"It feels as if the nation is at our back supporting us, morally and legally. As a soldier you feel great. Now everyone has realised the threat," said Colonel Abdul Rehman, an officer stationed in Swat.
The dominant Urdu-language media, which is mostly anti-American and sometimes sympathetic to the Taliban, has not offered outright condemnation of the army's campaign in Swat.
Recent events provide tangible evidence of a change in the public mood.
Hundreds of armed villagers attacked Taliban strongholds in the Swat Valley yesterday after a suicide bomber killed 33 worshippers at a mosque on Friday.
These hastily formed, civilian militias appear to have taken revenge by attacking five allegedly pro-Taliban villages.
The backlash against the extremists appears to have arisen from their own excesses. Soon after they first seized control of Swat, the Taliban flogged a woman in public and video footage of this scene horrified Pakistanis.
The armed villagers is an important sign. We know the jihadis inspire fear--but to fight back against the jihadis, the people need to have some confidence that they can destroy the jihadis. If they believe the government will abandon them in the end, few will resist the jihadis.
It appears that bin Laden was wrong about the people (at least in Pakistan) blaming America for the violence.
Pakistan has to keep the offensive rolling and follow up with rule of law and rebuilding.
Send money, guns, and lawyers, the Swat was hit by Paks.
