This round of fighting was preceded by a negotiated calm, as the government sought to quell militants in Pakistan’s tribal areas by striking a deal with the Taliban leader, Sufi Mohammad. The deal, which instituted a version of Sharia law in the region in exchange for a commitment that militants would lay down their weapons, was blessed by the comparatively liberal Awami National Party (ANP), which governs the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), where Swat is located.
但这场鏖战其实是以谈判开场的：政府试图通过与塔利班领导人穆罕默德·苏菲达成一项协议来安抚部落地区的武装分子。而这个以在该地区推行伊斯兰教法来换取武装分子承诺放下武器的协议，更得到了人民民族党（ ANP ）的认同——这个相对开明的党派正是斯瓦特谷地所在的西北边境省（NWFP）的统治者。