Army and when Army is involved there is bound to be blood. The other problem lies with the tribal areas it self, coming from Afghanistan as a refugee I can tell you that it is ridiculously hard to tell apart a normal civilian Pashtun from Taliban because back in Afghanistan they were both pretty much involved in ethnic cleansing of minorities. The Taliban's numbers have increased drastically during the last decade, their recruits come directly from Pakistan and Afghan Pashtuns. now I am not at all endorsing any killing of innocent Pashtuns but for a government like Pakistan's who have lots to prove especially after a bitter and long war over civilian control of the country any drastic option is for a debate. We can only hope that everything will workout peacefully.

I thought this report was excellent and well-balanced. I had previously seen a report on the same thing by Al Jazeera and it failed to include the civilian side. The insight by the refugees was particularly insightful.

I was surprised to learn the total lack of coordination by the U.S and Pakistan against a common enemy. The Taliban seems know this and is exploiting it, so now I wonder is the war against the Taliban a winnable war. How many of those half-million heads or their friends think highly of the government, after the government's military displaced them .Pakistan's Army high firepower may win battles but not minds. I totally agree with what IMRAN KHAN said, “This has, rather than winning the war against the terrorists, this has actually been the greatest gift for the terrorists of 9/11/" By the way well done Sophie, this is why I watch dateline!

Sophie Mc Niell’s report was excellent. Sadly, the story makes it pretty clear that military interventions stir up trouble and radicalise people against what they see as, the "occupiers" who are destroying them

Brilliant New York Times level of reportage from Sophie McNeil, I read that publication a lot and they have been covering the growing conflict. Also they mention that the Pakistan Army is using WWII infantry tactics against an insurgency. I am looking forward to more reports from Sophie in the future and hope she keeps safe on assignment.