I agree its only in FATA where your getting people tryingto take active control over areas. The people of Waziristan, Swat and Bajaur have much more in common with the Taliban culturally and ideologically than people of Punjab. In some of the areas of FATA people lived exactly like they did in Afghanistan under the Taliban except people could listen to music,beards were not compulsory and there is some educational institutions.
The people of Punjab belong to a number of different sects - Deobandi, Barelvi and Shia - barelvis probably being the most common. It would be impossible for the militants to take over these areas like they are doing in FATA and NWFP - the terrain does not suit them, the people might show more resistance due to cultural and ideological reasons, it has no border with Afghanistan and it is not being attacked by the Army.
The border with Afghanistanis an important point as many people are already pointing fingers at the American and Indian presence and the very high possibility they may even be supporting the breakdown.
The militants overall cannot hold an area in FATA or NWFP for long openly. They have always moved back whenever the army has responded, and moved forward again after a while. Even within NWFP the militants have shown little interest in non-pashtun regions such as Chitral and Hazara. Last year Kohistanis from kalam told the so-called Taliban to leave their areas. Are the militants only interested in destabilising the Pashtun belt?
In Waziristan people are now saying there is no one but the locals and they are angry that the government is helping the American against their fellow muslims across the border and even more angry they took action in Waziristan and innocent people being killed in the crossfire.
Some of the suicide bombings may even be revenge attacks by Waziri tribesmen.
It is about time the people of FATA stopped letting criminals into their area full stop. They should stop providing safe havens where criminals all over Pakistan can run too. The Tribals only have themselves to blame for that sadly.
The main lesson is that the governments of sindh, balochistan, punjab could form a resistance to militants and learn from the mistakes of NWFP before its too late. For now the militants can only suicide bomb within Punjab. Its very hard for the law enforcement agencies to stop all suicide attackers but there has to be much stricter security around important installations.
Yes there is no doubt that Southern Punjab has been the source of militancy. However there is a huge difference between FATA and Southern Punjab.
Law enforcement agencies go into Southern Punjab, they can take out the culprits. There is no Mehsud attacking Pak army in Southern Punjab in order to protect criminals and suiciders.
The situation in FATA is bad due to FATA tribals. They have created safe houses on "large scale" where militants from not only Punjab, but from every Jihadi-sewer can come and get food and shelter.
Today if Mehsud and Bajoris lay down the arms, Pak law enforcement agencies will get the Punjabi militants out in a jiffy.