Swat has always had a poverty problem and prior to integration into Pakistan it had an autocratic ruler.
One of the reasons why Talibanisation may have some support in Swat is because of the moral degeneration (according to the eyes of the mullah class) which has occured thanks to tourism in swat. Even though tourism is a huge earner for Swat, theres quite a few people out there who have not liked the affect it was having.
Have you forgotten how there were calls for Shariah law in Swat when another "retard" ie the in famous Mr Nawaz Sharif was in power? Or is that Musharafs fault too?
By the way according to Swati and pakhtun nationalists - Musharaf is a small cog in the huge machine of problems in North-Western pakistan. Swati and Pakhtun nationalists (by nationalists i dont mean provincialists although some do have similar views on these issues) hold Pakistan as a whole for the problems in Swat. YES! They blame and abuse everyone from Musharaf, Sharif, Bhutto, Zia-ul-haq, ZAB, Jinnah, Allama iqbal and so on. They have a softer spot for Benazir as she had or showed an anti-army stance.
So Data - whose point of view should you believe?
PS pakhtun and swati nationalists have actual links to the area if not have lived there. So should we listen to them and tear apart pakistan because they have much more experience/evidence of the problems there? What I mean to say is they have much more knowledge and experience than some article writer on whats going on there.
No they were not, Swat was just fine before that retard created this mess. Chamchagiri ki bhi had hoti hai yar, read what this mufti had to say, since his interview/story is being narrated.