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Hundreds of thousands have fled Pakistan's border regions in recent weeks, anticipating a bloody confrontation between the military and the Taliban during a planned ground offensive in Waziristan. 

This has been delayed for months while military strategists determine the best moment to launch the strike, hoping to avoid the failures of three past operations in the same area. 

But the weekend insurgent raid on the army's headquarters in Rawalpindi that killed 23 people may push the military into action sooner rather than later.

Washington wants to support its ally Pakistan in its fight against the Taliban and other militants as well. 

A five-year, $7.5 bn non-military aid package to Pakistan is now awaiting President Obama's signature – but Pakistan's military and opposition parties have been angered by conditions tying some funds to fighting militants and keeping the army out of politics.

Will Pakistan be able to quell its internal battles with various militant groups, and also satisfy domestic critics who say the nation is losing its sovereignty with the huge influx of US aid?
 
Joining us to discuss the situation is Pakistani activist and scholar Sahar Shafqat, and the CIA's former Islamabad station chief Robert Grenier, with Anand Naidoo sitting in for Riz Khan.

This episode of the Riz Khan show aired from Thursday, October 15, 2009.